AltiGen Communications Appoints Shannon VP Sales; Respected Computer Networking Industry Channel Expert to Lead Sales Efforts at Rapidly Growing CTI Start-up.

FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 7, 1996--AltiGen Communications, the leading provider of "All-in-One" Computer Telephony platform products, today announced that Michele A. Shannon has joined the company as vice president of sales.

Shannon will report to AltiGen president Gilbert Hu.

Shannon brings more than 14 years of sales and marketing experience in computers and networking to the AltiGen team. She joins AltiGen from NetManage, an international supplier of standards-based IntraNet software, where she served as director of channel sales and marketing. At NetManage, she designed, implemented and managed channel sales and marketing where she built a world-class Channel Sales organization servicing distributors, resellers, systems integrators, OEMs, retail and mail order. As a result, NetManage achieved record breaking revenue through these channels.

Prior to working at NetManage, Shannon spent seven years at Novell, Inc. As director of world-wide corporate field marketing she successfully increased sales by leveraging sales activities, raising mind share, increasing product knowledge, and educating the field in how to sell Novell products. Shannon was an instrumental member in initially developing Novell's channel programs at their onset.

As a Novell sales executive she achieved consistent and tangible results by increasing both channel and end-user sales and market share, which makes her a valuable addition to the growing AltiGen team. Prior to joining Novell, Shannon held various sales management positions at Businessland and Computer Management Services.

"Joining network servers and telephone systems into combined communication platforms is a reasonably predictable evolution of technology, but using DSP technology to leapfrog the competition with an `All-in-One' platform board is truly revolutionary. This provides small to medium-size businesses with a reliable, cost effective alternative that allows them to compete with big business," said Shannon.

"AltiGen's vision to create a fully featured platform with out-of-the-box functionality and enhance it with integrated Mixed-Media messaging specifically targets small- to medium-size companies. The idea is to enable solutions providers to offer businesses with up to 100 desktops the same LAN-based computer/telephone integration services that larger businesses now enjoy: PBX, automated attendant, voice messaging, ACD, message forwarding e-mail and Internet integration."

Shannon is excited about forthcoming enhancements to AltiServ(TM), AltiGen's computer telephony platform environment. In addition to existing Web-based management and other features that help mobile workers and telecommuters, AltiGen is expanding TAPI support so 3rd party application developers can fully leverage the multi- application Windows NT environment.

"For ongoing success in this rapidly growing market, extensive investment in education, training and support of the evolving VAR/Integrator and telephony channel is imperative. AltiGen is prepared to make it happen," she said. AltiGen will not only provide the tools needed for VARs to succeed but will provide them with an opportunity to increase their sales and profit margins.

Founded in 1994, AltiGen Communications offers combined networking and telephony capabilities that include a Mixed-Media platform for small- to medium-size office environments. The company's AltiServ(TM) and Quantum platform products are the first to combine the attributes of a network server and telephone system into a single, open-architected Mixed-Media system.

AltiGen Communications, Inc. is located at 47801 Fremont Blvd., Fremont, CA 94538. Tel. [phone], Fax [phone], E-mail [e-mail], Web Page http://www.altigen.com

CONTACT: AltiGen Communications, Inc.

Gary Andresen, 510/252-9712

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