AVT and Comverse Top Management Review of Computer Telephony Firms.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 18, 1999--

Industry analysts praise AVT Corp. and Comverse in a confidential review of management performance of Computer Telephony companies.

High praise from a specialist for top management at AVT (Nasdaq: AVTC), "Richard LaPorte, CEO and Roger Fukai, CFO at AVT have done a marvelous job running the company and making strategic investments."

Accolades from a money manager for Kobi Alexander, Chairman, President, & CEO of Comverse Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq:CMVT), "The success of Comverse is due to the management team. Basically they made some very insightful and high quality acquisitions that has allowed the company to perform well and it's reflected in the stock price."

Also, an analyst singles out Robert Madonna of Excel Switching Corp. (Nasdaq:XLSW) as "an example of high quality leadership," and applause from a specialist for John Thilbault, President and CEO of Geotel Communications (Nasdaq:GEOC), "GeoTel is executing extremely well on their strategy and making themselves a premiere player with a niche offering."

But a few other management teams disappoint. One is criticized as having "stumbled for quite some time, and are their own worst enemy. (They) are a company that didn't know how to market, and has lost their name recognition and market credibility. While they have taken steps to address it, it may be too late."

Other companies reviewed in this special "Off The Record" survey include Aspect Telecommunications, Brooktrout Technology, Inc., Davox Corporation, Dialogic Corporation, Natural Microsystems, Nice Systems, Periphonics and Voice Control Systems.

The complete survey is in the May 17 issue of The Wall Street Transcript. It also includes a 17-page roundtable Q&A discussion on Computer Telephony, featuring in-depth commentary and recommendations from leading Computer Telephony analysts. To obtain a hard copy of the complete 110-page issue, including interviews with CEOs, money managers, and analysts from a variety of sectors, see http://www.twst.com/info.htm or call [phone] or subscribe to TWST Online at http://www.twst.com.

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