Mitel Doubles Capacity of Flagship SX-2000, Delivers Cost Savings and Expanded Features - Product Announcement

Cambridge Telcom Report, April 3, 2000

Mitel Communications Systems, a division of Mitel Corporation (TSE:MLT.)(ME:MLT.) (NYSE:MLT) (LSE:MLT.L) Tuesday announced the immediate availability of Lightware 30, the latest release of its advanced call control software. Lightware 30 is a milestone software release that delivers improved cost savings and expanded functionality to large customers in hospitality, finance, education and other key markets.

Lightware 30 doubles the port capacity of Mitel's leading SX-2000 Communications System. The software allows customers to increase capacity to 4,224 ports within a single system while maintaining the advanced voice capabilities their organizations depend on. By increasing the number of extensions without having to cluster multiple PBXs, or add significantly to the system infrastructure, the new port count provides important cost efficiencies. Existing SX-2000 customers can easily double their system capacity by migrating to Lightware 30, which provides them with significant investment protection.

Mitel's new call control software now includes QSIG networking capabilities. QSIG is an international standard that fosters vendor interoperability when building virtual private networks. With QSIG, companies with PBXs from multiple vendors can protect their investment by maintaining their existing voice communications infrastructure.

"Over the next few years, many Mitel SX-2000 customers will deploy IP solutions. To provide these organizations with an intelligent migration path to IP technology, Lightware 30 establishes the baseline for transition," said Ken Dumont, vice-president, marketing, Mitel Communications Systems.

"At the same time, Mitel continues to deliver innovative capabilities to the SX-2000 platform. Lightware 30 protects customers' investment in current PBX technology and delivers significant cost savings. With the new QSIG interoperability features, Mitel is poised to expand its presence in such key sectors as the hospitality, finance and education markets."

Expanets of Oklahoma, Inc. is a Mitel Platinum Elite VAR based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Glen Patterson, president, said that Lightware 30 is one of the most significant software releases Mitel has introduced.

"The functionality, distributed architecture and reliability of the Mitel SX-2000 has always helped distinguish us in competitive bids," said Patterson. "Without a doubt, Lightware 30 will play an important role in our continued success. The combination of its robust capabilities and superior integration with SX-2000 systems is exactly the high-impact set of features we were looking for."

Lightware 30 offers enhanced features In addition to its doubling of port capability and QSIG networking capabilities, Lightware 30 adds other important functions, including:

Enhanced 911 (E-911) support Increasingly, many States in the U.S. require communications systems to include E-911 features; for example, the ability to forward telephone number and location information from calls placed from a PBX to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).

This information allows officials to quickly pinpoint the exact location of emergencies, saving critical seconds or minutes when sending police or ambulance teams.

Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) support. The SX-2000 now provides an SNMP agent with MIB II support. Utilizing the embedded Ethernet port in the systems, organizations can now integrate network management applications over the LAN, allowing them to converge and improve management of their networks.

Enhanced network call records (SMDR). Management of communications costs is dramatically improved with better call record capabilities within network environments, coupled with the ability to transfer records through the system Ethernet port.

Improved voice mail integration. Messaging products from Mitel's Baypoint Innovations group are now integrated with the SX-2000, and accessed using softkeys on specific Mitel Superset 4000 display telephone sets. Context-sensitive softkeys provide superior ease-of-use for such functions as playing, deleting and forwarding messages.

Mitel Communications Systems has over 25 years' experience meeting the real-time voice needs of enterprise customers. Systems' portfolio includes voice communications systems, desktop peripherals and networking solutions. Mitel Communications Systems is today helping enterprises develop and launch IP telephony applications.

Mitel is a growing global provider of converging voice and data systems and applications, and specialty semiconductors for the communications industry. The company has annual revenues of more than $1.3 billion and employs approximately 6,000 people worldwide.