CIDCO Introduces First Caller ID Adjuncts to Support both FSK and Stutter Formats; Adjuncts End Confusion with Voice Mail, Caller ID, Call Waiting Services.

MORGAN HILL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 2, 1997--With the rapid changes, mergers and alliances in the telephone industry today, the specific telephone standards that were once determined by each provider are quickly being replaced by a range of protocols and formats.

For example, until recently, telephone companies supported either FSK or Stutter dial tones for Voice Message Waiting Indication (VMWI), but now many companies find they have expanded service areas where the VMWI standards overlap and they must deal with both formats.

This can be a problem when these telephone companies market telephone network services, such as Caller ID with Voice Mail, since the consumer equipment to receive these services may not be flexible enough to recognize different signaling formats. Bundled network services are becoming more important to the phone companies as a source of revenue and as a method to build customer loyalty.

Addressing these changes in the telephone industry, CIDCO Incorporated (Nasdaq: CDCO) announced today the adjuncts compatible with both FSK and Stutter dial tone VMWI protocols. The CIDCO CW99 and CIDCO SD99 will function with either VMWI format and provide consumers with access to Caller ID and the new Caller ID with Call Waiting.

The new CIDCO CW99 also is the first adjunct available that supports both VMWI formats and Caller ID on Call Waiting, a telephone service that tells consumers who is calling, even if they have a call in progress. The new CIDCO SD99 is a next generation Type I caller ID CPE, supporting Caller ID.

The message alert light is important because users of most telephone companies' voice mail systems previously needed to lift the receiver and listen for a "stutter" or broken dial tone in order to determine if they had any messages. Both adjuncts will begin shipping in the second quarter of 1997.

Much of the technical changes in the telecommunications industry has been driven by the opportunities provided in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, according to Robert Wong, CIDCO product manager. Voice mail services also have become increasingly important to many telephone providers. The Messaging Alliance was formed in June 1996 by several large telephone companies and voice mail vendors to allow companies to link their messaging services across platforms.

"With the changes in the telecommunications industry, there is a need for products that are compatible with multiple standards and also deliver combined services, such as Caller ID and Voice Message Waiting Indication. There are now situations where a telco needs to support both FSK and Stutter dial tone VMWI formats," Wong said.

"Since the CIDCO CW99 and SD99 function with both FSK and Stutter formats, telephone companies can incorporate the new adjuncts into their marketing programs, combining Caller ID services with Voice Mail, and not worry about the protocol at the consumer's local switch," he said.

The CW99 is a Type II CPE that is fully compliant with Bellcore requirements for Talk-Off and Talk-Down. Consequently, there are no annoying clicks or tones that can occur when non-conforming Caller ID circuitry confuses normal speech with the Caller ID on Call Waiting alert tone. The CW99 also offers one-touch automatic dial.

Both adjuncts have an OTV (One-Time Viewing) display that provides the caller's name, phone number, and the date and time of the call without scrolling. They can store up to 99 names and phone numbers. The Trilight Alert Indicator Light on the adjuncts flashes when a new call is received, when incoming Caller ID information is being blocked, or if there are messages in the voice mailbox.

CIDCO Incorporated is the world's leading producer of subscriber terminal equipment that supports intelligent network services being offered by telephone operating companies. Its products, of which over 12 million have been sold, include network feature telephones and Caller ID display units, in addition to advanced cordless telephones and smart screen phones utilizing ADSI technology. These products are provided to telephone subscribers through a variety of channels which include distribution arrangements with over 100 telephone companies worldwide and through retail sales at more than 20,000 store fronts located throughout North America.

CONTACT: Creamer Dickson Basford

Linda Marcus, 714/260-4768

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Peter Van Rossum, 714/260-4765