New Products...

• New Message Connection Services
  
  Centigram Communications Corporation has announced that it has added mailbox on demand (MBOD) and directory assistance for nonpublished numbers (DANP) to its Message Connection Services. The additions are designed to allow telephone companies and long-distance and cellular providers worldwide to deliver enhanced messaging options to their customers and increase network usage. For more information, contact Dan Spalding at 408-428-3559.
  
  
• New Device For Headset Security
  
  CommuniTech Inc. has announced the introduction of CommuniClamp, which is designed to reduce headset loss and repair costs. CommuniClamp keeps headsets firmly in place by securing the amplifier at the workstation without marring the worksurface. A two-foot cord prevents the headset from falling to the floor and breaking. For more information, contact Melissa Vokoun at 847-439-4333.
  
  
• EIS Releases Centenium Version 2.5
  
  EIS Systems, an operating company of EIS International, has announced the release of version 2.5 of its Centenium call center software for integrating inbound and outbound calling. The enhancements are designed to streamline the process of setting up a calling campaign (by simplifying database development with screen prompts); bolster inbound call management (by controlling ANI and DNIS); and enable consolidated reporting, error handling and system administration. For more information, contact Aimee Martin at 203-351-4800.
  
  
• New Ergonomic Chair Models
  
  HAG, Inc. has announced the release of its TRIAD 6000 Classic Collection, which offers six ergonomic chair models with arm options to meet specific requirements. Arms are available in stationary, adjustable height, pivot, pitch and swing-away configurations. For more information, call 800-334-4839.
  
  
• New Teleconsulting Service
  
  Impact Telemarketing, Inc. has announced it has started a spin-off division, Sounding Board Business Resources. This division is a teleconsulting service working with young entrepreneurs and start-up organizations that have plans for significant growth. All consulting will take place over the telephone during nonbusiness hours so entrepreneurs can spend their key time focusing on important and urgent areas. Impact also announced the opening of its ninth call center, a 24-station center located in Garrison, North Dakota. For more information, call 800-842-0015.
  
  
• NorthWest To Provide Telemarketing, Research Services
  
  NorthWest Telemarketing, Inc. has announced the opening of its telemarketing research firm. Based in Wilsonville, Oregon, the company specializes in financial services, high technology and software, politics and public opinion. The new 7,000-square-foot call center will be staffed by 150 full- and part-time employees and is equipped with 84 predictive dialing stations. For more information, contact Tim Rote at 503-682-9694.
  
  
• Omnitronix Releases Pollable Call Record Buffer
  
  Omnitronix has announced the release of PS680, a pollable call record buffer which receives, stores and releases PBX phone system data via its dial-up internal modem. PS680 introduces Configuration Manager for Windows, a programming advancement designed to simplify SMDR buffer management. For more information, call 206-624-4985.
  
  
• Perimeter Releases Enhanced ACD
  
  Perimeter Technology has announced the release of Version 37 of its VU-ACD/100 MIS for DMS100- based Centrex ACDs. The new version is designed to provide enhanced real-time reporting, more flexible historical reporting and expanded connectivity options. Perimeter has also added an optional module to monitor agent adherence to schedules and the ability to reconfigure call routing tables using conditional load management macros. For more information, contact Debbie Goff at 800-645-1650, ext. 204.
  
  
• Plantronics Introduces New Headsets
  
  Plantronics has announced the introduction of two new models of its Encore™ "headband style" headset, designed to cancel over 90 percent of background noise. The Encore NC (noise-cancelling) headset family includes both monaural and binaural versions. The TriStar™, an over-the-ear version with a three-point fit, is designed to be lighter and more stable. For more information, contact Greg Ryan at 408-458-4401.
  
  
• New Inbound Call Center Planning Software
  
  Portage Communications has announced the release of version 2.0 of Call Center Designer™ for Windows. Call Center Designer, a tool for modeling and predicting the operations of inbound call centers, is designed to help you plan the number of people and inbound trunk lines you need for any call volume and desired level of service. For more information, contact Stuart Harris at 206-888-5320.
  
  
• New Voice-Logger For Unattended Recording
  
  Racal Recorders, Inc. has announced the introduction of its Wordwatch Dual-deck Voice-Logger, designed for unattended recording of continuous voice communication for up to 12 hours across four channels. The Wordwatch Dual-deck Voice Logger is aimed at small businesses and organizations in developing markets that need to record calls but do not require all of the features and overheads of larger recording systems. Racal has also announced LAN remote replay enhancements to its Wordnet digital recording systems for message archiving and replay in financial trading, air traffic control, law enforcement and emergency services environments. For more information, contact Cathie Elias-West at 714-863-0404.
  
  
• New Secure Data Access Solutions
  
  Scopus Technology, Inc. and Open Horizon, Inc. have announced plans to bring industry-standard, highly secure data access solutions to the worldwide customer care market. Scopus customers will use Open Horizon's Connection, which is designed to provide secure plug-and-play access to enterprise services such as heterogeneous databases, user authentication, data encryption, directory services and transaction processing monitors. For more information, contact Ken Croley at 510-597-6065.
  
  
• Steelcase Introduces New Seating Line
  
  Steelcase, Inc. has announced the release of its Springboard™ line of ergonomic seating, which includes a task, manager and guest chair. The line is designed to accommodate various work styles and aesthetics at a mid-market price point. Steelcase has also announced the release of PowerPincher Occupancy Sensor with power strip, an energy-saving product designed to automatically power office equipment by sensing when someone enters the work area. For more information, call 800-333- 9939.
  
  
• New Voice Recorder
  
  Storacall has announced the launch of its VR200 voice recorder, a twin-cassette system designed to automatically record telephone conversations over one or more lines. Also, both decks can be linked up to record up to 6 hours on a single line. Up to four VR200 units can be connected in a series, for 24-hour recording coverage on a single line. For more information, call 011-01-242-578815.
  
  
• Faxgate Delivers Fax Support For HP OpenMail<
  
  Teubner & Associates has announced Faxgate, an automated fax gateway designed to extend the flow of information beyond Hewlett-Packard's OpenMail network to high-volume faxing. Designed to be completely transparent to the OpenMail user, Faxgate sends messages simultaneously to fax and e-mail destinations. For more information, call 405-624-2254.
  
  
• Unitrac Releases TaskMaster
  
  Unitrac Software Corporation has announced the release of Unitrac TaskMaster, a server-based application for managing a wide variety of tasks in any Unitrac environment. TaskMaster is designed to receive and perform a wide variety of tasks ranging from faxes, call distribution, software updates, synchronization of remote databases, report printing to mailing label generation. Tasks can be submitted to TaskMaster via the corporate LAN, WAN or Intranet or via the Internet. For more information call 800- 864-8722, ext. 233.
  
  
• VAC Starts New Business Services Division
  
  VAC Service Corporation, an administrator of warranty and extended service programs for manufacturers, importers, retailers, catalog merchandisers and television shopping networks, has announced the opening of its new VAC Business Services Division, which is being launched to address the complete service needs of small and mid-sized businesses. Among the services being offered are installation of equipment, service and maintenance, toll-free technical support and trouble shooting, on-site service, customer support 24 hours a day, software support and extended service programs. For more information, call 800- 431-5843.
  
  
• New Vantive Products
  
  The Vantive Corporation has announced the release of Vantive Sales 6.0, which is designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of field sales representatives with the ability to model sales methodologies including a close date driven model; calendaring and scheduling through integration with Microsoft Schedule+; robust pipeline management; and a multimedia, web-enabled marketing encyclopedia. Vantive has also announced the release of On-The-Go for mobile users, which is designed to provide full functionality and performance of Vantive applications including enterprisewide customer information access and automatic access to application upgrades. For more information, contact Bob Tate at 408-982-5700.
  
  

CTI Products...

• Aspect Releases Aspect WinSet™ For Windows
  
  Aspect Telecommunications has announced version 2.0 of Aspect WinSet for Windows, which is designed to provide agents working inside or outside the call center with a powerful computer-telephony interface to handle calls, exchange information and transact business. Version 2.0 offers local call center agents new productivity and fail-safe performance features enabled by the Aspect WinSet Adapter, a device that links the agent's workstation to the Aspect Call Center� ACD. For more information, contact Valerie Heath-Benjamin at 408-325-2287.
  
  
• Mitel Releases USB Telephone With Plug-And-Play
  
  Mitel Corporation has announced it has demonstrated plug-and-play capabilities of its universal serial bus (USB) telephone, which is designed to satisfy the communications needs of home office workers, small business and telecommuters. USB telephony is designed to turn the PC into a desktop voice mail system that offers a unified in-box for fax, e-mail and voice mail messaging. For more information, contact Ann Hatchell at 613-592-2122.
  
  
• Open CTI Link For Call Center Connectivity
  
  Rockwell Switching Systems Division and Dialogic Corporation have announced the release of Access2™, a standards-based CTI link for the Rockwell Spectrum ACD based on the ECMA CSTA protocol. Access2 will be compatible with Dialogic's CT-Connect™ CTI gateway, and will enable software developers on many different platforms to integrate their applications with the Spectrum ACD via industry standard programming. For more information, contact Sharon Kitzman at 708-960- 8654.
  
  

Internet Products...

• DIGITCOM Launches IntraVoice System„
  
  DIGITCOM Multimedia has announced the launch of IntraVoice System„, a multifaceted communications solution that operates on the Resound voice processing platform. IntraVoice bundles voice mail and fax- on-demand with an innovative, high-impact Web site and point-to-point videoconferencing over ISDN- switched lines. It is designed with an open architecture for businesses that want to upgrade their current voice mail systems or those looking to establish voice mail capabilities. It is designed to provide seamless interconnectivity between audiotex functions, networked databases and the Internet. For more information, contact Bob Dunagan at 310-584-0750, ext. 7776.
  
  
• Fax-On-Command For Corporate Call Centers
  
  Epigraphx has announced its new Fax-on-Command service. Internet Fax-on-Command is designed to centralize selected documents into a fax library of company literature, including sales information, technical documentation and specification sheets. The service is designed to make documents in any format - including HTML - accessible to customers by phone or computer. It is also designed to collect customer information as fax requests are processed and provide comprehensive reporting to marketing communications, sales and customer service managers. For more information, contact Debra Sharkey at 415-413-1666.
  
  
• New Same-Day Database Service
  
  F1RSTMARK, Inc. has announced a same-day database service designed to make available database and mailing list information on more than 12 million U.S. and international companies over the Web with same-day customer delivery by e-mail or FTP. F1RSTMARK supports more than 20 databases, word processing and spreadsheet products for Windows, DOS, Macintosh, mainframe or mini-computers. For more information, contact Michael H. Pomerantz at 800-729-2600.
  
  
• Web Access For International Callbacks
  
  HTI Voice Solutions, Inc. has announced an application that allows callback initiation via the Web. The service is designed to reduce the cost of calls made from international locations by bridging them through a telecommunications switch located in the U.S., allowing users to pay U.S. rates for global calls. For more information, contact Gretchen Clarke at 508-485-8400, ext. 255.
  
  
• New Voice Browser
  
  NetPhonic Communications, Inc. has announced Web-On-Call™ Voice Browser software. The browser is designed to expand the reach of the Web by allowing instant access to information on the Web from any location without using a computer or modem. The software uses text-to-speech technology and an audio recording feature called "Teleprompting" to play back Web documents over the telephone. For more information, contact Ken Rhie at 415-962-1111.
  
  
• OLI And ISN Sign Download Agreement
  
  Online Interactive, Inc. (OLI) and Internet Shopping Network, Inc. (ISN) have announced a joint initiative to expand the sale and download delivery of software on the Internet. Under the terms of the two-year exclusive agreement, OLI will provide over 1,000 downloadable software titles for ISN to market to its over 100,000 registered members. Online Interactive has also introduced its atOnce Software store, designed to enable CompuServe members to securely download over 700 software titles directly to their desktop computers. For more information, contact Robert Nachbar at 206-443-1933, ext. 124.
  
  
• New Web Module For Internet, Intranet Access
  
  ProAmerica Systems, Inc. has announced the release of SCM Web, a client/server customer support application featuring Internet and Intranet access. SCM Web is designed to allow customers to access SCM via the Internet to log a support question, review the status of their previous support calls and access its knowledge base to resolve a problem. It is also designed to allow Intranet access to the Web module so support personnel can review the status of a call, enter the service transaction and study technical assistance request histories from almost any location with Web access. It provides built-in security features, event-driven workflow design, user-defined screens and a customization toolkit. For more information, contact Bruce Benesh at 214-680-6132.
  
  
• Syntellect Introduces Web Access For Internet
  
  Syntellect, Inc. has announced Web Access, a software application tool for enabling customer transactions and information exchange across the Web. Web Access is designed to allow end users to perform a variety of self-service applications such as home banking, student registration, catalog ordering, employee benefits and other online interactive transactions. WebAccess is designed to expand the feature set of Syntellect's VocalPoint IVR, an open architecture IVR system. By using WebAccess, VocalPoint provides connectivity between a Web server and a host computer or database. For more information, contact Anne Conrad at 800-347-9907, ext. 313.
  
  
• SunExpress Launches Internet Business Service
  
  SunExpress, Inc. has announced SunPlaza^SM for Internet business. A new set of Internet- based services, SunPlaza is a 24-hour resource for purchasing aftermarket products from Sun Microsystems. It allows customers to access detailed, up-to-date information on product pricing and availability, place orders over the Internet and check the status of their own orders. These services expand the existing SunExpress Internet site, which provides information on more than 3,500 aftermarket products and services offered by SunExpress. For more information, contact Julie Turkevich at 508-442- 3156.
  
  
• TALX Announces Interactive Communications Interface
  
  TALX Corporation has announced it will provide its interactive communication solutions for SAP's R/3 Release 3.0 enterprise applications software for client/server environments. TALX solutions will allow users of SAP's software to extract and update data via telephone, fax, e-mail and the Internet. SAP customers will integrate TALX solutions through SAP's Automation Interface. The combination is designed to add enterprisewide access to data in SAP databases. For more information, contact Anne Schaller at 602-840-6495.
  
  
• Legacy Applications Spread New Web
  
  Telegenisys, Inc. has announced WEB-Alive, a tookit to transfer existing applications to the Web. For large corporations using terminal emulators on each workstation, WEB-Alive is designed to eliminate software costs by making terminal-based applications available in Web pages. WEB-Alive uses an object- oriented terminal emulation interface to the user's host and/or third party systems and supports over 50 different terminal emulation systems. For more information, contact Rene Pouteau at 510-210-8900, ext. 812.
  
  

Happenings...

• National Domestic Violence Hotline Uses Executone System
  
  Executone Information Systems, Inc. has announced that more than 8,000 calls were answered by advocates at the National Domestic Violence Hotline during its first month of operation. Utilizing Executone's IDS digital telephone system with sophisticated automatic call distribution software, the Austin, Texas-based Hotline handled more than 8,800 calls within the thirty-day period between February 21 and March 21, 1996, supporting the 1992 U.S. Surgeon General report that suggested that at least 2 to 4 million women each year are physically abused. In his statement at the February 21 opening of the Hotline, President Bill Clinton supported the use of advanced telecommunications by stating, "We can bring the marvels of modern technology to solve a very old problem in a profoundly human way." The Hotline, a project of the Texas Council on Family Violence, operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to link individuals in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands with a nationwide database of up-to-the-minute information on assistance for domestic violence.
  
  
• Linda Drake Named An "Entrepreneur Of The Year"
  
  TCIM Services, Inc. has announced that founder and chief executive officer Linda C. Drake has been named as the 1996 Delaware Valley Entrepreneur of the Year for Manufacturing and Service. This year's Delaware Valley recipients were praised by program founder Ernst & Young LLP as "hard working individuals who have used their determination, creativity and vision to establish and sustain successfully growing businesses that are creating jobs and providing social and economic benefits throughout the Delaware Valley."
  
  
• Jerry Dyer Named An "Entrepreneur Of The Year"
  
  Tel America/ Express Tel has announced that founder and vice president Jerry Dyer has been named a Utah Entrepreneur of the Year for Information Technology. Award winners were chosen by a panel of seven prominent Utahns, including Senator Jake Garn, Joseph A. Cannon of Geneva Steel and Jerry C. Atkin of SkyWest, Inc. The 1996 Utah Entrepreneur of the Year Awards are sponsored by Ernst & Young LLP, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, USA Today, the NASDAQ Stock Market, Parsons Behle & Latimer, RC Willey, Merril Lynch, Utah Business magazine and Cooley Godward Castro Huddleston & Tatum.
  
  

Expansions...

• Dakotah Direct Opens New Facility
  
  Dakotah Direct, Inc. has announced it has opened a new facility for its subsidiary Dakotah Reservation Services. The 7,300-square-foot-building will accommodate 175 full-time employees and is dedicated to handling airline reservations for Vanguard Airlines. The new facility gives Dakotah 1,600 employees nationwide.
  
  
• DialAmerica Increases Capacity
  
  DialAmerica Marketing, Inc. has announced it has increased its inbound capacity by installing an advanced automatic call distribution system in its Athens, Georgia call center. To accommodate the new system's capabilities, the company is more than doubling the number of inbound positions at the center to nearly 500. An additional 56 inbound positions are located in a remote inbound facility in Greenville, South Carolina.
  
  
• Sprint Opens New Center
  
  Sprint TELECENTERs, Inc. has announced it will open a fifth call center location in Tallahassee, near the campus of Florida State University. Opening in late 1996 at Innovation Park, a research park affiliated with the FSU College of Business, the new TELECENTER will initially employ 100 full- and part-time employees, growing to more than 200 by 1997.
  
  
• TelAc Expands Facilities
  
  TelAc, Inc. has announced it has expanded its Arlington, Virginia and Dallas, Texas facilities by 20,000 square feet. TelAc founder and president John Jordan said, "Our 300 new, state-of-the-art workstations represent a tremendous boost in the amount of multilingual marketing resources available to help companies reach the $340-billion-a-year Hispanic- and Asian-American markets."
  
  
• TeleSpectrum Expands Operations
  
  TeleSpectrum, Inc. has announced it has acquired 22,000 square feet of additional office space for two new call centers. One is to be located in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania; the other, in the Woodlawn area of Baltimore, Maryland. The additional space doubles the existing number of workstations, from 160 to 320, and provides the ability to add another 150 stations within 30 days notice.
  
  

Mergers & Acquisitions...

• AAC Acquires Affinitec
  
  AAC Corporation has announced it has acquired the outstanding stock of Affinitec Corporation, a 20-year- old developer and marketer of call center workforce management systems, in a transaction involving an exchange of stock, warrants and cash valued at more than $3,000,000. AAC will sell certain Affinitec products to its Call Center Division's worldwide customer base. Correspondingly, Affinitec will have access to development capital with which to accelerate its work on enhanced products for very large and widely dispersed call center operations, including those with home-based agents.
  
  
• Graphic Results/Access Global Communications
  
  Graphic Results Corporation has announced its recent merger with Access Global Communications Corporation. Graphics Results is a full-service promotions agency known for its turnkey/fulfillment services and marketing capabilities. Access is a value-added provider of prepaid worldwide telecommunications services and develops interactive campaigns for its clients. Access will continue operation as a unit of Graphic Results.
  
  
• HA-LO To Acquire Market USA
  
  HA-LO Industries, Inc., a distributor of specialty premium advertising products, has announced it has agreed to acquire telemarketing service agency Market USA for approximately 2.5 million shares of common stock, giving effect to the recent 3-for-2 stock split paid as a 50 percent stock dividend. Market USA has 16 call centers in the U.S. and Canada and will become a wholly owned subsidiary of HA- LO.
  
  
• SmarTalk^SM Acquires VoiceChoice^SM
  
  SmarTalk TeleServices, Inc., a provider of prepaid calling cards and other telecommunications products and services, has announced it has acquired the VoiceChoice interactive call processing platform from Pacific Bell Information Services (PBIS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Pacific Bell. Patrick Loretz, formerly site manager of VoiceChoice for PBIS, has joined SmarTalk and will continue to manage the operation of VoiceChoice on a day-to-day basis.
  
  
• Voice Control Systems, Voice Processing Corp. To Merge
  
  Voice Control Systems, Inc. (VCSI) and Voice Processing Corporation (VPC) have announced they have executed a memorandum of intent to merge in a pooling of interests transaction valued at more than $40 million. VCSI will issue up to 4,000,000 shares and share equivalents to security holders of VPC. VCSI supplies speech recognition technology and speaker verification technology and VPC is a developer of over-the-telephone speech recognition for the development of telecommunications, cellular and personal computer speech applications.
  
  
• Zoom To Purchase Tribe
  
  Zoom Telephonics, a manufacturer of fax modems and other personal computer communications products, has announced it has entered into an agreement to purchase substantially all of the assets and to assume limited liabilities of Tribe Computer Works, Incorporated. Tribe Computer designs and markets remote access systems and routers for branch office environments. Zoom will issue shares of its common stock in Tribe in exchange for the purchased assets.
  
  

Strategic Alliances...

• Accelerated Payment/VoiceLog Agreement
  
  Accelerated Payment Systems, a provider of preauthorized check processing, and VoiceLog LLC, a provider of digital call recording services, have announced they have signed an agreement to test VoiceLog's transaction verification system. With VoiceLog, APS allows clients to comply with the provisions for verifiable authorization of preauthorized checks as outlined in the Federal Trade Commission's Telemarketing Sales Rule.
  
  
• GeoTel/MCI Alliance
  
  GeoTel Communications Corporation has announced it has signed a multimillion-dollar contract with MCI Telecommunications Corporation to offer GeoTel's call-routing software, the Intelligent CallRouter� (ICR), as a service within MCI's comprehensive set of call center solutions. Under the terms of the agreement, GeoTel's ICR will become an integral component of MCI's expanded network- based, call center technology offerings.
  
  
• Group 1/Monticello Agreement
  
  Group 1 Software, Inc. has announced the signing of an agreement with Monticello Software that grants Group 1 exclusive rights in the U.S. and Canada to distribute Monticello's Report Consolidation System. By using the Report Consolidation System, businesses can create customized reports that summarize the results of complex, multistep batch-processing jobs using a PC.
  
  
• Versatility/Cincom Systems Partnership
  
  Versatility, Inc., a provider of open, client/server-based call center software applications, and Cincom Systems, have announced a joint marketing alliance to integrate Versatility's call center applications with Cincom's TOTAL FrameWork software environment to extend the power of call center technology throughout the corporation. The alliance is designed to provide corporations with a comprehensive solution for quickly and efficiently delivering to its customers critical information such as the status of a health insurance claim or value of a brokerage account, no matter where the data resides in the corporation.
  
  
• WilTel Provides Web/IVR Integration
  
  Williams Telecommunications Systems, Inc. (WilTel) and InterVoice, Inc. have announced an expansion to their business whereby WilTel will provide business users Internet and voice processing integration through VisualConnect, InterVoice's Internet interactive information exchange system. The relationship is designed to enable WilTel to access a wide variety of IVR, transaction, workflow-based and telephony- integrated applications via the Internet.
  
  
• XTEND And Lucent Announce Referral Agreement
  
  XTEND Communications and Lucent Technologies have announced the signing of a referral agreement to promote XTEND's 911 Alert, an on-site notification product. 911 Alert allows Lucent's Definity� users to locate anyone dialing 911 from their system as the call is in progress.
  
  

Contracts & Installations...

• PacifiCorp Chooses APAC
  
  APAC TeleServices, Inc. has announced it has signed an agreement with PacifiCorp, a large utility company in the western U.S., to provide new services for PacifiCorp's subscribers. PacifiCorp has selected APAC to support consolidation of 96 customer service offices into one or two state-of-the-art business centers. The first center is to be completed in Portland, Oregon by this September. APAC will co-manage the facility for the next three years.
  
  
• Carnegie Group To Aid Pittsburgh Police
  
  Carnegie Group, Inc. has announced it will lead a software development project that will produce a Voice Commanded Vehicle Registration Information Retrieval Prototype application for the City of Pittsburgh Police Department. This system will be the first of its kind in the U.S. Carnegie Mellon University and Total Access, Inc. will work with Carnegie Group on the prototype. The prototype system will enable an officer to interact by voice with the vehicle registration (VR) system, speak a VR plate number into the system, verify that it was correctly recognized, then post a query into the VR system.
  
  
• Executone Public Utility Installation
  
  Executone Information Systems, Inc. has announced it has installed an INFORSTAR/VX2 voice mail system and a Custom Plus automatic call distribution system at City Water, Light and Power in Springfield, Illinois. CWLP receives more than 2,800 calls a week in its customer service department, which reported a 10.8 percent drop in the number of calls being handled manually after the installation.
  
  
• Lucent Inks Motel 6 Contract
  
  Lucent Technologies has announced it has signed a $28.5-million agreement with Motel 6 for 500 new communications systems and long-term maintenance as part of the lodging chain's major renovation program. The agreement calls for Lucent Technologies to install by mid-1997 a minimum of 400 communications servers at existing and new Motel 6 properties nationwide.
  
  
• Octel Signs Multimillion-Dollar Contract With Brooks
  
  Octel Communications Corporation has announced it has signed a nationwide, multimillion-dollar agreement to provide voice and fax messaging equipment and service solutions to Brooks Fiber Communications, a national provider of local exchange services. The contract calls for Brooks Fiber to initially purchase five Octel Sierra voice mail systems. Octel Network Services will manage the system administration for Brooks Fiber.
  
  
• Periphonics Contracts
  
  Periphonics Corporation has announced that the Internal Revenue Service has placed an additional $4.2- milion order for the company's interactive voice response (IVR) systems. The IVR systems are to be used by the IRS to expand the capacity of TeleFile, which allows taxpayers to file 1040EZ federal tax returns by telephone. Periphonics also announced it has installed two Periphonics 9500 IVR systems at City Public Service of San Antonio to provide automated phone-based information services in English and Spanish to the utility's 500,000 electric customers and 300,000 gas customers. Periphonics also announced that it has installed IVR systems at five universities in North Dakota and at the University of Connecticut at Storrs to improve registration and information access for more students.
  
  
• Vantive Selected By Healthcare Organizations
  
  The Vantive Corporation has announced that several healthcare organizations have recently selected Vantive applications to manage their customer support operations. Specifically, Benova, CareAmerica, Kaiser Permanente and Oxford Health Plans are using Vantive Support - Vantive's customer support solution for automating call tracking, problem resolution, and service and support management.
  
  

International News...

• Belgacom Announces Tariff Reductions
  
  Belgacom North America has announced it has reduced tariffs for IDDD, ISDN and VPN services. These include both transatlantic services to Canada and the U.S. and connections to Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. For more information, contact Susan Mirbach at 203-221-5270.
  
  
• Brooktrout Names Japan Representative, Receives Australian And French Approvals
  
  Brooktrout Technology, Inc. has announced it has named Nissho Iwai Infocom Systems Company, Ltd. (NICS) as a Brooktrout authorized representative in Japan. NICS will provide marketing, sales and technical support to Brooktrout customers in Japan. Brooktrout also announced its TR 114 multichannel fax and voice boards have been approved by Austel, the Australian Telecommunications Authority, and by DGPT and the French Commission.
  
  
• Melita Partners With Arial Internacional
  
  Melita International Corporation has announced that is partnering with Arial Internacional to provide effective collections strategies and optimize day-to-day collection operations for credit and collection companies based in Latin America. According to Jeff Lund, director of international sales at Melita, "Our relationship with Arial Internacional provides an additional option to our customers who are searching for ways to optimize the latest technologies and increase efficiencies within their organization."
  
  
• Air Canada Opens New Call Center
  
  Air Canada has announced it will open a customer service call center in St. John, New Brunswick, which will create over 650 jobs. The company credits the expansion to successful growth in its domestic, transborder and international markets.
  
  
• SaskTel Integrates Eight Offices Into One Virtual Call Center
  SaskTel has announced it has created a geographically independent virtual network of CSRs designed to allow CSRs to fulfill customer needs with a single call. SaskTel used Nortel's Network ACD option and Perimeter Multi-Link software to network all eight of its business offices into one virtual call center. It has since networked its repair service centers, collections and telemarketing offices.
  
  
• Telstra To Provide Satellite Communications Service To Tokelau
  
  Telstra has announced it has been awarded a contract to provide satellite service using Telstra DAMA- Net to the residents of the remote South Pacific islands of Tokelau, that will enable them to fax and transmit data to virtually anywhere in the world.
  
  

People...

• The Info Group, a provider of telemanagement and call center information systems, has appointed Dean Redfern as president and chief executive officer.
  
  
• Graphic communications company Cadmus Communications Corporation has appointed Steven Isaac as group president of The Cadmus Marketing Group.
  
  
• Headset distributor KAAAS Com., Inc. has nominated Karl E. Hall as president.
  
  
• TELS Corporation, supplier of call accounting and other telecommunications systems, has announced the following appointments: Stephen M. Nelson as president; R. James Taylor as executive vice president; and Ming T. Chen as a member of the board of directors.
  
  
• Acumen International, a developer of performance and change management software, has appointed David Ellet, corporate vice president of Oracle Corporation, and Elizabeth Chaney, managing partner of Gemini McKenna Inc., to its board of directors.
  
  
• Consulting and market research firm Channel Marketing Corporation has named Nathan Morton as a senior partner and Norman M. Williams as vice president.
  
  
• Information Management Associates, Inc. (IMA) has announced that Richard B. Morrison will head IMA, Ltd. European operations.
  
  
• Seltronics Eyretel, a provider of digital information recording systems, has named Shaila McCall as chief financial officer, Patrick Brandt as vice president, sales and marketing, and Lynn Anne Miller as director of marketing.
  
  
• Louis J. Volpe has been named as senior vice president of sales and marketing and Jerry Gechter as manager, carrier strategies at GeoTel Communications Corporation, a provider of telecommunications software products.
  
  
• Telemarketing service agency Impact Telemarketing, Inc. has named Kathleen Torlucci as senior vice president and Stephen F. Fagan as account executive.
  
  
• Marketing Information Systems, Inc., a provider of relationship sales and marketing applications, has named Tom Nash as vice president of operations.
  
  
• Database marketing solutions provider OKRA Marketing Corporation has named Bev Tannenbaum as senior vice president/client services.
  
  
• Priority Call Management, a provider of intelligent communications platforms, has appointed Michael Storella as vice president of global customer service and Donna Edwards as director of corporate sales for its western region.
  
  
• Marketing communications agency Ross Roy Communications, Inc. has announced the following appointments: Jack Oliver as senior vice president of corporate business and training; Stephen F. Stepanek as senior vice president for Chrysler and Plymouth brands; Shirley N. Williams as senior vice president for Dodge brand business; Gregory P. Napier as senior vice president, service line manager- information engineering; and Paul M. Gentine as vice president, group account supervisor-Ross Roy Training Group.
  
  
• Jeff Fisher has been named as vice president of product development at sales automation software provider Saratoga Systems Inc.
  
  
• Call center software solution provider Teloquent Communications Corporation has named David F. Gardiner Jr. as vice president, customer satisfaction.
  
  
• The Vantive Corporation, a customer interaction software provider, has appointed Christopher Lochhead as executive vice president of strategic marketing.
  
  
• Mark C. Payne has been appointed as vice president of international operations for client/server- based call center software provider Versatility, Inc.
  
  
• Voice Technologies Group, a provider of integration, messaging and multimedia products, has named Rober C. Pollock as director of sales for integration products.