[March
30, 1999]
Siemens Releases Xpressions 470 Unified Messaging Platform
Siemens Information and Communication Networks,
Inc. unveiled Xpressions 470, a comprehensive unified messaging offering that
converges voice mail, fax, and e-mail technologies into a unified, feature-rich messaging
platform, while also addressing key implementation, ownership and maintenance issues.
Xpressions 470 is a fully modular, open-standards-based unified messaging platform for
businesses and institutions. The product launch is the first manifestation of a suite of
products, branded Xpressions, which Siemens announced last month.
Most unified messaging systems merely "integrate" voice, e-mail and fax
messaging applications. Xpressions 470 truly unifies these systems into a single messaging
infrastructure, providing a cost- and time-saving single point of administration for
system updates. Built upon Siemens' award-winning PhoneMail user interface, Xpressions 470
provides a simple migration path for those already familiar with the PhoneMail voice
messaging platform. It also provides users an intuitive and easy-to-use platform for
transitioning to unified messaging. In addition to cost savings and ease-of-use, Siemens
also offers professional integration and support services to ensure a company's smooth
transition to the Xpressions 470 unified messaging platform.
Xpressions 470 is an integrated application suite based on PC, messaging and computer
telephony standards. Users can access, send and receive voice, fax and e-mail messages
anytime, anywhere, via the communications device of their choice -- phone, PC or fax
device. This is made possible with "message morphing," technology that converts
voice mail messages to voice-based e-mails, and employs a text-to-speech engine to
"read" e-mail messages and fax headers to the recipient over a phone connection.
One can even send and receive compound messages that combine both voice and text elements
into a single message. All voice, fax and e-mail messages are stored in a common
"inbox" making communications simple and efficient. This eliminates the need for
users to have multiple "in-boxes" for voice and text messages.
While PhoneMail is the primary voice interface, Xpressions 470 supports many common
e-mail interfaces, including Microsoft Exchange and Outlook in the first release, with
Lotus Notes and Novell GroupWise integrations available in planned future releases. For
fax messaging, Xpressions 470 integrates with four of the leading third party fax servers,
including Fenestrae ("Faxination"), Omtool ("Fax Sr." and "Fax
Sr. Express"), Optus ("FACSys") and TOPCALL ("Fax and Unified
Messaging Server").
One of the key elements of Xpressions 470 is its modular design. Customers can add any
system application (whether voice, fax or e-mail messaging) at any time for any user. This
allows companies the flexibility to implement the messaging capabilities they need when
they need them. Another unique feature of Xpressions 470 is provided by an optional
networking application using the "Connect Server," that integrates a company's
existing PhoneMail system seamlessly with their new Xpressions 470 suite of applications.
This allows the user to forward, reply, create and exchange messages between systems and
also enables users to maintain distribution lists that span both networks.
Xpressions 470 is being introduced initially as a hardware/software solution in two
models. Xpressions 472 supports workgroups requiring between four to 16 voice sessions,
while Xpressions 475 supports workgroups requiring up to 48 voice sessions. The products
will be priced from $100 to $300 per subscriber mailbox, depending on system size and
features desired. Both versions will be generally available through Siemens' North America
sales channels in June and supported by Siemens' 24-hour per day/seven-day-per-week
nationwide support program. Siemens offers professional services to facilitate the network
planning, design, implementation and optimization of the IT infrastructure within which
the Xpressions product integrates. The company is also offering a migration credit program
to make it even more affordable for companies with Siemens PhoneMail voice messaging to
migrate to Xpressions 470.
The Xpressions 470 models comes standard with a Microsoft NT- based server featuring a
300 MHz or higher-speed microprocessor, at least 128 MB of memory and RAID Level 5 disk
storage redundancy option. Standard features include a variety of call processing
applications (auto attendant, audio text and voice forms), as well as web-browser
interfaces providing each user a personal messaging assistant and for system
administration.
Future versions of Xpressions 470 will include a "find-me/follow-me"
communications module for real-time messaging, enhanced video messaging capabilities and
desktop call control. Siemens is also planning to introduce the system into other major
markets around the world.
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