AVST Launches CallXpress 7.7; Unified Communications Solution Enhanced with Powerful New Features That Increase Productivity and Appeal to the Mobile Workforce.

FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. -- Applied Voice & Speech Technologies Inc. (AVST), today announced a new version of its flagship unified communications (UC) solution, CallXpress(R). Boasting new features and applications, CallXpress 7.7 is the ideal solution for companies looking for alternative options to outdated voice mail systems. The new version is enhanced with easy-to-use telephone user interface (TUI) options, increased unified messaging flexibility and simplified administrative capabilities. The launch of CallXpress 7.7 boosts AVST's leadership position in the growing UC market by raising the bar on the features and functions required for the next generation of corporate voice and data infrastructures.

AVST has built upon one of the most mature and innovative unified communications solutions in the market with industry-leading features and functionality. Designed to help employees communicate and collaborate more productively and effectively regardless of their physical location, CallXpress 7.7 assures telecommuters and road warriors that they have the same level of access and mobility as they would in an office environment, if not more.

"AVST continues to drive the development of applications, features and enhancements with the mobile workforce in mind. Delivering on our commitment to enable communications anywhere/anytime, our solutions provide remote access to unified communications and collaborative applications through laptops, cell phones, PDAs and BlackBerrys(R)," said AVST's vice president of product management, Tom Minifie. "There is no competitive speech-enabled unified communications system currently available that supports the breadth and depth of features, applications and flexibility found in CallXpress 7.7. Our mobility solutions give employees the ability to be always reachable and highly productive whether they're working from home, on the road, or roaming around a corporate facility."

Research and advisory firm Gartner Inc. positioned AVST in the Visionary Quadrant in its Magic Quadrant for Unified Communications 2005 based on their ability to execute and their vision.

"IP technology is broadening the definition of the mobile workforce," said Jay Lassman, research director, Gartner. "Innovative mobility enhancements to system architecture and user interface are necessary to simplify anytime, anywhere access to business communications infrastructure."

CallXpress 7.7 has the following new features and capabilities that deliver unified communications to mobile workers and help businesses realize the benefits of an efficient, globally-dispersed, on-the-go workforce:

--AVST's Integrated Client Access (ICA) enables voicemail messages and fax messages to be stored on the CallXpress server, while still providing unified messaging. Through the ICA interface, any IMAP-compatible e-mail client may access the voice and fax messages stored on the CallXpress server, without impacting the e-mail server itself.

--CallXpress 7.7 has a new interface that emulates the Octel(R) Serenade(R) (VMX) telephone user interface (TUI). From the user's perspective, it is nearly identical to the original Serenade (VMX) TUI when it comes to sending and managing messages, while the administrative prompts have been designed to support all of the standard CallXpress options. Octel users retain a high level of comfort when switching to the CallXpress system. It greatly reduces the need for re-training workers who are accustomed to using the old Serenade (VMX) system.

--By adding enhanced Citrix(R) terminal services compatibility, the CallXpress 7.7 graphical user interface (GUI) can be viewed and accessed remotely using Citrix. This enables remote users to have a fully featured CallXpress GUI on their desktop PC's. For administrators who deploy full unified messaging capabilities, it saves the time and effort of deploying and maintaining AVST's software on multiple client machines because all CallXpress software can now reside on the Citrix server. AVST is one of the first in this space to offer the Citrix compatibility.

Designed for seamless integration with virtually any switch (PBX) on the market, CallXpress is the only switch-independent unified communications solution in the industry that scales to meet the requirements of medium and large enterprises. Using the CallXpress 7.7 solution, medium to large enterprises can upgrade their communications applications with the latest unified messaging and speech-enabled capabilities without the financial burden of replacing their existing infrastructure.

Case in Point - CallXpress 7.7 is Put to Use

First adopters of CallXpress 7.7 are already realizing its benefits. For example, the Detroit-area branch of All-Tronics, Inc., a highly experienced installation and service provider of advanced communications systems, has been using CallXpress since 1998. CallXpress was selected because of its flexible configurations, Windows-based operating system, and the ease of system administration. The branch, located in Troy, Michigan, recently deployed CallXpress 7.7.

"Our associates are frequently offsite at client locations. CallXpress 7.7 permits them to stay in touch with each other and our clients by utilizing advanced unified messaging services," said Matthew J. Ososki, branch manager of All-Tronics, Inc. "They are able to retrieve and send e-mail, fax and voice mail messages while away from the office. In the office they can easily manage all three types of communications with their Microsoft Outlook program."

All-Tronics also uses CallXpress to provide an automated call processing service for one of its clients, Fox Sports Net Detroit, a local television station that broadcasts Detroit Pistons and Detroit Red Wings games. During each of the games the station runs a promotion asking viewers to call an 800 number and pick the Player-of-the-Game. The first correct answer wins promotional prizes from the television station.

"Our CallXpress system will answer nearly 1,000 telephone calls during these games, and can process 12 contestant telephone calls simultaneously," explained Ososki. Each caller is processed through the use of interactive mailboxes. A complete message with their name, Player-of-the-game guess and callback telephone number is recorded for retrieval by Fox Sports Net Detroit. In addition, the system provides a time-stamp of the message to ensure that no one attempts to win the prize prior to the contest start time. The messages are stored locally on the CallXpress server and utilize the Integrated Client Access (ICA) feature of software version 7.7.

"Using the ICA feature, our administrator receives and easily manages all of the Fox Sports Net Detroit contestant messages in a Microsoft(R) Outlook(R) Inbox folder on her PC," added Ososki. "Mass delivery and deletion of the contestant messages is instantaneous through the ICA interface. Since the ICA feature continues to store the messages on our CallXpress system, the VPN link to the Microsoft Exchange(R) Service at our corporate office is not overloaded with these contestant messages."

CallXpress 7.7 is available immediately through AVST's established reseller channels. AVST has an extensive list of partners that sell and support its unified communications solutions throughout the world. Companies interested in experiencing AVST's unified communications solutions can request information regarding opportunities to pilot CallXpress 7.7 at http://www.avstgroup.com/contactus/requestinfo.asp. To contact an Authorized AVST Reseller, please visit http://www.avstgroup.com/products/callxpressMessaging/howtobuy.asp.

About AVST

Applied Voice & Speech Technologies Inc. (AVST) is a leading developer of enterprise communications solutions for businesses of all sizes. Through its world-class unified communications solution platform, CallXpress(R), and its innovative speech applications module, Seneca(R), AVST offers the industry's most powerful suite of enterprise communications solutions. AVST's solutions enable direct access to an enterprise's communications infrastructure including voice mail, e-mail and fax messaging from any voice or data device via a touch-tone, GUI or speech interface. Established in September 2003, AVST was formed from the combined businesses of Sound Advantage (established in 1997) and the CallXpress division (established in 1982) of Captaris Inc.

With headquarters in Foothill Ranch, AVST maintains facilities in Bellevue, Wash., and the United Kingdom and has remote sales offices across the United States. With over 35,000 systems installed worldwide, AVST's communications solutions are sold and supported internationally by an extensive network of resellers and OEM partners. For more information contact Denny Michael, VP of marketing at 949-699-2300 or access the company's Web site at www.avstgroup.com.

AVST's Magic Quadrant visionary position is in the report, Magic Quadrant for Unified Communications, 2005, by Steve Blood, issued Feb. 14, 2005. The Magic Quadrant is copyrighted Feb. 14, 2005, by Gartner Inc. and is reused with permission. The Magic Quadrant is a graphical representation of a marketplace at and for a specific time period. It depicts Gartner's analysis of how certain vendors measure against criteria for that marketplace, as defined by Gartner. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in the Magic Quadrant, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors placed in the "Leaders" quadrant. The Magic Quadrant is intended solely as a research tool, and is not meant to be a specific guide to action. Gartner disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.