Toshiba Announces Strata CS Version 4.0, Bringing Internet Telephony and Digital Telephone Compatibility to Its Server-Based Business Communication System

Business Wire, March 6, 2001

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 6, 2001

Combining the Power of Desktop Computers with Advanced Telephony and

Voice Processing Capabilities, Strata CS Version 4.0 Also Provides

Expanded Client Interface and Advanced ACD Capabilities

Toshiba America Information Systems Inc., Telecommunication Systems Division (Toshiba TSD) today announced the Toshiba Strata(R) CS Version 4.0, a significant new upgrade of its popular business communication system for small- to medium-sized companies.

The Strata CS 4.0 is one of the first communication server-based business communications systems to offer both Internet telephony and digital telephone compatibility, giving users complete flexibility to design their telephone system to work the way they communicate -- over the Internet, intranet, and/or via regular trunk lines.

Toshiba has also expanded the system's client interface and ACD capabilities to maximize its benefits for both call centers and individual users.

"Toshiba's Strata CS 4.0 is the most robust, feature-rich server-based business communication system for small- to medium-sized businesses available today," said Paul L. Wexler, executive vice president of Toshiba America Information Systems, in Irvine, Calif.

"Now with the flexibility and benefits of both Internet telephony and new compatibility with Toshiba's digital telephones, the Strata CS 4.0 is a turnkey solution that helps businesses increase customer service and internal productivity by taking advantage of the most advanced voice, data, and call management technologies available today."

New IP Telephony Features Offer Cost Savings and Flexible Calling

Toshiba's Strata CS 4.0 provides users with the benefits of both IP and circuit switched communications. The system is compatible with both IP telephones and traditional telephones (both analog and digital) for the user's ultimate flexibility.

Users can connect an IP telephone locally to the system via their LAN or can connect an IP telephone remotely to the system via the Internet or private, IP-based intranet. Internet/intranet calls can be placed from or to the Strata CS desktop via an IP telephone or analog or digital telephone through the gateway to a remote IP telephone, NetMeeting PC, or another Strata CS system.

Wexler explained, "The new Strata CS 4.0 gives users the ultimate flexibility to set up the system to meet their individual needs. They can choose IP telephony, traditional analog or digital communications, or both on the Strata CS 4.0."

IP telephone users have most of the same feature set and functionality as those using analog telephones. To implement IP telephony on the Strata CS 4.0 requires the appropriate Dialogic IP card to accept the connection and an H.323v2-compatible IP telephone.

Strata CS 4.0 Compatible with Toshiba Digital Telephones

In response to dealer and customer request, the Strata CS 4.0 is now compatible with Toshiba's popular 2000-series digital telephone handsets, bringing improved functionality, reliability, and quality to the telephone system.

"Strata CS 4.0 is one of the few communication server-based telephone systems compatible with digital telephones," Wexler said. "Being able to use digital phones rather than analog maximizes the functionality of the system while greatly increasing the overall sound quality and system reliability."

Using the Toshiba digital telephone, the Strata CS 4.0 now supports standard fixed buttons, programmable buttons, message screening, and off-hook call announcements. Its enhanced call handling features include multiple directory number appearances, allowing users to receive multiple calls to a single extension.

It also enables secondary directory number appearances, which allows a user's extension to ring on another person's telephone and vice-versa for extended call coverage.

"Secondary directory number appearance functionality is particularly useful in situations where calls cannot be missed," Wexler explained.

Expanded ACD Enhancements Meet Sophisticated Call Center Needs

The ACD capabilities have been significantly enhanced in Strata CS 4.0 and now meet the needs of sophisticated call centers. New to Version 4.0 are the following capabilities:

-- ACD call center interface can now provide custom messages to the caller,
such as queue length or delays, maximum wait times, etc.

-- New ACD routing algorithms enable administrators to maximize the
configuration of the queue in a pattern that best distributes calls for their
own unique call center environments.

-- Remote agent capability allows calls coming into the call center to be
distributed to agents located in remote locations, such as regional or home
offices.

-- ACD reporting enhancements provide additional information on abandoned
calls, percentage of calls completed, and wait times, including real-time
reports via the Call Center Manager in Excel format.

-- New supervisor features include call recording for agent or queue,
notification from call monitor, and call monitor on-screen status.