CYGCOM Announces the General Availability of Aculab Boards and Telephony Interface Manager (TIM) for Microsoft Speech Server in the North American Market.

MARKHAM, Ontario & PHOENIX -- CYGCOM, a value added channel distributor of speech integration products and services for converged voice and data solutions today announced the general availability of Aculab Boards and Telephony Interface Manager (TIM) for Microsoft Speech Server for the North American market. Aculab, a leading provider of enabling technology for the communications market, selected CYGCOM through its "Speed to Market" program as their North American distributor for their leading presence in the North American speech market and their extensive VAR and ISV distribution channels.

CYGCOM's "Speed to Market" program offers ISVs, OEMs and Communication Resellers a complete go-to-market model that includes the design and configuration of pre-defined Intel server platforms and enables the outsourcing of the systems integration, field installation and post installation support. "We are very please to now offer our channel partners the Aculab Prosody PCI boards and Telephony Interface Manager (TIM) for the Microsoft Speech Server environment," comments Jeff Valliant, CYGCOM's President and CEO. "We pride ourselves in offering our channel a complete range of solutions and with the Aculab Prosody boards and TIM, our channels can now take advantage of the reliability and price performance offered by Aculab."

Aculab's TIM allows Microsoft Speech Server 2004 R2 based applications to be powered by Aculab's Prosody media processing resource cards and benefit from Aculab's extensive portfolio of protocols, for worldwide digital network access. Protocols include T1 and E1 interface connections, allowing prospects to be targeted in North America, Europe and Asia. The Aculab TIM is currently the only TIM available with a cost free license and Aculab's Prosody PCI boards offer the lowest cost per channel.

CYGCOM has also announced that the Aculab Prosody PCI boards and TIM will be incorporated into CYGCOM's SpeechWatch(TM) console that provides monitoring, alarming and e-notification for the telephony elements in Microsoft Speech Server. "Our ISVs look for us to provide complete managed and supported voice server platforms for their applications and our SpeechWatch(TM) console is key in making support fast and easy," comments Valliant. A Microsoft Speech Server solution based on an Aculab platform will have a lower total cost of ownership of the initial server platform and bundled with CYGCOM's SpeechWatch(TM) console, a lower total cost of ownership for post installation support and maintenance. The benefits to the enterprise customer are clear: maximizing system uptime and performance and making support quick and easy. "We look forward to working closely with Microsoft and Aculab in making speech a mainstream, pervasive technology by building scalable speech platforms and providing support with a managed cost orientation in mind," comments Valliant.

"The integration of Aculab's Prosody PCI card with Microsoft Speech Server 2004 R2 opens up many new opportunities for Aculab. Partnering with CYGCOM, who have a great deal of experience in integrating, building and supporting Microsoft Speech Server systems, will ensure Aculab can capitalise on these new opportunities," said Faye McClenahan, Head of Strategic Marketing at Aculab.

"We're pleased that CYGCOM and Aculab are working together to provide opportunities for customers to reduce their total cost of ownership while at the same time maximizing the benefits of Microsoft Speech Server," said Piyush Dogra, Director of Strategic Alliances at Microsoft.

About Aculab

Aculab enables developers and systems integrators to produce a variety of high performance communications solutions. Aculab's portfolio offers an exceptional mix of capabilities that are easy to integrate and bring real value - reduced costs, increased customer satisfaction and competitive advantage. A complete range of open standards building block technologies for use within telco or enterprise environments, as well as essential support services, are offered. Products include media resources, digital network access, VoIP, fax, speech processing and conferencing. Support is available to help developers through each stage of their product's life cycle including pre-sales consultancy, technical support, training and marketing.

Aculab's head office is located in Milton Keynes, UK with offices in the USA, Germany and Australia.

For more information, contact:

Jo Taylor, Head of Marketing Communications

Tel: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

About CYGCOM

Founded in 1994, CYGCOM is a leading Microsoft Speech Distribution Partner, Microsoft Platinum OEM and an authorized Value Added Distributor of Intel products. CYGCOM distributes speech and telephony products from the industry's most reputable software and hardware manufacturers. CYGCOM offers solutions that are complete, scalable, and capable of running mission-critical enterprise voice communications applications. Through it's US and Canadian facilities, CYGCOM provides products, consulting, on-site implementation and technical support, eSupport, systems integrations, education and marketing services for channel customers. CYGCOM sales staff has application expertise and can review the merits of different hardware and software products for CT and IP based voice communication solutions. CYGCOM's technical services are trained in the complexities of CO, PBX, and IP integration and provide a solutions based support service on a 24/7 basis. For more information, please visit www.cygcom.com.