Flexion Systems Launches Suite of IT Products and Services Designed to Revolutionize the Way Small Businesses Operate.

Business Editors and High-Tech Writers

VoiceCon 2000

WASHINGTON---(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 7, 2000

Flexion's BusinessGuardian(TM) family enables growing companies to combine voice and data communications with powerful network management

and business applications

Flexion Systems, a provider of managed business solutions for the growing company, today launched the BusinessGuardian(TM) line of products and services specifically developed for the small-to- medium-sized enterprise. The Flexion BusinessGuardian line allows the small business to manage technology in a cost-effective manner, enabling them to communicate more professionally and competitively.

The heart of the Flexion approach is the BusinessGuardian X300, an integrated communications platform that brings together the benefits of voice, data and fax communications and powerful business applications. The X300, a stand-alone hardware platform, works in conjunction with Microsoft Windows NT Server, Windows 2000 Server and Exchange to help a growing business be more successful in a competitive world. The BusinessGuardian family has been available in pre-launch field trials since late last year; and, as of today, is available through a number of BusinessGuardian Authorized Resellers nationwide.

&uot;The Flexion BusinessGuardian X300 goes beyond simply putting another `one-point solution' on the market,&uot; said Andrew Bale, president and chief executive officer of Flexion Systems. &uot;The X300 is not only the most powerful and cost-effective communications product available for a growing enterprise, it's an integral part of a complete solution that empowers next-generation small businesses to reach a new level of convenience, control and professionalism, competing head-to-head with major corporations.&uot;

&uot;Flexion's commitment to providing business value and their use of Microsoft platforms is key to enabling their success in the small-business marketplace,&uot; said Peyton Smith, director, Network Solutions Group, Microsoft. &uot;And the addition of software-driven business applications to consolidate voice and data services in Flexion's BusinessGuardian is an important solution that meets the needs of their small-business customers.&uot;

Also announced today, BusinessGuardian Insight provides a &uot;virtual IT department&uot; that monitors the user's network and keeps operations up to date and running smoothly. Also announced is the BusinessGuardian Authorized Reseller program, an exclusive program that gives resellers an opportunity to develop long-term professional advice and service relationships with Flexion BusinessGuardian customers. The BusinessGuardian three-pronged solution includes:

- BusinessGuardian X300, initially designed to support a business

of up to 64 users, is built on an open and scalable hardware

platform that works in conjunction with a Windows NT Server-based

environment. By harnessing the power of Windows NT Server, the

X300 is able to deliver unified messaging, CTI and other powerful

business applications, in addition to full PBX functionality.

Designed to take advantage of the converging public voice and

data infrastructures, the X300 gives the small business all the

tools it needs to succeed at a price significantly lower than

other competitive offerings with less functionality. A basic

eight-port configuration for the BusinessGuardian X300 will

retail below $6000.

- BusinessGuardian Insight, a powerful network management and

diagnostic service, works within a Windows NT Server environment

to give Service Providers and BusinessGuardian Authorized

Resellers (below) a distinctive edge in managing and growing

their small-business customer base. BusinessGuardian Insight

provides small companies with added security via remote

monitoring tools, troubleshooting and diagnostic services they

have likely never had before. In addition, Insight's email and

Web-based reporting promotes a strong and ongoing relationship,

allowing the Service Provider and Authorized Reseller to be a

proactive partner in managing their end user's enterprise.

- BusinessGuardian Authorized Resellers is an exclusive program

that provides Flexion Resellers with tools, training and in-house

Flexion support to help meet the customer's needs before, during

and after the sale. Flexion shows its Authorized Resellers how to

add enhanced services to hardware sales and trains them to

provide on-going customer support for added revenue.

Additionally, a significant part of the program includes making

Authorized Resellers true agents of Service Providers, ensuring a

win-win proposition for ongoing success.

&uot;The X300 is both easy to use and affordable,&uot; said Gary Korn of Korn Waterman &Simon, a law firm in Tucson, Ariz. &uot;The ability to manage fax, email and voice messages directly from the PC has improved our office's efficiency tremendously. And our BusinessGuardian Authorized Reseller has taken control of all of our IT needs, allowing us to concentrate on our core business. Flexion BusinessGuardian is exactly what we've been looking for.&uot; &uot;The Flexion Business Guardian solution is very impressive. I haven't seen anything as good as this for twice the price,&uot; said Brian Strachman, voice and data communications analyst for Cahners In-Stat Group. &uot;In fact, its features and reliability are competitive with high-end $100,000-plus products designed for large-scale corporate use.&uot;

About Flexion Systems

Flexion Systems is a provider of managed business solutions for the growing company. Flexion designs, manufactures and markets Flexion BusinessGuardian, the brand family name for its one-stop communication and IT solutions designed specifically for the rapidly growing small-business segment. Its mission is to help customers best utilize and integrate voice and data communications capabilities to the fullest.

Flexion is more than another technology company - it is an innovative organization made up of seasoned industry executives, talented technology experts and a dynamic marketing/sales team. Flexion Systems is based in offices in San Francisco in the USA and Maidenhead in the UK and is backed by leading investors from both sides of the Atlantic.

Find out more about Flexion Systems and the BusinessGuardian product family at www.flexion.com.

All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.