Lucent Offers Enhanced Version Of Its High-Level API For CTI Solutions
Lucent has announced an upgrade to RealCT. The new version, RealCT Release 2, is compatible with all Lucent Technologies Computer Telephony Products hardware, and features enhanced training capabilities for error detection and troubleshooting, as well as new capabilities-enabling hardware resources to be shared across multiple applications for greater interoperability in client/server implementations. Enhancements also include GSM support supplying a lower compression rate for quick and easy voice file transfers over the Internet, management of MVIP switching with third-party hardware resources, applications in Latin America and Asia Pacific, as well as the ability to port from analog telephony without making extensive code changes. For more information, call Liza Santos at 408-874-4172.

Lucent Unveils Integrated Voice-Data Communications Software
Lucent Technologies has debuted the Virtual Telephone, an application that integrates voice and data communications on the Internet. The Virtual Telephone will allow mobile workers to access their e-mail, hear and respond to voice mail messages, and make real-time phone calls simultaneously over a single phone line; further, it will enable them to manage voice and data communications on their PCs or laptops from almost anywhere. Initially, the Virtual Telephone will support Lucent’s Internet Telephony Server-E (ITS-E), an H.323-compatible standards-based gateway. The Virtual Telephone client supports multiple H.323 call appearances and point-and-click call-control feature buttons for making and receiving, holding, and refusing calls, and for putting calls on mute. The client is installed on a PC supporting Microsoft NetMeeting 2.1. For more information, contact the company at 800-247-7000.

Active Voice Debuts TAPI 3.0 Call Management System
Active Voice presents the Phone Dialer call management system, a Windows TAPI 3.0 application. Phone Dialer has been developed in conjunction with Microsoft to deliver unified call management for both traditional telephones and evolving IP voice and video calls on the Internet using Windows. The new system integrates tightly with Windows NT 5.0 Active Directory, enabling users to click and dial any telephone number or network address in the Windows Address Book or the enterprise directory. Currently part of the Windows NT 5.0 beta, Phone Dialer is scheduled to ship with Microsoft’s Windows NT Server 5.0 and Windows NT Workstation 5.0. For more information, contact the company at 206-441-4700.

AnswerSoft, Microsoft To Jointly Pursue TAPI Service Provider Initiative
AnswerSoft, Inc., has announced an initiative with Microsoft to jointly accelerate the availability and enhanced functionality of TAPI Service Providers for the call center industry. This initiative will result in further adoption of the Microsoft Windows TAPI standard. Telephony Service Providers or drivers are necessary to fully integrate client/server applications with PBX switches in a Windows NT and Windows 95 environment. A wide range of robust TAPI Service Providers will enable application developers to access and utilize information obtained from a telephone switch to drive the communications process across the network. Under the agreement, specifically, AnswerSoft will develop TAPI Service Providers for popular industry platforms. Microsoft will increase marketing support to further expand the deployment of the TAPI standard. For more information, visit AnswerSoft’s Web site at www.answersoft.com. 

Cisco Expands Its MC3800 Multiservice Access Concentrator Family
Cisco Systems, Inc., has released the newest member of its MC3800 series of multiservice and access concentrators: the Cisco MC3810. The standards- based Cisco MC3810 connects to any standard private branch exchange (PBX) or video conferencing system. Designed for regional and branch office applications, the MC3810 series integrates Cisco IOS software routing functionality with compressed, switched voice and video applications, such as distance learning across ATM and Frame Relay services. It operates in both public and private network environments to seamlessly provision networks for data, voice, and video services on facilities from 56K to 2.048 Mbps. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.cisco.com. 

Ericsson Announces High-Performance ATM Switching System
Ericsson is debuting the AXD 301 ATM switch, a high-performance, scalable ATM switching system for both backbone networks and edge applications. Its carrier-class design provides the capacity, scalability, availability, and end-to-end manageability needed to efficiently handle real-time and business-critical traffic in networks. The AXD 301 features a load-sharing concept that makes it very compact and cost-efficient. Applications include ATM connectivity networks, scalable frame relay/ATM networks, and Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) for efficient handling of IP traffic. It can be used in business and residential broadband access networks and can be combined with Ericsson’s AXE switching system to provide a full range of narrow-band services. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.ericsson.nl. 

NetGame Cable Modem Enables Communications Over Cable Networks
A new end-to-end solution offered by NetGame Cable comprises the NeMo Cable Modem and NC Bridge to enable data communication over cable television networks at speeds of up to 10 Mbps. Designed to be affordable and scalable, NG Cable’s End To End solution allows even small-scale operators to attain high-speed data access. Employing the company’s algorithm, Elastram, it provides optimal use of the operator’s upstream channel resources (time and bandwidth), allowing them to control quality of service as well as connect additional subscribers without degrading service. The End To End solution also includes NG Cable’s Open Collector, an integrated software package providing industry standard billing, authentication, maintenance, statistics and reporting modules that can be easily integrated into existing subscriber databases and accounting systems. For more information, contact the company at 416-923-1781.

Centigram Announces Series 6 Upgrade
Centigram has announced significant enhancements to its Series 6 platform, Release 6.1. Based on Centigram’s open, flexible architecture, the Release 6.1 hardware and software bring leading-edge messaging applications to business and service-provider customers world-wide. Release 6.1 is designed to meet customer needs in two key markets: Business-to-Business and Service Provider. It will offer them powerful new administration and management tools such as OneNet, and productivity applications such as EasyAnswer, featuring Boomerang and Calling Line ID (CLI) Capture. Of particular interest to its service provider customers, Centigram’s Release 6.1 also offers the OneTalk spoken user interface and Rapid Dial abbreviated dialing. Government and nonprofit organizations, universities and other such groups will benefit from the productivity-enhancing communications features of the Release 6.1. For more information, contact the company at 408-944-0250.

Arco Offers Real-Time Backup For IDE-Based Telephony Systems
Arco is debuting an ID disk-mirroring controller, the DupliDisk-PCI, designed to provide affordable real-time backup, no matter what the operating system. It has a retail price of $225. The DupliDisk, when inserted into a PCI bus slot, can mirror up to two pairs of IDE, E-IDE, or UDMA drives of any capacity. Should one of the mirrored drives become disabled through hardware failure, DupliDisk automatically shifts operations to the functioning drive. The user is alerted of the drive failure by an audible alarm, which continues until switched off manually (via an external switch) — meanwhile the system continues to function normally, incurring no down-time. The user simply chooses a convenient time to power down and install a new drive. For more information, contact the company at 954-925-2889.

CTL Partners With Dialogic On OEM Voice Mail Solution
CTL has announced the availability of a diskless voice and mail platform. Called Flash, the product is based on Dialogic board technology combined with CTL’s comprehensive application code, and geared toward the small and medium business market, with telephone equipment manufacturers and large distributors in mind. Flash will enable OEMs to offer a premier solution to a growing marketplace whose worth has been estimated at $3 billion. With Flash, any company that has a phone system can afford to have voice mail. Flash can be easily customized for telephone system integration and feature content; connectivity and simplicity are foremost features. The product also offers a three-year warranty. For more information, contact Scott Marks at 203-925-4266 x313.

DFI Offers New Motherboard With Six Full-Length ISA Slots
DFI has developed a new mother-board, the ITOX, which feature six full-length ISA slots, providing more solutions than traditional PCs at an affordable price. Providing the six full-length slots, with cable headers mounted flush and all the higher components placed off the side, ITOX enables users to easily insert full-length voice cards. Available as a motherboard or a fully configured system (platform) with a customer integration option, ITOX also offers such features as the Watch Dog Timer which allows for unattended operation, an ATX format, and 1 Mb Video (on the board to save a slot). Further, the product supports Intel Pentium and MMX CPUs, AMD K6 and IBM/Cyrix 6x86 MX CPUs. For more information, contact the company at 732-390-2815.

RightFAX Ships Advanced Fax Server Family
RightFAX, Inc., a subsidiary of Applied Voice Technology, Inc., announced the shipping of its new family of fax servers. These include the RightFAX Enterprise v5.2, RightFAX Enterprise Suite v5.2 and RightFAX v5.2; two new optional modules are also available: Docs on Demand and TeleConnect. All three new v5.2 servers feature an administrative tool that enables users to monitor fax volume and generate graphs or tables of fax information. RightFAX’s Docs on Demand greatly facilitates the retrieval of fax documents, making documents available 24 hours a day. TeleConnect provides telephone access for faxes in an enterprise fax solution; it lets users call into the fax server via touch-tone telephone and access their personal fax mailbox. For more information, contact Jim Jonez at 520-320-7000.

Panasonic Releases New CTI Phoneware For Small Companies
Panasonic has released PhoneWare v.2.6 for use with the company’s digital SuperHybrid telephone systems and any LAN. Developed by Q.SyS International, this newest version of PhoneWare gives users the call-management capabilities of large companies — from their personal computers. It also offers several product enhancements over the previous PhoneWare release. These include Call Accounting with enhanced Call Logging, Multiple Screen Pops with On-Demand, Expanded Group Monitoring, Dial-by-Name, and ODBC connectivity for Database Previews. Dial-by-Name makes dialing quicker than ever: the user simply types the first or last name of the person they wish to dial, and PhoneWare then does it automatically. The Call Accounting and Enhanced Call Logging features create nine preconfigured reports detailing the user’s call activity — a tool that can be used by managers to analyze their employees’ call volume on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis to determine the most cost-effective means to handle calls. For more information, contact the company at 800-211-PANA.

Samsung Unveils ISDN Platform Based On Original DCS
Samsung Telecommunications America has added the DCS 400si to its line of ISDN communications platforms to serve the 300-phone-and- under market. The new product’s design builds on that of the company’s original DCS and is based on DSP (Digital Signal Processing) to offer speed, power, and reliability. The original product’s Super I interface technology allows for flexible, easy growth of the system’s capabilities through the addition of analog or digital stations on the same extension port. New to the DCS 400si is Samsung’s 24 Circuit Analog and Digital Subscriber Line Cards. The DCS 400si also features an Open Architecture Interface which supports Microsoft’s TAPI 2.0 and Novell’s TSAPI Computer-Telephony Integration. For more information, contact the company at 972-761-7000.

Aspect Delivers High-Volume ACD Applications on Windows NT Platform
Aspect Telecommunications has announced the shipment of its Windows NT-based Aspect ACD System with Release 7 software. Dell Computer Corp. is among the first companies to upgrade its call center to Release 7. The new system and software offer enhanced user functionality, increased power and a new graphical interface for defining the manner in which businesses interact with their remote customers. With Release 7 software, the Aspect ACD System embraces an open, standards-based architecture that provides the flexibility for companies to integrate new applications into their call centers as business needs evolve. For more information, contact the company at 408-325-2200.

Dialogic Introduces New Suite Of Administrative Tools
Dialogic Corp. has developed a suite of administration tools to optimize new features in Microsoft Windows NT 5.0. Designed to reduce the time and cost of deploying and administering CTI systems, these tools are shipping with Dialogic’s latest release for Microsoft Windows NT. The new products are: the OEM Installation and Utility, and the Dialogic Configuration Manager. Using these tools, OEMs and ISVs can easily integrate into their own software products the installation files necessary to deploy applications built on Dialogic components. The Dialogic installation utility enables the easy redistribution of the runtime environment via the installation images and a silent install feature. The Dialogic Configuration Manager (DCM) is a new board configuration utility that provides a full-featured, customizable GUI that greatly simplifies the setup of Dialogic boards. For more information, contact the company at 973-993-3000.

Eicon ISDN Cards To Be Integrated Into Mitsubishi Server Computers
Eicon Technology announced that the company’s DIVA brand of ISDN interface cards will become standard equipment on Mitsubishi Electric’s FT line of PC-based server computers. Eicon’s DIVA Pro 2.0, DIVA Server BRI and DIVA Server PRI ISDN cards will be integrated into Mitsubishi’s existing FT1200 and FT2400 family of server computers. Eicon Technology’s DIVA Server BRI offers high-speed Basic Rate Interface (BRI) ISDN connections to two remote users at the same time. Applications include telecommuting, remote LAN access, or any digital/analog application with a small user base. Eicon’s DIVA Server PRI offers similar capabilities to those of the BRI version, with optimization to operate LAN to LAN traffic or high-capacity voice signals over PBX. The DIVA Pro 2.0, a PCMCIA card, is specifically designed for telecommuters, office workers, remote LAN access users, and imaging application users who need ISDN’s speed, yet also need to communicate with analog resources. For more information, contact the company at 514-745-5500.

BICOM VM4 Enhances Cost-Effective Voice Mail
BICOM, Inc. is shipping the BICOM VM4, a complete single-source solution using DSP (Digital Signal Processor) technology. The VM4 is an industrial-grade box that is installed on a wall next to your PBX. It provides high-quality voice compression and can store more than 100 hours of speech. Flash disk is available as an option, and a hard disk is standard. Since the VM4 uses a hard disk, there are no issues related to data retention as there are with battery backed-up DRAM solutions. The system can be accessed through an RS-232 port using a remote PC. There is also a parallel port for backup to disk. For more information, contact the company at 203-268-4484.

COM2001, Inacom Communications Join To Provide Client/Server Software For Windows NT
COM2001 Technologies has announced a partnership with Inacom Communications to provide preintegrated COM2001 NTX (Network Telephone Exchange) Enterprise Communications Server (ECS). The NTX ECS offers those features in highest demand by customers, including a telephone switch with conference bridge, auto attendant with speech recognition, unified messaging for voice mail, e-mail and faxes, and voice-enabled personal assistant services, which allow users to speak to the NTX ECS from any standard or wire less telephone to place calls and check messages. Under the COM2001/Inacom agreement, the companies will jointly develop and support the reseller channel for the COM2001 NTX family of Microsoft Windows NT Server-based computer telephony and unified messaging products. Through another joint effort, previously announced, Digital Equipment Corp. is factory-integrating COM2001 NTX products on Digital 3200 Pentium II servers. For more information, contact the company at 760-431-3133.

Trenton Enhances Its Pentium Industrial SBC Line
Trenton has announced its latest full-featured Pentium SBC, the TR-T2VE, with on-board 10/100Base-T Ethernet, Ultra Wide SCSI, and PCI SVGA interfaces. The TR-T2VE uses a Pentium processor and Intel’s 430HX chip set with speeds up to 233 MHz. Its on-board 10/100Base-T Ethernet interface provides the connectivity necessary for current-generation applications, and its Ultra Wide SCSI interface supports 40 MBps SCSI data-transfer rates. Other features of the TR-T2VE include a PCI SVGA video interface with 2 MB of EDO display memory for full-screen, full-motion video; PCI EIDE; floppy interface; serial ports; PS/2 mouse; and two USB ports. It is also available in a low-profile configuration. For more information, contact the company at 800-875-6031.

Working Group To Develop Wireless Communications Specification For The Home
Leading companies spanning the personal computer, communications, and consumer electronics industries have announced the formation of a working group to develop a specification for wireless communications in the home. This specification will allow PCs, peripherals, cordless telephones and consumer electronic devices to communicate and interoperate with one another. The Home Radio Frequency Working Group (HRFWG) expects to publish the open specification for home wireless communications, called Shared Wireless Access Protocol (SWAP), later this year. The HRFWG is led by core members Compaq Computer Corporation, Ericsson Enterprise Networks, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Motorola, Philips Consumer Communications L.P. (PCC), Proxim, and Symbionics, and is supported by Butterfly Communications, Harris Semiconductor, Intellon, National Semiconductor, Rockwell Semiconductor System, and Samsung Electronics America, Inc. For more information, visit the HRFWG/SWAP Web site at www.homerf.org. 

Hypercom Debuts IT Software Suite
Hypercom Network Systems has developed a suite of Internet telephony features to help service providers overcome obstacles to mainstream usage as well as protect existing revenues. Hypercom’s new Integrated Enterprise Network (IEN) CompleteVoice equips the company’s recently announced IEN 6000 high-density gateway which enables user features and provides better internal management. The IEN CompleteVoice brings to Internet telephony many key user features and customer- service capabilities already familiar to customers. These include: Call Forwarding, Busy/No-Answer Forwarding, Call Accounting Capabilities, Customized Call Numbering Plans, Callback/Ringback, Local Switching/Extension Dialing, and Hunt and Distribution Groups. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.hypercom.com. 

AltiGen Unveils Open CTI Platform For Small Businesses
AltiGen Communications, Inc., has begun shipping its new AltiWare Open Edition (OE) 2.0, developed for the company’s AltiServ system, to provide smaller companies with the extensive voice and e-mail communication benefits enjoyed by corporations. AltiWare OE leverages the BackOffice technologies included in Small Business Server, and is fully integrated with the Internet to allow remote workers and offices to function as if they were all on one corporate phone, voice mail, and e-mail system. It delivers corporate- strength voice mail, call/voice processing, auto attendant, basic Automatic Call Distribution, Microsoft Exchange integration, an e-mail server and Internet-based extension configuration for businesses with up to 100 users. AltiWare OE is TAPI-compliant. For more information, contact the company at 510-252-9712.

Artisoft Introduces TeleVantage Call Control Software
Artisoft is releasing a PC-based telephone system designed to provide small- to medium-sized businesses greater functionality than traditional PBXs, at a lower price. Artisoft’s new TeleVantage system is a completely integrated phone system that enables users to easily manage multiple incoming calls, transfer calls, set up conferences, and remain in touch for important calls. It also includes a multilevel auto attendant and voice mail system, available 24 hours a day. As part of its low-cost operability, TeleVantage is integrated with desktop PCs, and works with standard off-the-shelf telephones. A single TeleVantage system can support from 1 to 32 trunk lines and up to 96 extensions. For more information, contact the company at 617-354-0600.

Billionton Designs Notebook Video Conferencing Kit
A new all-in-one PC Card (PCM-CIA) video conferencing kit for notebooks PCs has been announced by Billionton. The kit, designed for notebooks with Zoomed Video PC Card sockets, provides real-time, two-way video conferencing through the Internet, a standard telephone line, ISDN, LANs, and cellular phone service. Expected to list for $249, the kit includes a high resolution color digital camera, a video capture PC Card, and video conferencing application software. The card will provide capture and playback motion video at 30 frames per second for life-like images. Powered from a type II, Zoomed Video-capable, PC Card socket, it requires no external power source. For more information, contact Derek Ma at 909-468-5500.

Genesys Releases New CTI Suite
Genesys Telecommunications Laboratory, Inc., has introduced the Genesys Suite, the latest version of the company’s CTI framework and applications product line. The Genesys Suite includes new capabilities that provide enterprises with the necessary tools to build "customer interaction networks." A customer interaction network extends beyond traditional telephony-oriented applications by combining multiple customer interaction components such as IVRs, ACDs, CIS applications, data bases, and even call centers, making every customer interaction strategic — regardless of time, place, or medium. The Genesys Suite facilitates the transition from call center-centric applications to customer-centric applications. It unifies devices (PBX, IVR, ACD), applications (CIS, ERP, legacy) and multiple media (voice, data, e-mail, Web). It even unifies distributed call centers. For more information, contact the company at 415-437-1100.

@fax, Cirrus Team To Design FAXfree Portal With Custom Chipset
@fax, formerly known as TAC Systems, has announced that it entered into a license agreement with Cirrus Logic, Inc., to develop a custom- chip-based, OEM version of @fax’s FAXfree Portal. @fax’s Portal allows legacy fax equipment to be connected to the Internet and virtually freed from long-distance charges. The new agreement positions @fax and Cirrus Logic to jointly market the FAXfree Portal technology. @fax will market a board-level OEM product for integration with PCs, fax machines, printers and other peripherals that would benefit from an Internet fax capability. Cirrus Logic will bundle @fax’s "Faxfree Lite" software with its FastPath 56K modem chips, which allow individual users to create Internet faxes on their PCs and deliver them to any e-mail address through their regular ISP. For more information, contact the company at 205-721-1976.

Envox Introduces Native 32-Bit Widows Platform
The new Envox Script Editor, a native 32-bit Windows application generator, offers a platform for building voice, fax, and telephony applications with no-code scripting in an all-in- one, low-cost development package. It features an easy-to-understand interface that uses the metaphor of a graphical flow chart to guide users through script assembly. The Script Editor is also equipped with a built-in compiler; advanced HTML-to-fax conversion capabilities; and pre-programmed fax, text-to-speech, and voice recognition functions. It also offers ODBC, DLL, and DDE connectivity, support for multiple sound formats, and advanced error handling. The Script Editor is part of a suite of products called the Envox CT Studio which also includes the company’s Control Panel and its Wave Editor. For more information, contact the company at 888-368-6987 or 941-353-6587.

Lernout & Hauspie Provides Speech-Enabled Access To E-Mail
Lernout & Hauspie have released telephony server solution called Popeye. Using advanced speech recognition and patented text-to-speech technology, Popeye allows users to access, retrieve, and send e-mail via telephone. Popeye eliminates the need for a computer in sophisticated messaging applications. Popeye offers a fully-integrated SUI, developed using L&H’s automatic speech-recognition (ASR), text-to-speech (TTS), speech compression, and Natural Language Dialogue processing technologies. Popeye offers users all convenience of a system requiring: no menus, no computer, and no touch tones. To establish a Popeye account, users can simply access the provider’s Web page and complete a user profile. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.lhs.com.  

PowerDsine Introduces DC/DC Converters For Remote Feed Telecom Applications
PowerDsine has launched the new PD-NPM-03xx dc/dc family of 6.5-w output converters for remote-power feeding applications. With an input voltage range of 36-130 vdc, these units are ideal for such requirements as HDSL/xDSL, and can also serve typical 48-vdc, 36-vdc min., applications. The converters come in single and dual outputs of 5 vdc and 3.3 vdc. Available in temperature ranges of -10 to +60 degrees C or -40 to +85 degrees C, they are suited for use in either sheltered or outdoor environments. The PD-NPM-03xx can operate alone or in conjunction with PDI PD-LPM line power modules. For more information, contact the company at 516-756-4680.

VTEL Designs New Multimedia Conference Server
VTEL Corp. has added the SmartLink/W series of Multimedia Conference Servers (MCS) to its video networking product family. The eight-model SmartLink/W MCSs line offers a cost-effective and easy-to-use solution for workgroups or project teams that require eight ports or less for their multiway conferences. The new product line complements VTEL’s multimedia server family featuring the SmartLink 1000 and SmartLink 2000 models that support T.120 data conferencing, application sharing, continuous presence, and a transmission spectrum up to full T1/E1 speeds. Features include: a single connection point between MCS and endpoint, allowing point-to-point and multipoint calling; on-demand, "meet me," dial out, or premises switching support bundled IMUX Premises Switching software for point-to-point calls up to 384 Kbps; and a single communications installation that can span multiple purposes and reduces the need to reconfigure. For more information, contact the company at 512-314-2700.

TTSI, Interactive Intelligence Market EIC Software With T2 Keyboards
TTSI has announced an alliance with Interactive Intelligence, developer of Enterprise Interaction Center (EIC) software, an NT-based all-in-one communications server solution that also provides an interactive engine to generate applications for all forms of communications. The agreement is two-pronged: TTSI will distribute EIC software, while Interactive Intelligence will market TTSI’s new T2 Programmable Keyboards. The EIC software package, managing all communications media, replaces the traditional PBX switch and typical legacy systems. The system runs on local- and wide-area networks and also offers unified messaging and a software phone. TTSI’s T2 Programmable Keyboard is software-driven and object-linked, designed to enhance CTI applications and speed development of new solutions in call centers and other busy ACD environments. For more information, contact the company at 800-899-7017.

Packeteer Debuts Bandwidth Manager For VoIP Network Traffic
Packeteer, Inc., introduces the PacketShaper Bandwidth Manager designed to provide QoS for voice and multimedia traffic on IP networks. The product would thereby remove a major barrier to the deployment of Internet telephony in the enterprise. PacketShaper supports the new ITU H.323 specification for transmitting audio and video streams over private and public computer networks. Microsoft’s NetShow streaming video application and NetMeeting teleconferencing application will be supported specifically with automated traffic discovery and bandwidth control. For more information, contact Bob Quillin at 408- 873-4400.

Sony Teams With Ascend To Deliver Video Conferencing
Sony Electronics announced that it has teamed with Ascend Communications, Inc., to offer a flexible video conferencing package that optimizes conference quality and efficiency. The joint package consists of Sony’s TriniCom Mini 1000 Collaborative WorkGroup system and Ascend’s Multiband MAX 2000 inverse multiplexer. It uses bandwidth-on- demand technology which automatically adjusts line usage as needed, reducing the cost of network services. The Sony/Ascend package provides access to the ISDN-based system through T1 lines. The networking features of the Multiband MAX allow the system to act as a local site-switching controller connecting up to 16 TriniCom Mini 1000s with BRI connections. For more information, contact Sony at 800-686-SONY.

Crystal Group Offers Rackmount Computers With Cable-Management System
Crystal Group, Inc., has designed new space-saving, high-reliability rackmount computers/servers. Crystal Computers’ open-architecture SBC CPUs allow the latest processing technology from Intel, Cyrix, and AMD. On-board system monitoring and alarm capabilities are available on all com-puters/ servers. A prime feature of these computers is QuickConnect, Crystal Group’s exclusive cable-management system designed to eliminate cable-related failures and reduce the time required to install or remove a computer for service upgrades. It ties all computer cabling into one common connector including power. Among the Group’s computers are: the Crystal CS500 which includes multiple five-slot ISA and ISA/PCI PCIMG 2.0 compliant passive backplanes; and the CS900 and CS1000, both with multiple 10-slot ISA and ISA/PCI PCIMG 2.0 compliant passive backplanes. Custom backplanes are available for all three. For more information, contact the company at 319- 378-1636.

Franklin Introduces Fax-Server IP Tool
Franklin Telecom Corp. has announced the availability of its Cyclone-F fax server, among the first IP tools with T1 high-speed digital telephone circuits, LAN router, and integrated modem bank functionality. The Cyclone-F fax server combines the company’s D-Mark channel bank with the fax server application; Franklin’s V.29/V.17 Class 1, 2 or 2.0, group 3 fax modems; and the company’s fax desktop software in a turnkey system. It connects to the LAN using telco interfaces. A second T1 card may be added for drop and insert applications. Internet accessibility and Web browser management are further features of the product. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.ftel.com.  

Natural MicroSystems Delivers H.323-Compliant IP Telephony Platform
Natural MicroSystems’ new Fusion 2.0 Internet Protocol (IP) Telephony platform is now available. Fusion 2.0 is an H.323-compliant platform capable of supporting multiple T1/E1 spans in a single chassis. This scalability, in combination with its advanced vocoder support and programmability, makes Fusion 2.0 ideally suited for the high-value enterprise and service provider markets. Built on Microsoft Windows NT Server, Fusion 2.0 offers developers of high-value IP telephony applications a rich software development environment and access to proven programming tools. The new platform enables voice, traditionally transmitted via circuit switching over the Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN), to be reliably and quickly transmitted via packet switching over IP-based networks, including corporate intranets and the Internet. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.nmss.com. 

Brooktrout Announces High-Density IP Telephony Platform
Brooktrout Technology, Inc., has released the TR2001 IP Telephony fax and voice board, designed to provide a higher-density platform than currently available. The TR2001 will deliver up to 60 channels of IP voice and IP fax in a single PCI slot. It will also include an integrated Primary Rate ISDN network interface and an integrated Ethernet port, eliminating the need for stand-alone network interface boards and further reducing the number of slots required by two. Also delivered with the TR2001 are Brooktrout’s SpeechPac Voice Compression software based on ITU standard vocoders such as G.723.1 and G.729a; support for BTStack323, the company’s H.323 protocol stack for IP Telephony Gateways; and MVIP or SCBus industry standard TDM buses for access to other computer telephony boards. For more information, contact the company at 781-449-4100.

E-Net Introduces Powerful New Consumer Internet Product
E-Net, Inc., brings to consumers a new product that enables high-quality voice communications over the Internet. Called NetConnect, E-Net’s new offering allows consumers to plug a telephone directly into a PC to access the Internet for toll-free, high-quality long- distance calls. With NetConnect, users can hear a dial-tone when making a call and a ring when receiving a call, and use an ordinary telephone — even a cordless model – rather than a microphone and speakers to engage in full duplex (two-way) conversations. NetConnect uses the same high-tech computer workstation technology featured in E-Net’s enterprise business product, Telecom 2000. It is priced at $159.00 or less. For more information, contact the company at 888-FON-ENET or 301-601-8700.

PureData’s New Line Of Integrated Fax Servers
PureData has debuted its new SatisFAXtion Integrated Fax Servers (IFS). The new IFS manages high-volume mission-critical fax traffic while offering easy installation and one-stop support. SatisFAXtion is available as a hardware-only fax server, or it can be installed with the user’s choice of Symantec’s WinFax PRO for Networks Server 5.0, FaxBack’s NET Satisfaction 6.0 Small Business Edition, or FaxBack’s NET SatisFAXtion 6.0 Small Business Edition with e-mail. All IFS packages include an Intel Pentium 166, are year-2000- ready, and utilize SatisFAXtion’s 2000 or 4000 intelligent fax cards. Critical fax functions are executed on the board’s microprocessor rather than the host CPU, enabling the fax card to handle multiple faxes simultaneously. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.puredata.com.  

GeoTel Releases New Call-Center Market Product
GeoTel Communications Corp. has debuted its Site ICR CTI solution. In conjunction with GeoTel’s Intelligent CallRouter (ICR) and Network Intelligent Call Router, Site ICR will help provide solutions for single-site, multi-site, and Network Service Provider deployments. Packaged specifically for the single-site call center, GeoTel’s Site ICR provide a core platform for integrating ACD, IVR, and desktop capabilities. The product also features a fixed-price entry point and a fully scalable architecture that readily supports additional sites. GeoTel’s Intelligent CallRouter is also developed for multi-site call-center operation. Its open architecture ensures inter-operability with other call-center systems. GeoTel’s Network Intelligent Call Router is an intelligent, network-based software platform that enables a carrier to offer enhanced services, virtual call-center capabilities, and network CTI functionality to its customers. For more information, contact the company at 978- 275-5399.

Brite Voice Launches Next-Generation Open Server Open Server
Brite Voice Systems, Inc., introduced the BriteConnect Open Server (O/S), an open, scalable platform designed to provide a wide range of multimedia, interactive voice response (IVR), and information processing services. BriteConnect O/S offers expandability, modularity, and multi-application processing power to customers in a wide range of industries. Each system is comprised of one or more voice/media processing units (VPU/MPUs), an application server unit (ASU), and a Brite Write-1 application development software toolkit. The VPU/MPU provides a high-performance interface to the telephone network, responds to callers, and records voice messages; the ASU module controls the voice clients, communicates with external data networks and applications, and provides an online application development and system management environment; the Write-1 application development toolkit includes a multilayered GUI as well as menu-oriented and scripted interfaces. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.brite.com.  

Hammer Announces CTI Testing Control
Hammer Technologies now offers a full client/server test control and management environment. The new Hammer TestStation allows clients to control tests spanning multiple Hammer TestServers and remotely develop tests as though they were locally attached. TestStations may access TestServers using direct network or remote dial-up connections. The new product’s features are provided via the TestStation program, which runs on any NT Workstation-equipped PC, and the Hammer TestServer software running on any of the company’s family of servers. These include Hammer IT, ITe, and ISG. A single server mode is also available in which the TestStation and TestServer software run on a single Hammer system. For more information, contact the company at 508-694-9959.

New Software Enhances WhiteCap’s CTI Product
WhiteCap Development Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Edgewater Technology, Inc., has introduced new software, WhiteCap 1.2, to enhance the company’s CTI product. The original WhiteCap is a Windows NT-based CTI solution designed to provide sophisticated call-center functionality at a cost-effective point-of-entry that integrates with a company’s existing infrastructure. The WhiteCap 1.2 software enhancement, which will better enable call center managers to monitor agent activities, includes improved Web reporting features; enhanced multimedia ACD (Automatic Call Distribution) and monitoring; and improved IVR (Interactive Voice Response), ACD, Internet callback, and SDK (Software Developer’s Kit) capabilities. For more information, contact Paula Grieco, Edgewater Technology, at 718-246-6926.

Microlog Debuts Latest Version Of Unix-Based Interactive Communications Product
Microlog has added the Intela System Release 6 (SR6) to its line of Unix-based interactive communications products. Intela SR6 includes upgrades and enhancements to IntelaCTI and IntelaDB, as well as the introduction of a new desktop suite to improve the efficiency of call center operation. SR6 also includes new security and productivity features that speed development of applications. With Intela SR6, Microlog’s fully relational database product, IntelaDB, has been more tightly integrated into the Intela environment. In addition to the access standards already supported (SQL and ODBC), IntelaDB now supports a 100-percent Pure Java implementation of the Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) standard. This provides Java developers with native database access to IntelaDB. Included in the desktop suite is a Java-based virtual phone, which is fully integrated with Microlog’s CTI server. SR6 now features a fully SCBus-compliant architecture. For more information, contact the company at 301-428-9100.

Motorola Unveils Next- Generation Multiservice Networking Series
Motorola’s Information Systems Group, Network Systems Division, has debuted the Vanguard 6400 Series for next generation multiservice networking. The Vanguard 6400 Series introduces multiservice edge networking to support networking multimedia, IP, and serial traffic simultaneously over the WAN. Multiservice edge networking eliminates the need for parallel networks and duplicate equipment to handle this variety of traffic. The new series features advanced ONS (open networking software) architecture with a dual-core switching, routing and bridging scheme to optimize real-time applications, trim networking costs and streamline management by allowing users to choose only needed protocols and applications. Vanguard 6400 also affords users customizable IP prioritization over LANs or WANs, and IP gateway capability, both of which help to optimize QoS. For more information, contact Stan Vernon at 508-261-4756.

Periphonics Introduces Single-Source CTI Products
Periphonics Corp. is debuting its CallSPONSOR product suite. CallSPONSOR is designed as a single-source CTI solution for improving call-center productivity and customer service levels. It integrates a wide range of call-center technologies, including interactive voice response (IVR), large vocabulary recognition (LVR), digital voice recording, desktop application integration, and preview dialing. A CTI solution that interfaces to a call center’s PBX/ACD, CallSPONSOR enables the CTI server to manage multiple lines via data link in the enterprise environment. CallSPONSOR’s modular design and extensive feature set allow for fixed-price deployment that ensures installation at a predefined price. It is designed, sold, installed, and serviced by a single vendor from development through support. For more information, contact the company at 516-468-9000.