Ameritech Elects Octel As Running Mate For Democratic National Convention; Voice Messaging Will Allow Delegates to Communicate More Effectively and Efficiently

Business Wire, August 20, 1996

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--August 20, 1996--Octel Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: OCTL), the leading provider of voice messaging products and services, announced today that Ameritech will provide Octel voice messaging to delegates participating in this summer's Democratic National Convention, allowing them to receive and exchange information faster and easier.

Voice messaging promises to make communicating in the frenetic atmosphere of the convention more efficient and more convenient. Using Ameritech's cellular or wireline service, for example, convention officials and delegation leaders will be able to quickly reach all delegates with a single message. Delegates can then reply to the message, or forward it to others with additional comments.

This unique service will be provided to the convention, August 26-30 at the United Center in Chicago, through Octel Network Services of Dallas, the outsourcing division of Octel.

"Delegates will be able to maintain time-critical contact with each other regardless of where they are and despite the hectic schedules and chaos synonymous with political conventions," said Bruce Simpson, president of Octel Network Services.

Octel's contribution is an integral part of the overall communications package being provided by Ameritech, the official communications provider for the convention. Octel Network Services provides more than 1 million voice mailboxes to Ameritech customers through an innovative relationship with the communications giant.

"As the official communications company of the Democratic National Convention, Ameritech will use its sophisticated telecommunications network to provide delegates with the most technology-intensive convention in history," said Joe Luby, Ameritech Convention General Manager. In a first for the Ameritech service area, convention delegates will be able to send and retrieve messages across both wired and wireless mailboxes.

Other examples of ways voice messaging technology will enable more efficient communications at the convention:

-- leaders of state delegations will have a quick and simple method for reaching all delegates from their state to call a meeting or distribute information;

-- delegates will be able to easily send and receive messages regarding the latest changes to the convention schedule;

-- convention staff will have the ability to survey delegates on any given issue by sending a broadcast message to which delegates can reply with the touch of a button.

"We are excited by the opportunity to participate in the democratic process through the national political conventions," said Simpson. "We hope our contribution will help the delegates to the Democratic National Convention get the most out of their experience in Chicago."

About Voice Messaging

Voice messaging allows users to communicate with each other through their voice mailboxes -- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week -- by sending and receiving voice messages without ever ringing a telephone. After logging in to the mailbox, a user may send a message to another user's voice mailbox simply by "addressing" the message to the recipient's telephone number. In response, the recipient touches one or two keys to send a recorded reply to the caller's mailbox. Much like e-mail, voice messages can also be forwarded to others or "broadcast" to a distribution list.

About Octel Communications Corporation (http://www.octel.com)

Octel is the voice messaging company. Its worldwide leadership extends to over 40 countries and includes more than 40 million Octel mailboxes. The company holds numerous patents, including the pioneering patents in voice mail and automated attendant.

Octel's products are bought and used by businesses of all sizes, governments, educational institutions, telephone companies and cellular service providers. Octel is also the world's largest outsourcer of voice mail providing a wide range of outsourcing services to phone companies and businesses.

Founded in 1982, the company is headquartered in Milpitas, California. It has development centers in California, Florida, Texas, England, France and Israel, and major operations centers in California and Texas.

About Ameritech (http://www.ameritech.com)

A worldwide leader in making communications easy, Ameritech serves millions of customers in 50 states and more than 40 countries. Ameritech provides a full range of communications services, including local and long distance telephone, cellular, paging, security monitoring, cable TV, electronic commerce, on-line services and more. One of the world's 100 largest companies, Ameritech has 67,000 employees, 1 million shareowners and $23 billion in assets.

CONTACT: Octel Communications Corporation

Stuart McFaul

Public Relations

408/324-3245

stuart.mcfaul@octel.com

or

Ameritech Corporation

Marybeth Johnson

Director of Media Relations

312/750-5574

marybeth.johnson@ameritech.com

or

Octel Communications Corporation

Greg Klaben

Investor Relations

408/324-6571

gregory.klaben@octel.com