CallXpress 6.0 Facilitates Enterprise Migration to Internet Protocol -IP- Telephony for...

Business Editors, Hi-Tech Writers

KIRKLAND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 15, 2001

New Version Includes Support for Voice Access to Microsoft

Exchange Calendar, Contacts and Tasks Plus Email, Voice Messages

and Fax

Captaris, Inc. (Nasdaq: CAPA), a

The latest version allows enterprises to leverage a single CallXpress unified messaging server to help move from a circuit-based PBX to an Internet Protocol (IP) PBX, because the CallXpress server can simultaneously support both circuit- and IP-based PBXs. Speech recognition capabilities available as an add-on application to CallXpress 6.0 provide voice access to Microsoft(R) Exchange calendar, contacts and tasks, acknowledging the mobile worker's growing need to access more than email, voice and fax when away from the office.

"As enterprises converge their voice and data into a single network - such as when they deploy an IP PBX - it becomes even easier for them to implement and manage our CallXpress unified messaging application, which has voice and data components," said Christopher L. Davis, senior vice president of global marketing for Captaris. "CallXpress is well positioned to aid enterprises transitioning from a legacy telephony environment to a unified communications environment."

According to Synergy Research, the IP PBX market is expected to grow from $213 million in revenue during 2000 to $3.9 billion in revenue with over 19 million lines shipped in 2005. Industry analysts at Gartner predict that 40 percent of enterprises will have migrated voice services to IP telephony by 2005.

Enhanced Mobile Capabilities

Frost & Sullivan points to both the growing number of teleworkers and the proliferation of communication devices as driving factors for unified messaging market growth. With this in mind, Captaris took significant steps to enhance the mobile user's experience when interfacing with CallXpress.

With CallXpress 6.0 and the Captaris Speech for Microsoft Exchange module, Captaris provides voice-command retrieval and management of a user's calendar, tasks and contacts within Microsoft Exchange in addition to all message types in the Inbox.

Captaris Speech permits mobile business professionals to use conversational voice commands to have their email read to them using text-to-speech and to play their CallXpress voice messages and fax message details. Users can now hear their existing appointments, create new appointments and even find free time in their schedule. New messages can be addressed and sent to any party listed in either the Global Address List or the user's Contacts database.

A Captaris Speech conference call capability allows a virtually unlimited number of callers to be added to a conversation, making conference calls more convenient and less costly.

When accessing email messages by phone, CallXpress 6.0 users will hear a clearer and more natural voice reading their email. CallXpress 6.0 utilizes RealSpeak(TM) from Lernout & Hauspie(R) as the text-to-speech engine for French, Italian, German, Spanish, Dutch, American English and British English.

Support for IP Integration

CallXpress 6.0 introduces support for the Skinny Call Control Protocol (SCCP) to integrate directly with the Cisco(R) CallManager IP switch, a component of Cisco's AVVID (architecture for voice, video and integrated data) IP telephone solution.

CallXpress 6.0 marks the first release of CallXpress that integrates to an IP PBX via an Ethernet connection without the need for voice cards. All voice media and call control are passed over the data network, thus eliminating the need for extra hardware components.

Automatic Fail-Over

To ensure high availability of CallXpress unified messaging, an optional new automatic fail-over system is available with CallXpress 6.0. It can be configured to automatically recover from a server hardware or software failure with no human intervention, assuring that call and messaging functions continue uninterrupted. The automatic fail-over system utilizes Microsoft(R) Windows 2000(R) Advanced Server cluster technology.

About Captaris

Captaris is a leading provider of unified communications and mobile business solutions that allow companies to improve business communications with customers, partners and employees. The company provides access to and control of critical business information from almost any communications device and enhances communications workflow by improving the way in which company stakeholders exchange information.

The company specializes in developing and marketing CallXpress unified messaging, RightFax fax and communications servers, MediaLinq electronic document delivery services, and the Infinite Mobile Delivery product line. Captaris has more than 75,000 systems installed and over 1 million users worldwide, with 80 percent of Fortune 100 companies using the company's award winning products and services. Founded in 1982, Captaris is publicly traded under the symbol "CAPA" on the Nasdaq National Market. Captaris maintains a site on the World Wide Web at www.captaris.com.

Captaris and RightFax are trademarks of Captaris, Inc. All other company, product and service names are the property and/or trademarks of their respective owners.