Internet Telephony: Japan Telecom Launches IP Telephony Service Using VocalTec and Fujitsu Business Systems Joint Solution - Company Business and Marketing

EDGE, On & About AT&T, Oct 26, 1998

Fujitsu Business Systems (FJB) and VocalTec Communications Ltd., the IP communications company, Monday announced that Japan Telecom, a major Japanese domestic and international carrier, chose FJB's Web Telephony Solution based on the VocalTec Ensemble Architecture (VEA) to launch its commercially available low-cost fax-to-fax IP service and a planned phone-to-phone IP service. Japan Telecom's planned phone-to-phone service will use ITXC's WWeXchange service to expand their long distance reach. The VocalTec Ensemble Architecture includes the VocalTec Telephony Gateway, VocalTec Gatekeeper and the VocalTec Network Manager.

"We chose the VocalTec Ensemble Architecture because it allows us to offer our customers quality, reliable and secure low-cost fax-to-fax and phone-to-phone service," said Yutaka Nakano, general manager, Data Communications Planning Department at Japan Telecom. "VocalTec offers superior technology and partners with companies that extend the reach and capabilities of our network."

"Fujitsu Business Systems and VocalTec Communications are working together to provide a complete IP telephony solution to the service provider and the corporate markets," said Mikio Ohtsuki, President at Fujitsu Business Systems (FJB), integrator of VocalTec's IP telephony network solutions in Japan. "FJB's system integration and support capabilities are designed to address the specific needs of service providers in Japan and Asia. We work with VocalTec because they are a clear leader in the IP telephony industry."

"Today's announcement with Japan Telecom demonstrates VocalTec's continued leadership in the IP telephony, global carrier market," said Dr. Elon Ganor, chairman at VocalTec Communications. "Though important, gateways provide only one of the essential components needed by carriers to support global IP telephony services. Without gatekeepers and network managers, IP telephony networks lack the necessary intelligence to support traditional and enhanced applications. VEA provides the infrastructures these carriers need. We are committed to developing full solutions and partnering with other leading companies, such as Fujitsu BSC and ITXC, to enable our customers to deliver superior services."

"VEA gives ITXC the scalability and manageability we need to support the volume of traffic affiliates like Japan Telecom are bringing to our WWeXchange Service," said Tom Evslin, CEO at ITXC. "The introduction of VEA and the emergence of Japan Telecom as a provider of IP Telephony services are indicators of the rapid maturing and growth of IP Telephony."

About the VocalTec Ensemble Architecture The VocalTec Ensemble Architecture, including the VocalTec Telephony Gateway, VocalTec Gatekeeper and VocalTec Network Manager, is the first open IP telephony platform to support the most advanced industry standards for widescale, secure and reliable IP telephony services. With support for third-party accounting, billing and security solutions, it provides the framework for quality, intelligent IP telephony services and centralized management solutions for the routing of traffic between thousands of gateways and gatekeepers, network management agents and millions of end-user devices, including PC clients, standard telephones and other communications devices.

VocalTec Communications software enables audio, video, data, text and collaborative communications between personal computers and other devices over IP networks. VocalTec is a leader in developing innovative, open standards products that bridge IP networks and the traditional public switched telephone network (PSTN) and drive the convergence of computing and telephone technologies. For the latest company information, visit VocalTec on the World Wide Web at http://www.vocaltec.com.

Fujitsu Business Systems is one of Japan's leading communications and systems integrators, providing corporate customers with business solutions in system integration, Web, networking, service, and support areas.