IP Unity Unified Messaging Suite Upgraded for Easy Integration with Legacy Voicemail Platforms, Integrated Messaging, and Enhanced Multilingual Support.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 19, 2003

New Release Improves Administrator Interfaces and Eases

Customer Transition

IP Unity Corp., the leading provider of carrier grade media server platforms for enhanced voice and video applications, today announced the release of its latest messaging product suite, making it easier for service providers to integrate their next generation platform into existing legacy voicemail systems. The IP Unity Unified Messaging 2.0 application allows carriers and service providers to retain the benefits of capital investments already made on existing infrastructure, while positioning them to offer new services on a next generation platform. The new release includes additional features including FAX messaging, enhanced auto attendant features with multilingual support, and integrated messaging to provide a single interface for collecting messages from multiple email systems.

Many service providers are faced with the need to replace existing voicemail systems as manufacturers discontinue support for legacy platforms currently in use. Service providers are also looking for ways increase revenue through new services and features. While service enhancements enabled by next generation platforms greatly increase the value to service providers and reduce customer churn, end users are resistant to products that require extensive learning and prefer new products that operate in the same way as existing products, retaining familiar features.

"We equip service providers with a messaging solution that allows a 'transparent transition' from legacy to next generation platforms, allowing the new solution to retain an identical look and feel to the current user interface," said Brett Azuma, senior vice president of marketing with IP Unity. "The new release of our Unified Messaging application allows service providers to easily customize the user interface for each organization they service, and to migrate individual companies to the new system, while maintaining the look and feel of that they are currently using and familiar with."

Administrators of IP Unity's messaging suite can also choose to activate message waiting indicators via an SMDI, SIP or SMPP interface -- enabling the service provider to signal end users that they have a message waiting whether they are on an IP phone, a TDM phone or via SMS. VPIM support provides the links needed to send messages between users on different platforms within a service provider's network.

Integrated messaging allows users to retrieve messages through one user-friendly interface from multiple email mailboxes -- including external email systems. For example, IP Unity Unified Messaging users can have two mailboxes, one provisioned on the IP Unity system for voice and FAX messages and another for their pre-existing email account that is on an external IMAP compatible email server. Although messages are stored in two separate mailboxes, the user can log in through the phone or the Web portal to the IP Unity system and view all messages, voice/FAX and email, in the same session. This ability to check all messages from one interface creates value, eases user transition and increases user loyalty.

Carriers in the Unites States and abroad often support multilingual and multicultural communities. Rather than forcing all customers to use one default language, the new release of IP Unity Unified Messaging allows carriers to offer users a variety of languages, enabling callers to select the language that they feel most comfortable with. Users calling into the system can set their language preferences for prompts and interact with the system in a variety of languages. This feature allows global companies, as well as carriers that operate in linguistically diverse communities, the ability to offer their users system support in their native language. The auto attendant is also multilingual, allowing incoming callers to select a language of their choice or interact in the default language. Organization administrators may also fully provision their auto attendants via easy to use Web configuration screens.

While email has replaced FAX in many business situations, FAX machines are still a very important part of the business environment and a key component to a complete unified messaging suite. Users can easily access FAX messages using either a telephone or Web interface. FAX receipt generates a message waiting indication or other notification, allowing the receiver to deal with it immediately, preventing the FAX from languishing in some central mail repository, as is all too common. Email and FAX messages can also be sent from a variety of devices to FAX machines for printing.

These new enhancements make IP Unity's Unified Messaging suite an attractive solution for service providers to create new revenue streams, or for large enterprises to increase the efficiency of a productive and mobile workforce. The application can easily be customized and branded by service provider to target specific end users. The economics of the IP Unity Harmony6000 Media Server platform make this messaging product a viable alternative to traditional voicemail, but with the added benefits of a leading edge unified messaging solution.

About IP Unity

Headquartered in Milpitas, Calif., IP Unity offers a carrier-grade enhanced services platform that delivers voice and data applications over TDM and IP networks. The company's media server platform coupled with enhanced service applications enable customers to cost-effectively develop and deploy traditional and next-generation telephony services while protecting their existing investment in legacy systems. Applications available for immediate deployment at the enterprise and carrier levels include auto attendant, voice mail, unified messaging, audio and Web conferencing and prepaid services, as well as a range of innovative solutions from IP Unity's best-of-breed application development partners. Service providers around the globe rely on IP Unity's platform to deploy enhanced service solutions to niche or mass markets. For more information on IP Unity's award-winning solutions, please call 408/582-1100 or visit the company website at www.ip-unity.com.