Siemens HiPath Xpressions Unified Messaging Wins International Engineering Consortium's InfoVision Award

Business Wire, Nov 6, 2001

Business Editors/Technology Writers

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 6, 2001

Siemens Enterprise Networks LLC, a subsidiary of Siemens AG (NYSE:SI) and a leading provider of converged voice and data solutions, today announced that the Siemens HiPath(TM) Xpressions unified messaging product has received the International Engineering Consortium's (IEC) InfoVision Award for 2001. The goal of the InfoVision Awards Program of IEC -- a nonprofit organization, dedicated to catalyzing positive change in the information industry -- is to provide an advanced view of the information industry by recognizing its most innovative products and services. The HiPath(TM) Xpressions unified messaging solution was recognized as one of the industry's most original products from the year 2001 in the area of application services.

"Siemens' Xpressions unified messaging product offers an unparalleled approach for maximizing the effectiveness of workforce communications," said Gisela Fuchs, senior vice president of product management and development at Siemens Enterprise Networks. "In today's fast-paced environment, mobility and access to information anytime and anywhere have become ever more crucial. Siemens has recognized the growing need for unified messaging and developed a high functionality system that can handle voice mail, fax, and e-mail via a consistent, easy-to-use interface. More importantly, the system's most recent release allows users to not only easily access their messages but also filter and prioritize them based on user-created rules, applied by the 'MyXpressions' folder," Fuchs continued.

Enterprise users of HiPath(TM) Xpressions no longer need to separately call in for voice mail, log in for e-mail, or check for their faxes. The HiPath(TM) Xpressions solution provides a single point of entry for all message types and gives users access to voice, fax, and e-mail messages anytime, anywhere, via the communications device of their choice -- standard phone, mobile phone, desktop PC or laptop PC. This is made possible with "message morphing" -- technology that converts voice mail messages to voice-based e-mails as well as a text-to-speech engine that reads e-mail messages and fax headers to the recipient over a phone connection.

In addition, users now have the advantage of Siemens' unique feature called "MyXpressions" folder. The "MyXpressions" folder applies rules to filter the inbox -- enabling users to easily access priority messages. The "MyXpressions" folder makes unified messaging very efficient for mobile users and sets Siemens Xpressions system apart in the marketplace.

In addition to the 2001 InfoVision award, the Siemens Xpressions unified messaging product has received several other awards since the introduction of its first version in 1999:

-- EMA (Electronic Messaging Association): "1999 Best of Show"

-- Teleconnect: "1999 Readers' Choice Award"

-- Call Center CRM Solutions 2000: "Editors' Choice Award"

-- Computer Telephony (CT) Expo 2000: "Best of Show"

-- CT Labs: "Best Overall Unified Messaging Solution," June 2000

-- Two Analyst's Choice Awards from MailVerge 2000 conference, August 2000:
"Most Innovative Convergence of Messaging Solution of the Year" and "Most
Innovative Unified Messaging System."

About Siemens HiPath Enterprise Convergence Architecture

Siemens HiPath enterprise convergence architecture allows companies to implement new convergence technologies in voice and data infrastructures in line with their specific requirements, while protecting existing capital investments. A comprehensive portfolio of new IP communication solutions is available. Siemens delivers industry-leading applications, including those within the HiPath ProCenter(TM) product-customer interaction and HiPath(TM) messaging and mobility portfolios of solutions, across both circuit-switched and IP platforms. Further information on HiPath products can be found at http://www.hipath.com.

About Siemens

Siemens Information and Communication Networks Inc. (ICN) is a leading provider of integrated voice and data networks and solutions for enterprises, carriers and service providers. Based in Boca Raton, Fla., Siemens ICN's subsidiaries include Siemens Carrier Networks LLC, Siemens Enterprise Networks LLC and Optisphere Networks Inc. Complementing these businesses is Unisphere Networks Inc., a Siemens affiliate that is a leading provider of IP infrastructure products to enable broadband data and voice services. For more information: http://www.icn.siemens.com.

Siemens AG, headquartered in Munich, is a leading global electronics and engineering company. It employs over 460,000 people in 193 countries, and reported worldwide sales in excess of $74 billion in fiscal 2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00). The United States is Siemens' largest market, with 85,000 employees and sales of more than $17 billion in fiscal 2000. Siemens is a leading provider of advanced technology solutions in the information and communications, medical, power, automation and control, transportation and lighting sectors, and leverages its global network of innovation and unparalleled technological heritage to deliver business results for Siemens customers around the globe.