CTI Links For Windows NT to be Standard Feature on Siemens Switches; New Client/Server CTI Link To Be Offered Free Of Charge.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 4, 1997--Siemens Business Communication Systems announced today that its CallBridge CTI link will now support Windows NT environments and will be included as a standard feature of the company's 9751 CBXs.

This means that client/server computer-telephony integration joins TAPI desktop support as a standard feature on all new Siemens 9751 CBXs. Siemens is the only PBX manufacturer offering open CTI links as a standard feature.

"Siemens recognizes the importance of CTI and is further demonstrating its commitment and leadership in the implementation of voice/data integration," said Allan Sulkin, president of TEQConsult Group, a market research group based in Hackensack, N.J. "The company set the stage by first architecting the design of the 9751 CBX for CTI client server environments through the systems Ethernet hub. Siemens is taking things further by eliminating the economic barriers to spurring CTI development in the general business environment by offering value to users both inside and outside traditional call center implementation."

"CTI is an invaluable element of today's call center and fundamental to our vision for the multimedia call center of tomorrow," said Gary Paris, senior director, Siemens Global Call Center and CTI Solutions. "Our intention is to provide the most open client/server telephony environment in the industry, so that our customers can take advantage of the wealth of innovation emerging in the technology industry."

Siemens systems will include the CallBridge CSTA for NT links and software licenses for new customers with up to 15 users. Existing CallBridge CSTA customers who wish to upgrade may do so at no charge. Siemens customers will save nearly $17,000 off the entry price, with additional savings on incremental user licenses.

The introduction of CallBridge for Windows NT ensures that Siemens customers have the flexibility to work from any platform, while positioning themselves to take advantage of future application opportunities.

CallBridge for Workgroups NT

Announced in 1990, CallBridge was the first CTI link between the PBX and application computers and supports many information systems environments, including host and client/server environments. The product line connects to Netware, OS/2 or Windows NT servers, supporting clients on Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows NT, UnixWare and OS/2.

CallBridge for Workgroups supports the industry standard CSTA (Computer-Supported Telephony Application). CSTA is the definitive worldwide standard adopted by ECMA (European Computer Manufacturer Association) for communications between a switch and CTI server. CallBridge supports programming to the following APIs:

-- CallPath (CSA)

-- Microsoft TAPI 2.x (client/server)

-- Dialogic CT-Connect (client/server TAPI and TSAPI in a Windows NT environment)

-- Novell TSAPI (in a Netware environment)

Availability

CallBridge for Workgroups -- CSTA for Windows NT will be available to Siemens customers in the third quarter of 1997. The CallBridge NT link and user licenses for up to 15 users are free. Normal installation charges apply. Additional user licenses are priced according to volume.

Siemens Business Communication Systems, Inc.

Siemens Business Communications is a leading provider of private telecommunications solutions and CTI applications, pioneering CTI in the mid-1980s, as well as PBX-to-host and -LAN interfaces. The company is part of Siemens Private Communication Systems, the world's largest supplier of private telecommunications systems, with annual sales of approximately $5.8 billion, more than 500,000 customers and a million systems installed. Telecommunications and networking accounted for more than 20 percent of Siemens sales of $63.6 billion in the fiscal year 1995-96. Additional information is available at www.siemenscom.com . -0-

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CONTACT: Siemens Business Communication Systems, Inc.

John T. Evans, 408/492-6915

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Karron Esmonde, 408/492-6979

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