Comdial Introduces PCIU (PC INTERFACE UNIT).

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 25, 1997--

Extends TAPI operability across all Comdial digital switches

Today, Comdial Corporation (Nasdaq NM:CMDL) announced that it is accepting orders for its new Personal Computer Interface Unit (PCIU). The PCIU is an affordable hardware/software solution that extends computer-telephone integration (CTI) across all Comdial digital switches, via the broadly accepted TAPI (Telephony Applications Programming Interface) standard.

The PCIU is a desktop product, compatible with any personal computer (PC) with a MS Windows(TM) 3.11 or Windows 95(TM) operating system. The device consists of both hardware and software. The hardware component is a black box with multiple connectors for a digital port off the switch, a Comdial digital display telephone, a PC serial port, and electrical power. The entire unit is about the size and weight of a paperback book. The software bundled with the PCIU includes a TAPI-compliant Service Provider Interface (SPI), and the wideopen.call(TM) or Visual Call Management(TM) application package.

Advantages of the PCIU include;

-- Broad Market Coverage - About 75 percent of all businesses and organizations have less than 20 employees. The PCIU opens up the benefits of CTI to millions of small service businesses which are extensive users of PCs and telecommunications. Examples are real estate offices, attorneys, medical offices, bank branches, brokerages, and government offices.

-- Broad Distribution - Comdial's independent telephone equipment dealers in the U.S. and Canada can immediately begin selling the PCIU, installed with Comdial's digital switches.

-- Leverages the popularity of Windows PCs - This encourages independent software developers to create applications programs for telephony-enabled PCs. Microsoft includes sophisticated telephony tools in Windows. Telecom manufacturers must provide the SPI.

-- Flexibility - The PCIU is a desktop solution, not LAN-based like most CTI products available today. Businesses pay for CTI only where they need it.

-- Affordability - The PCIU will cost approximately $400 per user, a modest investment to improve user productivity and provide better customer service.

The PCIU will be available in two models. One model of the PCIU includes Comdial's wideopen.call applications software as part of the basic package. wideopen.call uses a GUI (graphical user interface) to emulate the functionality of a Comdial telephone on the computer screen. Users perform all call processing functions by point and click, greatly simplifying operations like transferring and setting up conferences. wideopen.call uses caller identification (where available) to pull up appropriate records from its embedded Contact List, or from TAPI-compliant personal information managers (PIMs). With the PCIU, PIM users can dial calls simply by clicking on the phone number or name of the party they wish to reach.

A second model of PCIU will be offered for applications using a Comdial digital switch and voice processing system from Comdial's subsidiary Key Voice Technologies, Inc. This version of the PCIU will incorporate Key Voice's Visual Call Management (VCM) software. VCM is an integrated messaging application, which allows users to scan and retrieve voice and fax messages directly from the PC.

According to William G. Mustain, Comdial President and CEO, the PCIU is a critical building block for Comdial's strategy of developing "shrink-wrap" CTI solutions for vertical markets. Mustain explained, "With the introduction of the PCIU, Comdial can now offer desktop CTI across all of its digital switching platforms, from applications requiring as few as four lines and eight telephones up to our largest 580 port digital switches. We can do it simply and at very attractive prices. More importantly, we can design integrated hardware/software solutions for small businesses that need the time and money saving benefits of CTI, but until now could not afford the large switches and driver software needed to make it happen."

With the introduction of the PCIU, Comdial can support CTI applications programming interfaces for three major CTI standards; Novell/AT&T's TSAPI, Microsoft/Intel's TAPI, and Dialogic's CT-Connect(TM).

Comdial Corporation is a designer, manufacturer, and supplier of advanced business communications systems, and a recognized leader in the rapidly developing market for systems solutions based on computer-telephony integration.

Contact: Dick Bucci

Comdial Corp.

804-978-2525