Norstan Teams With Lotus and AVT to Offer Unified Messaging Solutions

Business Wire, March 30, 2000

Business Editors

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 30, 2000

Norstan Inc. (Nasdaq: NRRD) has entered into an agreement with IBM's Lotus Development Corporation and AVT Corporation to offer unified messaging solutions to customers. The solutions, which emanate from a global strategic alliance between Lotus and AVT, include Lotus Domino Release 5 server, Lotus Notes Release 5 client and CallXpress, the award-winning AVT unified messaging solution.

"Combining AVT CallXpress with the Lotus Domino server and our market-leading groupware solutions, allows users to access all message types, voice, fax and e-mail, from virtually any device, including at the desktop PC, the telephone or a Web browser," said Jean Gill, director of Channels, Lotus Partner Organization, Lotus Development Corp. "We are pleased that the Norstan sales force will be joining us to market these innovative product solutions. With Norstan's access to an extensive client base and its all-encompassing professional solutions, we fully expect new clients will be added to our more than 56 million users of Notes and Domino."

The Notes and Domino versions of CallXpress deliver advanced unified message functions, such as a single message store, a single address book for addressing all message types, and ActiveX controls for managing voice and fax messages from the Notes client. The product uses industry standard voice processing hardware from market-leader Dialogic, an Intel company and strategic business partner of both Lotus and AVT. New releases are planned for incorporating a telephone user interface for managing Notes-based calendaring and scheduling and the development of integrated personal call management applications.

"Norstan has earned a reputation as a solution-provider with an extensive portfolio of advanced technology products and services to address the needs of customers, " said Larry Schmidt, Norstan vice president, Advanced Solutions Group. "This new relationship with Lotus and AVT will enlarge our offerings significantly on several fronts. It will provide the latest in combined groupware and unified messaging in the Norstan Advanced Solutions Group. It will be a key offering in the company's Advanced Services Group Unified Media practice that provides professional consulting and technology integration services for unified media applications. In the process," continued Schmidt, "this relationship will allow us to better serve our current customers."

AVT Corporation (Nasdaq: AVTC) is a world leader in Managed Communications solutions, helping organizations control and meet the high demands of their communication workflow. AVT has over 50,000 systems installed worldwide, with 80% of the Fortune 100 using the company's award-winning products and services. AVT is headquartered in Kirkland, Washington and has main offices in Tucson, AZ, Portland, OR and San Francisco, CA. In addition, AVT has sales and support offices in the United Kingdom, Germany, Hong Kong, Dubai and Tokyo. For more information visit the company's Web site at www.avtc.com

Norstan Inc. is a global leader in technology services providing information technology, convergence services and communication solutions to business clients worldwide. Headquartered in the Twin Cities, Norstan sales and consulting service offices are located in 80 cities throughout North America and Europe. Through its operating units Norstan is a single source provider of leading-edge technology solutions, world-class technology services and competitive financial offerings. For more information, visit the Norstan Web site at www.norstan.com.

Norstan and associated product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of Norstan Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Lotus, Lotus Notes are registered trademarks and Notes, Domino are trademarks of Lotus Development Corporation. IBM is a registered trademark of IBM Corp. All other products and services mentioned in this document may be trademarks of the companies with which they are associated.