Toshiba is now shipping its Strata CIX. Check out the release:

Toshiba Ships Award-Winning New Strata CIX

Pure IP Telephony System

Early Users, Dealers, Analysts and Editors Applaud the Industry's Most Adaptable Pure IP Telephony System 

IRVINE, Calif., March 1, 2005 - Toshiba America Information Systems Inc., Digital Solutions Division (TAIS DSD) today announced that it is shipping its award-winning new Toshiba Strata CIX pure IP business communications system. The recipient of Internet Telephony Magazine's 2004 Product of the Year award and Customer Interaction Solutions' Editors' Choice award, Strata CIX is designed for SMB enterprises or larger corporate users with multiple sites, supports up to 192 ports (up to 672 ports coming soon), offers new FeatureFlex capabilities, can be TDM-enabled, and provides a smooth migration path from Toshiba Strata CTX and Strata DK digital business communication systems.

"Early users, Authorized Toshiba Dealers, industry analysts and editors applaud Strata CIX for delivering on the promise of IP telephony," said Michael E. Durance, vice president and general manager of TAIS DSD. "By providing all the features and benefits of Toshiba's traditional business communications systems on a pure IP platform, with new, never-before-seen IP-based adaptability capabilities, we think we've made Strata CIX the most efficient, easy-to-use, and customizable system available today."

Traditional Business Phone Features in an IP System
Toshiba's Strata CIX delivers virtually all the features and functionality of Toshiba's traditional digital business telephone systems, taking advantage of decades of experience serving enterprises with voice solutions.

"Since Strata CIX has virtually all the features of traditional digital telephony systems, users keep their favorite features and don't have to give up anything to move to IP," said Bill Taylor, president of Taylored Systems, an Authorized Toshiba Dealer based in Noblesville, Ind. "This allows them to continue to communicate effectively with their customers, vendors and each other, while they gain all the benefits of moving forward into the world of IP telephony."

In addition to robust Voice Processing features and Networking capabilities, Strata CIX supports more than 250 features.

All Features to All Users, on Fixed or Mobile Devices
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 fixed or mobile. The system supports IP phones, IP wireless handsets, both analog and digital telephones, IP softphones on notebook and tablet PCs. Because it supports open standards, Strata CIX will also work with standards-based SIP telephones.

"We've integrated the Toshiba softphone into our laptops so we can work from the road, home, or wherever we are," said George Lamar, director of engineering for Toshiba customer Interactive Digital Solutions, a Noblesville, Ind.-based provider of video conferencing services. "We travel significantly, so having our telephones on our laptops is just like being at the office. We're very pleased with the system and the fact that it lets us take our telephones with us on our laptops."

"Adaptability" Never Seen Before in an IP Telephony System

Strata CIX FeatureFlex adaptability allows users to create or 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.

"FeatureFlex is a great solution, and Toshiba is the only company with an IP system that allows users to program their own features," added Lamar of Interactive Digital Solutions, a Toshiba user who beta-tested Strata CIX. "Using FeatureFlex will allow us to integrate our video conferencing services with our telephone system. We'll be able to leverage the capabilities of the video conferencing bridge to do conferencing to external parties so our system can be used with large conference groups."

Mark Ricca, vice president of leading industry analyst InfoTech of Parsippany, N.J., agrees. "The FeatureFlex capability of Strata CIX allows users to adapt the system to their own unique needs. This impressive concept will find a high level of receptivity with end users. Toshiba has done a commendable job in designing a differentiated system for the IP marketplace."

Added SV Purushothaman, industry analyst at leading firm Frost & Sullivan of San Antonio, Texas, "Toshiba's FeatureFlex provides end-users with the speed and flexibility to create and rollout customized features in a short period of time."

According to Toshiba's Durance, "FeatureFlex is the Killer Enabler that allows enterprises to create their own Killer Application, which may be different for every individual user. 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 can also be set up to route calls from unknown callers (or any designated callers) directly into voice mail.

Because it is designed and abstracted to provide blended solutions, users can modify and create new features on the fly, which combine call handling with messaging or other functions. 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 interfaces.

Popular pre-programmed FeatureFlex features 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 phone, IP softphones on notebook PCs, home office, etc.).
• 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.

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.

System Administration Unifies Strata CIX and Stratagy ES Voice Processing
Toshiba's new system administration tool, eManagerä, 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.

"Toshiba's eManager allows us to program everything from one screen, making it an easier, more integrated system than most on the market today. We're excited about Toshiba's pure IP system," Toshiba dealer Taylor added.

"My Phone Manager" Gives Control to End-Users
Toshiba's new personal administration tool, My Phone Managerä 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.

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 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 SMB enterprise sites," said John Zeller, president of Authorized Toshiba Dealer ATS Communications of Concord, Calif. "Having a single platform also makes it easier to configure a fully integrated IP telephony solution."

Pure IP or Add 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.

"Toshiba has developed an effective design for its new Strata CIX pure IP communications system that also allows it to be TDM enabled. It is a practical approach that delivers what many end users want, allowing them to create a pure IP system, mix and match IP and TDM technologies, or make changes based on the needs of the company," Ricca added.

Perpetuates Toshiba's Legendary Migration Path
With the Strata CIX, Toshiba delivers a smooth migration path for virtually 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 much of the initial investment in the system.

"One of the biggest advantages of the Strata CIX is we can go to our existing Toshiba customers and show them a smooth migration path from their existing equipment that takes advantage of their initial investment," Toshiba Dealer Taylor said.
"Being able to mix and match IP and TDM together gives users the ability to both protect and maximize their investments in telecommunications technology and is particularly beneficial for existing Toshiba users who can re-use older equipment," Ricca added.
Toshiba Quality and Reliability Built In
As with all of Toshiba's business communications systems, 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, Strata CIX comes with the backing of Toshiba's reliable service and customer support, its extensive National Accounts program and Toshiba's ValuePlusä Warranty, the industry's only seven-year manufacturer's extended warranty.

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

Availability
Toshiba's Strata CIX, Toshiba IPT desktop IP telephones and SoftIPT softphone are now available. Toshiba IP Wireless Phones will be available soon. To find an Authorized Toshiba Dealer in your area, visit the Toshiba website at www.telecom.toshiba.com.