Toshiba Launches More Powerful Platform for its Strata CIX Family of IP PBX Systems; Release 4.0 Brings More Big Switch Features to the SMB IP Marketplace.

IRVINE, Calif. -- Toshiba America Information Systems Inc., Digital Solutions Division (TAIS DSD), today announced Release 4.0 for its Strata(R) CIX(TM) family of IP business communication systems. Delivering a more powerful processor and an expanded feature set, Release 4.0 is now available for Strata CIX100, Strata CIX200 and Strata CIX670 systems, shipping standard with new systems. Existing Strata CIX/CTX(R)100 and CIX/CTX670 customers can cost-effectively upgrade to Release 4.0 by installing the new processors. Customers with CIX200 systems can upgrade their existing processor to Release 4.0 simply by updating the software on the processor.

"Our goal at Toshiba is to continue to roll out enhancements while maintaining the reliability, durability and migration path for which Toshiba is known," said Larry Meyer, vice president, Sales and Marketing, of TAIS DSD. "Release 4.0 gives Strata CIX users more power and more capabilities, making it even easier for them to maximize and customize their telephony capabilities to meet their individual needs."

New Processors Make the Strata CIX More Powerful

With Release 4.0, Toshiba will ship its Strata CIX IP systems with new processors that provide more memory for expanded features and functionality. RISC processor technology with embedded DRAM uses memory more efficiently and processes data and instructions faster.

With four times as much DRAM memory (from 16MB to 64MB) as previous versions, Strata CIX delivers more capabilities and prepares the platform for new applications being developed both by Toshiba as well as third-parties developing applications via the Toshiba Application Development Program launched earlier this year.

New Flash Media Cards Deliver Greater Performance

Strata CIX Release 4.0 processors will now include a larger capacity 512MB Secure Digital (SD) flash memory card, replacing the 64MB Smart Media card. This makes upload/download functions faster and more efficient. With no moving parts and removable media, the SD card provides better reliability and life span than similar systems using hard drives for customer programming database storage.

Improved Remote Upgrades, Back-up, and Restore Functionality

Toshiba Authorized Dealers and administrators at customer facilities will both appreciate the improved ease of remote upgrades, back-up capabilities and restore functionality that make all of these tasks faster and easier to manage. Local and remote update files are now a single file so upgrades are simpler. In addition, the time necessary to send upgrades from eManager(TM) to the remote Strata CIX system is reduced.

Enhanced Administration and Maintenance Features

System administrators will appreciate the new traffic reporting features, including traffic reports on outgoing and incoming trunk group usage and "all circuits busy" reporting for trunk groups as well as DTMF and conference circuits. The reports are stored on the processor's SD flash memory card locally, and reports can also be sent to a remote device over a TCP/IP or RS-232 connection. Traffic reporting is set up based on day of week and time of day. Reports are easy-to-read, time-stamped files that are generated and sent out hourly.

Expanded system alarms provide a choice of notification targets for up to 11 unique IP addresses from Strata CIX, as well as to the system eMonitor maintenance console via SNMP traps from multiple networked Strata CIX nodes. IP or digital telephone alarm indication buttons also provide notification. The Strata CIX Network eMonitor provides system alarm monitoring functionality, either remotely or locally over TCP/IP. Alarm types include ISDN PRI, ISDN BRI, T1, IP interface, and system resources such as SMDR, power supply, and CTI link disruption.

Uniform Call Distribution for Simplified Call Center Operation

With Release 4.0, Strata CIX systems now have built-in Uniform Call Distribution (UCD) functionality, which enables call flow to distribute more efficiently through a call center. UCD calls can be answered by the auto attendant, which prompts the caller to dial the correct UCD group number. Alternatively, UCD calls can ring directly to a UCD group. In either case, the call is then sent to the UCD agent or queue but never to a busy number.

Calls sent to agents are managed by distributed hunt to find the next available agent. Callers in queue can receive music and announcements imbedded in one of the system's music-on-hold sources, and each UCD group can share or have a separate music source. Overflow timing is controlled by a unique overflow timer for each UCD group. Agent log-in and log-out buttons make it easy for agents to sign in and out of the system so that calls can be routed appropriately.

The built-in UCD standard feature is ideal for basic call processing applications not requiring the more robust optional ACD and reporting capabilities available with Strata CIX systems.

Networking Enhancements

Centralized Station Message Detail Recording (SMDR) enables Call Accounting software to be located on a single Call Accounting Server that can receive SMDR call data from each Strata CIX node via TCP/IP on the Strata Net Network. Users having Call Accounting client software can retrieve reports from the server from any location.

In addition, centralized SMDR on multi-node networked Strata CIX systems has been proven to be compatible with a number of popular third-party call accounting software applications.

Toshiba's Strata CIX eMonitor can monitor alarm conditions from multiple CIX systems over a WAN or the Internet from any location via SNMP traps sent over TCP/IP.

Traffic Reports can be sent from Strata CIX systems to remote locations over a WAN or the Internet from any Strata CIX location.

Improved End-User Experience

End-users will appreciate the new ability to dial by name using Toshiba's 10- and 20-button small-LCD telephones. This provides users of the 2-line-LCD model telephones similar functionality as with the 8-line-LCD model. The Dial by Name feature searches for names much like a cell phone directory and then allows the user to press one button to dial. This feature also includes speed dialing and internal directory names.

Secure Migration Path

In keeping with Toshiba's promise to never leave a customer behind, Toshiba's new Release 4.0 is compatible with Toshiba's entire Strata CIX family. New units will ship with Release 4.0. Existing Strata CIX and CTX customers can cost-effectively upgrade to Release 4.0 by installing the new processors.

About Toshiba America Information Systems Inc.

Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., TAIS is comprised of three divisions: Digital Products Division, Digital Solutions Division and the Storage Device Division. Together, the three divisions provide mobile products and solutions, telecommunications, imaging and storage products and services. Products include industry leading portable computers, projectors, DVD/CD recordable products and hard disk drives for computers, telephony products, digital imaging systems, wireless solutions and services.

TAIS provides sales, marketing and services for its wide range of information products in the United States and Latin America. TAIS is an independent operating company owned by Toshiba America, Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation, which is a world leader in high technology and integrated manufacturing of electrical and electronic components, products and systems. Toshiba has global sales of over $52 billion and more than 300 subsidiaries and affiliates worldwide. For more information visit the company's Web site at www.toshiba.com.

(C) 2005 Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. Strata is a registered trademark of Toshiba Corporation. All product, service and company names are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. Information including without limitation product prices, specifications, availability, content of services, and contact information is subject to change without notice.