Integrated Internet/Telephony Devices Focus on Ease-of-use

March 2, 1999—TEK Digitel Corporation and Centrepoint Technologies Inc. will join forces to bring a new breed of full-featured convergence platforms to small and remote offices. The two companies will announce a co-development and technology sharing partnership under which they will unify their respective product platforms to assure interoperability and reduce development cycles at CT Expo in Los Angeles next week. The partnership will enable both companies to deliver Voice-over-IP -ready communication solutions to the SOHO and remote access markets.

TEK DigiTel’s VOICEServer devices tightly integrate traditional telephony with IP functions such as the Web and LANs, giving users who already utilize traditional ISP data services, cost-saving options for digital quality voice and fax. Centrepoint’s Concero Switchboard phone system brings an Auto Receptionist, PBX and line sharing features, advanced Call Forwarding and Call Bridge/Back to small office and home office users, thereby enhancing the image of the business without adding complexity. By working together, both companies can offer complete, integrated technology solutions and bring new options to market faster.

One Simpler Than Two

Rocco DiCarlo, VP of Technology at TEK DigiTel emphasizes that the alliance with Centrepoint makes converging voice and data much simpler for business users. "As small and home offices transition to integrated voice/data networks, the new breed of access devices will need to be as easy to install as plugging in a phone is today." DiCarlo says the joint efforts by TEK DigiTel and Centrepoint, "will redefine and set new standards in how people perceive ‘ease of use’ and ‘computer applications integration.’"

The Nuts and Bolts

"The Internet has become so vital to all functions of a small business or office, that unifying traditional telephony with email, fax, video, the Internet and LANs across a single architecture is now crucial to starting and successfully running the business," says Jan Scheeren, Centrepoint’s founder and president. "In addition to simplifying the installation and use of professional office phone features, Centrepoint products will now be able to equip small offices with the ability to seamlessly connect to emerging IP-based voice networks that enable long distance calls at local rates, and simplify subscriber activation and maintenance through a self-service Web site."

Centrepoint Technologies will make available to TEK DigiTel its extensive range of supported features: Auto Receptionist with Music-on-Hold; Connections Manager (analog device integration, line sharing, call hold, call transfer, 3-way calling, Distinctive Ring support, caller ID, fax detection and routing); Call Forward Navigator (customized forwarding to cell/PCS phones, pagers or any outside phone number); Personal Long Distance Operator (Call Bridge/Call Back access to user’s own phone lines and savings plan from anywhere in the world); Speaker Phone; Fax Scan and integral V.90 modem support.

Through TEK DigiTel, Centrepoint will gain access to the integration of the wide area network (WAN) access technology and standards-based voice/data integration: H.323 Voice over IP, H.323 RAS Gatekeeper support, TEK integrated Gatekeeper-lite (eliminates need for external gatekeeper), G.711, G.729, G.723 voice codecs, IP-routing (RIP and static), ISDN Voice PCM support, ISDN Data Support, PPP and PPP-ML support, plus a full suite of Ethernet interfaces.

The composite product will be a small, self-installing standalone device that effectively merges office devices, a variety of high-speed connections to the Internet, and complete LAN integration. The targeted price point and the ease-of-installation factor will revolutionize the market in terms of cost and end-user implementation. Both companies plan to deliver new products based on the combined technology during the 3^rd quarter of 1999.  

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 About Centrepoint Technologies, Inc.

Based in Ottawa, Canada, Centrepoint Technologies is a frontrunner in the SOHO telecommunications industry, and is well positioned to achieve its vision of being the leading provider of solutions to this marketplace. Its flagship product, the Concero, has been hailed by leading technology magazines as "hot stuff", "a winner" and "an innovative product that will make a big difference in the way people will work at home". It has received some of the highest industry awards including "Best of Show" at Comdex Spring ’98 and PC Computing’s MVP "Breakthrough" Award. Concero is currently shipping and available through select reseller outlets and venues. Visit Centrepoint's web site at www.ctrpoint.com.

 About TEK DigiTel Corporation

Based in Germantown, Maryland, TEK DigiTel Corporation is focused on advancing the monumental benefits of IP convergence to remote and small offices by providing ultra simple, reliable network access equipment that speeds migration to low-cost offerings from IP telecom Service Providers. TEK DigiTel develops next-generation customer premise equipment (CPE) for small offices and businesses that stress simplicity and uncomplicate the migration of all elements of small office communications to IP. Visit TEK DigiTel’s web site at www.tekdigitel.com.

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