Siemens Introduces Global Digital Phone Family; Optiset E Phones Available In 120 Countries; Feature Groundbreaking Modularity, Ease Of Use And Low Cost.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 10, 1997--Siemens Business Communications Systems, Inc. today announced the Optiset E family of global digital telephones, with advanced voice and data features. The Optiset E telephones will be available from Siemens in 120 countries, setting a new standard for seamless global communications. The new phone family also features the industry's lowest-cost entry level digital telephone, the Optiset E Entry model, at 40% less than competitors' lowest cost units.

The Optiset E phones have an innovative, modular design and a simplified, visual user guide. With five models and nine snap-in modules, the Optiset E phones support applications from basic voice to fax and modem usage, desktop video conferencing, and advanced computer-telephony integration (CTI).

The Optiset E phones use an integrated services digital network (ISDN) BRI interface to provide advanced voice and data features at low cost. The phones allow users to take advantage of the new Siemens Hicom 300 E global communications server.

"The combination of the Optiset E telephone family and our new global communications server brings a seamless communications network to users worldwide," stated Karl Geng, president of Siemens Business Communications. "Our exclusive modular approach lets customers easily enhance phones and upgrade to new technologies as they become available. This is a great value for organizations of all sizes."

"With their various options, the Advance and Advance Plus models offer customers more station user configuration choices than any competitive product," said Allan Sulkin, president of TEQconsult group. "They may well become the benchmark against which all telephones are measured to assess product price/performance."

A Range of Telephone Models

The Optiset E family includes five telephone models, the Entry, Basic, Advance, Standard, and Advance Plus. They range in function from the single-line 3-key Entry model to the 29-line, up to 76-key Advance Plus phone with adjustable displays, two-way speakerphone and data communications capabilities. Priced at $80, the Entry model is the lowest-cost digital phone available today. Optiset E telephones are available from Siemens representatives in June of this year. Innovative Modular Expansion

Nine optional Easy-Add snap-in modules for the Optiset E phones enable customers to tailor the Optiset phones to individual user requirements.

-- A Data Adapter allows asynchronous data transmission at speeds up to 38.4 kbps. This module lets users automate their telephones and deploy Windows TAPI computer telephony applications.

-- An ISDN Adapter for BRI S/T interface. One adapter supports up to two additional native ISDN BRI devices, such as a desktop videoconferencing system, to bring multimedia to the desktop at speeds up to 128 Kbps. No other vendor has the ability to upgrade to full ISDN BRI without changing the line card and telephone.

-- An Analog Adapter lets users deploy analog devices without the expense of installing analog phone lines. No other vendor offers a simple analog adapter at such low cost while still allowing full BRI functionality.

-- A Phone Adapter lets one phone line support two Optiset E telephones, each with its own extension. This reduces the number of ports on the system, and costs 33% less than adding a phone line in other systems.

-- A Headset Adapter to accommodate amplified and non-amplified Siemens headsets is ideal for call intensive locations such as call centers.

-- A Headset Plus Adapter gives selected phones both headset and recorder capabilities, making it ideal for brokerage companies and insurance agencies.

-- A Key Module adds 16 feature or line keys with associated LEDs without replacing the phone. Up to four key modules can be added to the Optiset module telephones.

-- A Privacy Module provides a local user a secure voice connection to any remote user also equipped with a privacy adapter. This unique module supports a Public-Key Encryption algorithm that offers a possibility of 1038 different encryption codes.

-- A Distance Adapter allows an Optiset E phone to operate up to 18,000 feet from a Hicom 300 E communications server, eliminating the need for the costly remote switching options usually required to provide service to multiple locations over an area of several miles.

Patented Phone Interface

Siemens exclusive OptiGuide display shows the user what telephone options are available at any given time, and displays the user's options in words. Users search through a menu of features by pressing forward or backward scroll keys. The OptiGuide encourages use of system features, guides the station user through a process step-by-step, and reduces the amount of training required for sophisticated system operation.

High-Quality Group Conferencing

Optiset E telephones contain OptiVoice, a unique two-way speakerphone that can be tuned to different room acoustics. OptiVoice two-way speakerphones allow users to host group conference calls without overriding each other's microphone or speaker.

Siemens Business Communication Systems, Inc.

From switching systems and networks to call centers and multimedia messaging, Siemens Business Communications provides integrated global communications solutions that turn diverse technologies into practical applications. Siemens provides solutions for such major business sectors as healthcare, utilities, retail, public procurement, finance and professional/consulting services. The company is part of Siemens Private Communications Systems, the world's largest supplier of private telecommunications systems, with annual sales of approximately $5.8 billion, more than 500,000 customers and a million systems installed. Telecommunications and networking accounted for more than 20 percent of Siemens sales of $63.2 billion in the fiscal year 1995-96. -0-

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CONTACT: Siemens Business Communications Systems

Karron Esmonde, 408/492-6979

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