Toshiba eases evolution with flexibility.

In Chris Cooper's Oscar-winning performance in the film "Adaptation," his character breaks down simply and ingeniously why he is so drawn to plants: "Because they're so mutable. Adaptation is a profound process--means you figure out how to thrive in the world."

That mutability of which Cooper's character, John Laroche, spoke so passionately of plants can be justly said, too, of the technology with which we deal in our industry. Are his words too dramatic for describing the driving force of our industry? I don't think so.

Adaptation. Or adjustment. Or flexibility. Or malleability. A sort of unreliable but controlled fickleness. However this innate flexibility is described, at the base is the ability to thrive, to do more and to do it more easily.

And so what preeminently, though not exclusively, made Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Solutions Division (TAIS DSD)'s Strata CIX (a native IP business communications system) our choice for this month's Tech Highlight focus was its offered option of the FeatureFlex adaptability tool, which allows users to customize their own individual features.

Because knowing what will be the next most important "killer application" is so difficult to determine and because it can be different to each person, Strata CIX offers this "killer enabler" to endow enterprises with the ability to create their own personalized killer app.

FeatureFlex allows enterprises to create user-definable features companywide, by department or for individual users. FeatureFlex makes the resources of the system available to create new or blended features and applications.

Using Strata CIX with FeatureFlex, users can customize their systems--modifying or programming new features--in fewer than 10 minutes, rather than having to wait months or even years for their equipment manufacturer to add the features they want. This tool may be used to create features on-the-fly, combining call handling with messaging or other functions, because it is architected and abstracted to provide blended solutions.

Examples of application creation offered by Toshiba, using the system's built-in scripting language, are as follows:

* To connect with back-office systems to allow important information (such as inventory management) to scroll across the phone or screen;

* To connect with online sources for information (such as weather temperatures, stock prices, currency evaluations, etc); and

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* To set up call management features that provide special handling for important calls (such as follow-me routing to forward calls to another number). It can also be set up to route calls from unknown callers (or any designated callers) directly into voice mail.

FeatureFlex also opens the door to third-party application development: software developers, telecom dealers and systems integrators are able to create customized solutions for individual vertical markets and others.

Again, FeatureFlex is an option, not a requisite in using Strata CIX.

In its entirety, Toshiba's Strata CIX, the native IP business communications system upon which FeatureFlex is built, is designed for small to medium-sized enterprises or larger corporate users with multiple sites. (It supports up to 672 ports.)

Strata CIX was designed to deliver virtually every feature to every user, regardless of the type of device being used, whether the user is mobile or stationary. So you can take your PDA anywhere in the building and continue your work. The IP telephony system supports IP phones, IP wireless handsets, both analog and digital telephones, and IP softphones on laptops, PDAs and tablet PCs. Strata CIX will also work with standards-based SIP phones, as it is built on open standards. (Toshiba has also made available a new family of IPT telephones: desktop IP phones, wireless IP phones, PDAs, laptop and tablet PCs, and security cameras.)

The new system offers "never-before-seen IP-based adaptability capabilities, making it the most efficient, easy-to-use, and customizable system available today," according to Michael E. Durance, vice president and general manager of TAIS DSD.

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Strata CIX takes advantage of Toshiba's migration path and empowers Strata CTX and older Strata DK digital business communications systems users protection of investment, as the upgrade is affordable, Durance continued. Along with its new mix of IP features, CIX delivers all previous features and functionality of Toshiba's traditional digital business telephone systems.

Additional features of the new IP telephony system (200-plus features): My Phone Manager, a personal administration tool that allows individual users to program the telephone program speed dial numbers and feature buttons via their PC's Web browser without administration support; robust voice processing; eManager, a system administration tool that unifies programming of CIX and the Strategy ES Voice Processing System; networking capabilities; TDM enablement; one number access; call monitor and retrieve; and voice mail return.

Toshiba's Strata CIX with FeatureFlex will ship by the end of this month, and both CIX and its optional FeatureFlex feature will allow users to easily adjust their current system and to flexibly adapt to the consistently kinetic technological world. His passionate belief being delineated, Laroche would be proud.

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By David R. Butcher, Assistant Editor, Customer Inter@ction Solutions[R] Magazine