IBM and NEC to Deliver Unified Communications and Collaboration to Businesses Around the World

Business Wire, Jan 21, 2008

TOKYO -- NEC[R] Corporation announced today that it is working with IBM[R] Corporation to deliver advanced unified communication and collaboration capabilities to businesses around the world. NEC, a global market leader in enterprise communications, will integrate its UNIVERGE[R] IP communication servers with the IBM Lotus[R] Sametime[R] 8.0 collaboration platform, the industry's number one instant messaging software for enterprise customers.

With NEC's UNIVERGE gateway module for IBM Lotus Sametime, companies using NEC's UNIVERGE communication servers will be able to view online presence information, and leverage click-to-call services from within a Lotus Sametime instant messaging chat, Web conference or IBM Lotus Notes[R] email inbox.

This new integration uses the open Eclipse-based Lotus Sametime platform and the Lotus Sametime Telephony Conferencing Service Provider Interface (TCSPI) to support the convergence of voice and data. Businesses can gain click-to-call access by implementing NEC's newly developed TCSPI interface plug-in software in the UNIVERGE gateway module for Lotus software. Implementation of NEC's plug-in is made simple by the extensible framework of Lotus Sametime and its efficient operation through a centralized server.

In February 2008, NEC Australia plans to deliver its first beta release of the UNIVERGE gateway module for IBM Lotus Sametime to an IBM Australia customer.

Incorporating communications and collaboration capabilities into business work processes for professionals can improve the speed and efficiency of customer services, resulting in faster outcomes and better customer satisfaction. With IBM's Lotus Sametime 8.0 unified communications and collaboration platform and NEC's UNIVERGE IP communication server, users will be able to find specialists quickly based on location and topic, and collaborate immediately through instant messaging or a VoIP phone conversation. This integration with Lotus Sametime software will benefit healthcare facilities, the hospitality industry and educational organization that have a need to communicate rapidly and immediately to resolve issues, collaborate or find the right specialist at the right time.

"The goal of IBM's UC2[TM] strategy is to drive business agility and innovation by simplifying and unifying communications and collaboration in the context of where and how people work every day. With today's announcement, NEC customers will have the choice to integrate their communications into Lotus Sametime, to help streamline business processes," said Bruce Morse, Vice President, Lotus Software Group, IBM Corporation.

"It is exciting for customers to be able to integrate Lotus Sametime, the industry's leading instant messaging and "on premise" Web conferencing solution, with the superior reliability of NEC's UNIVERGE IP communications servers," said Kazuo Tsuzuki, Associate Senior Vice President, Enterprise Solutions, NEC Corporation. "Whether it is advancing a business decision via rich collaboration in a web conference or using Lotus Sametime click-to-call features, these complementary offerings from IBM and NEC will deliver the best solution to our mutual customers."

By working closely with IBM to leverage the benefits of IBM Lotus Sametime, software, NEC can expand its UNIVERGE portfolio. With these innovative new initiatives, NEC proposes enterprises to leverage the open eco-system and extensibility that allows enterprise agents to best manage and provide better service with their voice and data network environment while reducing overall costs.

Starting with this new UNIVERGE gateway module for IBM Lotus Sametime, NEC will continue to leverage future IBM unified communications solutions that will benefit their customers worldwide.

NEC's UNIVERGE gateway for IBM Lotus Sametime will be exhibited at Booth #825, IBM Lotusphere[R] 2008, January 20 - 24, 2008, Orlando, Florida, USA.

NEC's UNIVERGE gateway module for IBM Lotus Sametime will be available in the US, Europe, Japan, and Australia in early April, 2008.

About NEC Corporation

NEC Corporation is one of the world's leading providers of Internet, broadband network and enterprise business solutions dedicated to meeting the specialized needs of its diverse and global base of customers. NEC delivers tailored solutions in the key fields of computer, networking and electron devices, by integrating its technical strengths in IT and networks, and by providing advanced semiconductor solutions through NEC Electronics Corporation. The NEC Group employs more than 150,000 people worldwide. For additional information, please visit the NEC home page at: http://www.nec.com

For more information on Lotus Sametime please visit: www.ibm.com/lotus/sametime

IBM, Lotus, Lotus Notes, Sametime, UC2 and Lotusphere are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States, other countries or both.

NEC, UNIVERGE, and NEC logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of NEC Corporation.