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Toshiba Announces New Strata CIX With FeatureFlex, The Industry's Most Adaptable Pure IP Telephony System

Posted on: Monday, 4 October 2004, 06:00 CDT

Strata CIX(TM) Allows Migration From Toshiba Strata(R) CTX and DK Systems, Enabling Users to Retain Investment, Maximize ROI

Toshiba America Information Systems Inc., Digital Solutions Division (TAIS DSD), today announced its new Toshiba Strata CIX native IP business communications system, slated to be available later this year. Designed for small- to medium-sized enterprises or larger corporate users with multiple sites, the Strata CIX supports up to 672 ports, offers new FeatureFlex(TM) capabilities, can be TDM-enabled, and provides a smooth migration path from Toshiba Strata CTX and Strata DK digital business communication systems.

"Toshiba's Strata CIX delivers on the promise of IP telephony by providing all the features and benefits of our traditional business communications systems on a pure IP platform, with new, never-before-seen IP-based adaptability capabilities, making it the most efficient, easy-to-use, and customizable system available today," said Michael E. Durance, vice president and general manager of TAIS DSD. "It also takes advantage of Toshiba's legendary migration path, enabling users of our current Strata CTX and older Strata DK digital business communications systems an affordable upgrade to the new Strata CIX system, while they protect their original investment."

"Toshiba has developed an effective design for its new Strata CIX native IP telephony system that also allows it to be TDM enabled. It is a practical approach that delivers what many end users want, given their need to both protect and maximize investments in telecommunications technology," said Mark Ricca, executive vice president of InfoTech. "The FeatureFlex capability of the Strata CIX will allow users to adapt the system to their own unique needs. This is an impressive concept that should find a high level of receptivity with end users. Toshiba has done a commendable job in designing a differentiated system for the IP marketplace."

All the Features of Traditional Business Phone Systems in an IP System

In addition to its new mix of IP features, the Toshiba Strata CIX delivers all the features and functionality of Toshiba's traditional digital business telephone systems, taking advantage of decades of experience serving enterprises with voice solutions.

"Unlike our competitors, we've gone way beyond the basics in delivering the most robust IP telephony system in the industry," Durance said. "Users have their favorite features that increase their ability to communicate effectively with their customers, vendors and each other, and we have maintained all these features as we help them take a giant leap forward into the world of IP telephony."

In addition to robust Voice Processing features and Networking capabilities, the 250 plus features supported in the Toshiba Strata CIX include:

-- One Number Access -- allows users to set up routing features for incoming calls so the call will go to the device or locations specified (cell, IP softphones on laptops or PDA, home office).

-- Call Monitor and Retrieve -- allows users to monitor callers as they leave voice mail and retrieve them from voicemail as needed.

-- Voice Mail Return -- allows users as they are reviewing voice mail to return calls and then continue where they were in their voice mail messages.

All Features to All Users, No Matter Where They Are

Toshiba's Strata CIX has been designed to deliver virtually every feature to every user, regardless of the type of device they are using, whether they are static or mobile. The system supports IP phones, IP wireless handsets, both analog and digital telephones, IP softphones on laptops, PDAs, and tablet PCs. Because it is built on open standards, the Strata CIX will also work with standards-based SIP telephones.

"With the Strata CIX, it is our goal to give the users what they need, including mobility and flexibility in the types of devices they use to make and receive calls. That's why the Strata CIX works with mobile and static IP voice devices, not just Toshiba telephones," Durance said.

"Adaptability" Never Seen Before in an IP Telephony System

With the debut of the Strata CIX, Toshiba offers FeatureFlex, which allows users to customize their own individual features to help them be more efficient with their communications solution. FeatureFlex makes the resources of the system available to create new or blended features and applications. It allows enterprises to create user-definable features companywide, by department, or for individual users.

"Today, you'd probably be wrong if you tried to guess what the next most important Killer Application is to the customer," Durance said. "That's why we've focused on the Killer Enabler that allows enterprises to create their own Killer Application, which may be different for every individual user. The Strata CIX provides the Killer Enabler, which allows us to address a 'Market of One.' Users can now customize their systems in as little as 10 minutes instead of waiting for months or even years for their equipment manufacturer to add the features they want."

For example, using the system's built-in scripting language, enterprises can create applications that allow them to:

-- Connect with back office systems to allow important information, such as inventory management, to scroll across the phone or screen.

-- Connect with online sources for information, such as stock prices, weather temperatures, currency valuations, and more.

-- Set up call management features that provide special handling for important calls, such as follow-me routing to forward calls to another number. It also can be set up to route calls from unknown callers (or any designated callers) directly into voice mail.

Because it is architected and abstracted to provide blended solutions, users can modify and create new features on the fly, which combine call handling with messages or other functions. Since it is interpreted code, it cannot affect the system's compiled code, making it virtually impossible for users making changes to disrupt the system. In fact, it works like a macro in a spreadsheet, allowing users to create and revise features in as little as 10 minutes. The CIX is also compatible with TAPI, CSTA, and CTI databases via various scripting languages.

FeatureFlex also opens the door to third-party application development, enabling software developers, telecommunications dealers, VARs, and systems integrators to create customized solutions for individual vertical markets and others.

Using FeatureFlex is an option. The Strata CIX system comes preconfigured with more than 250 features and can be used right out of the box.

"My Phone Manager" Gives Control to End-Users

Toshiba's new personal administration tool, "My Phone Manager," puts personalization in the hands of individual users, allowing them to easily program the LCD on the telephone and program speed dial buttons and feature buttons via their PC's Web browser. Administration support is not needed. With "My Phone Manager," every person within the organization can customize every button of their telephones to incorporate the features they use the most, including speed dial numbers and "Do Not Disturb" functions, even the name on their LCD displays.

System Administration Unifies Strata CIX and Stratagy ES Voice Processing

Toshiba's new system administration tool, eManager, unifies the programming of Toshiba's Strata CIX and the Stratagy ES Voice Processing system, allowing technicians and system administrators to program both systems together.

Multiple Applications on a Single System

Also available with Toshiba's Strata CIX is the Strata Media Application Server (Strata MAS), which allows multiple applications to be combined on a single voice media application server. Applications include Auto Attendant, Voice Mail, Automated Speech Recognition, Text to Speech, Unified Messaging, Interactive Voice Response, Automatic Call Distribution and Reporting, Web-based Personal and System Administration, Web-based Telephone Applications, ACD/MIS and other third party applications. Strata MAS comes standard with Toshiba's Stratagy Enterprise Server Voice Processing solution, "My Phone Manager," Toshiba's Web-based personal administrator and eManager, Toshiba's system administrator.

Because it reduces the need for multiple servers, Strata MAS dramatically decreases the cost and complexity of deploying applications at small- to medium-sized enterprise sites.

As Durance explains, "Toshiba's Media Application Server is one of the first devices that combines voice applications from multiple vendors onto a single platform using Host-based Media Processing (HMP) technology from Intel. This lowers the entry cost to many applications for the small to medium enterprises because it eliminates the need for multiple hardware platforms to support each application separately."

Pure IP or Mix in Digital TDM

Unlike many competitive IP systems, Strata CIX can be TDM-enabled, giving users a choice of running a pure IP system or a mix of IP and digital TDM. This allows users to choose how they will maximize their systems and migrate existing equipment.

"Not everyone wants or needs a pure IP system," said Durance. "With the Strata CIX, users have a choice of mixing and matching technologies, creating a pure IP system or converged solution, and changing based on the needs of the company."

"When users take advantage of Toshiba's migration path between the Strata CTX to the new Strata CIX in a TDM-enabled environment, a simple software upgrade is all that's needed, enabling them to migrate virtually all of their original system," he added.

Toshiba Quality and Reliability Built In

As with all of Toshiba's business communications systems, the Strata CIX was designed, engineered, and built by Toshiba, based on the company's 30-year history of product and technology research and development in the United States and Japan.

As with all Toshiba systems, the Strata CIX comes with the backing of Toshiba's reliable service and customer support, its extensive National Accounts program and Toshiba's ValuePlus Warranty, the industry's only seven-year manufacturer's extended warranty.

Perpetuates Toshiba's Legendary Migration Path

With the Strata CIX, Toshiba is making good on its 30-year-old promise to deliver a smooth migration path to its users for all of its systems. Users of Toshiba's older Strata DK or current Strata CTX systems can migrate to the new Strata CIX, using much of their existing equipment including Toshiba 2000- and 3000-series telephones, cards, and trunk and station interfaces to legacy networks, which allows them to retain some of the initial investment in the system.

Durance said, "We are committed to our customers' needs and have designed the Strata CIX with this commitment in mind."

For enterprises that migrate from previous Toshiba Strata systems, there are no major training requirements to move to the Strata CIX, providing a seamless transition.

New Toshiba IP Phones

Available for the Strata CIX is Toshiba's new family of IPT telephones, including the IPT2010-SD, IPT2020-SD, and IPT2008-SDL desktop IP telephones, Toshiba wireless IP telephones and Toshiba SoftIPT SoftPhone for PDAs, laptop and tablet PCs, as well as security cameras.

Availability

Toshiba's Strata CIX will be available later in 2004. To find an Authorized Toshiba Dealer in your area, visit the Toshiba website at http://www.telecom.toshiba.com.

About Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc.

Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., TAIS is comprised of three divisions: Digital Products Division, Digital Solutions Division and the Storage Device Division. Together, the three divisions provide mobile products and solutions, telecommunications, imaging and storage products and services. Products include industry leading portable computers, projectors, DVD/CD recordable products and hard disk drives for computers, telephony products, digital imaging systems, wireless solutions and services.

TAIS provides sales, marketing and services for its wide range of information products in the United States and Latin America. TAIS is an independent operating company owned by Toshiba America, Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation, which is a world leader in high technology and integrated manufacturing of electrical and electronic components, products and systems. Toshiba has global sales of over $52 billion and more than 300 subsidiaries and affiliates worldwide. For more information visit the company's Web site at http://www.toshiba.com.

2004 Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. Strata is a registered trademark of Toshiba Corporation. All product, service and company names are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. Information including without limitation product prices, specifications, availability, content of services, and contact information is subject to change without notice.

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