Centigram Unveils Short Message Service Center -- SMSC -- Solution for Delivering Internet and Real-Time Data to Mobile Users Worldwide.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 6, 1999--

Centigram SMSC Delivers State-of-the-Art Short Message

Service Functionality and Scalability in Software-Only

Solution for Centigram Series 6

Centigram Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:CGRM), a leading global provider of advanced messaging and communications solutions, today introduced Centigram Short Message Service Center (C-SMSC), a software-only solution that enables carriers to cost-effectively deliver SMS-based mobile data services.

SMS is used by wireless carriers and service providers to deliver Internet and real-time data, such as email, stock updates, weather, sports scores, traffic reports and message/fax notification directly to the mobile user's handset. C-SMSC works with the Centigram Series 6 Enhanced Services platform, and is compatible with all major wireless networks and standards deployed worldwide, including North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Unlike SMS systems that require dedicated hardware, C-SMSC works with Centigram's Series 6 platform, enabling existing Centigram customers to offer SMS-based services through a software upgrade.

C-SMSC and the Series 6 enable new customers to offer both voice/fax messaging and SMS-based services from a single standards-based hardware platform. With support for up to 30K BHSMA (Busy Hour Short Message Attempts), a single Series 6 with C-SMSC can support up to 240,000 voice/fax messaging and SMS subscribers. Multiple SMSC platforms can be clustered to provide support for an even larger subscriber base.

"Centigram has greatly reduced the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for SMS equipment with this announcement," said Bob Puette, President and CEO of Centigram. "With exploding demand from mobile users, a new generation of SMS-based services and broad world-wide deployment of digital wireless networks, the timing for this announcement is outstanding.

"Over the past few years, growing numbers of users have come to rely on email and Internet-based information services to coordinate and improve their lives. Now, these same users are demanding this class of service from their wireless providers. Carriers are looking for a cost-effective way of deploying SMS, and Centigram is very well positioned to meet this demand."

Centigram SMSC provides sophisticated functionality, including voice mail/fax mail notification (VMN), voice mail/fax mail notification with call back number (CBN), messages with priority, message validity and expiration as well as support for Internet, and other real-time information feeds through SMPP (Short Message Peer to Peer Protocol).

Customizable text enables carriers to personalize SMS messages for their subscriber. With SMPP support, C-SMSC enables carriers to create mobile data services based on the Internet and other network-based data sources.

"Centigram's Short Message Service Center (SMSC) escalates SMS to the next generation. The system is extremely feature-rich, enabling value-added services that have been absent in SMS solutions to this point, including multiple language integration and intelligent message redelivery," said Chris Aronis, analyst with Network Strategy Partners. "Perhaps the most compelling benefit of the SMSC is the global nature of its features.

"The system is designed to work in all systems worldwide (GSM, TDMA, CDMA, PCS) and enables subscribers to take all of their messaging capabilities with them, even when roaming. This is of special interest to road warriors and service providers alike, as many of us have become all too accustomed to losing value-added features when leaving the HLR.

"Centigram's strategy is very clear: give service providers a simple, scaleable, easily implemented solution that immediately allows them to offer profitable, value-added services."

Centigram SMSC works either in conjunction with Series 6 voice/fax messaging, or as a dedicated SMS platform, allowing subscribers without a mailbox to receive SMS information.

C-SMSC is compatible with all major wireless networks, including GSM, PCS and IS-41.C (TDMA and CDMA), making it a best-of-class solution in all global geographies. It uses the SS7 MAP standard for interaction with the wireless network, and SMPP over TCP/IP for connectivity with Internet and other network-based data sources.

SMS-Based Services

Centigram SMSC enables a new generation of mobile data services, including air/train schedules and arrival times, email delivery, emergency broadcasts, customer care messages, sports scores, stock quotes, ecommerce, weather reports, localized traffic reports and personalized headline news.

When combined with Internet-based news retrieval services, SMS-based applications can monitor and deliver information to mobile users when specified criteria are met.

About the Centigram Series 6

The Centigram Series 6 is a family of standards-based messaging and enhanced services applications that enable wireless and wireline service providers to deploy revenue-generating services.

By providing consistently innovative, easy-to-use voice, fax and e-mail capabilities that let users effectively control and manage their communications, the Series 6 platform helps carriers grow their subscriber base, expand their enhanced services offerings and improve subscriber retention.

Unlike proprietary platforms that limit the carrier's options, or force the carrier to buy different systems for different needs, the Centigram Series 6 provides unlimited choices in a single, cost-effective platform that grows with the carrier's business.

A single Series 6 can grow from 8 to 480 ports, from 20 to 7680 hours of non-redundant storage and more than 250,000 subscribers, providing large amounts of non-disruptive expansion.

Price and Availability

Centigram SMSC runs on the Series 6.2B platform with TCP/IP and SS7 functionality. Pricing is dependent on configuration. Centigram has been shipping the SMSC product since late March 1999.

Centigram Communications Corporation

Centigram Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:CGRM) is a leading global provider of advanced wireless (analog, GSM, PCS, TDMA, CDMA) and wireline (PTTs, RBOCs, service bureaus, independent telcos and cable telephony companies) messaging and communications solutions to network operators in the telecom service provider market.

Centigram leverages its voice messaging, call processing and multimedia know-how to deliver easily configurable, integrated systems that provide competitive, revenue-generating enhanced services, minimizing the overall cost of ownership.

The Company delivers these communications solutions by integrating voice and facsimile on its Series 6 communications server based on industry-standard hardware and software, and by providing access to this multimedia information through a telephone, PC or other wireless device.

Centigram is headquartered at 91 East Tasman Drive, San Jose, Calif., 95134. Phone [phone], fax [phone], or Web http://www.centigram.com. Centigram has sales and support offices in North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Australia.

Note to Editors: Centigram is a registered trademark of Centigram Communications Corporation. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.