AVST Launches CallXpress 7.7

FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. - Applied Voice and Speech Technologies, Inc. (AVST), released a new version of its unified communications (UC) solution, CallXpress®.  CallXpress 7.7 is enhanced with telephone user interface (TUI) options, increased unified messaging flexibility and simplified administrative capabilities. 
 
Research and advisory firm Gartner, Inc. positioned AVST in the Visionary Quadrant in its Magic Quadrant for Unified Communications 2005 based on their ability to execute and their vision. 

"IP technology is broadening the definition of the mobile workforce," said Jay Lassman, research director, Gartner. "Innovative mobility enhancements to system architecture and user interface are necessary to simplify anytime, anywhere access to business communications infrastructure."

CallXpress 7.7 has the following new features and capabilities that deliver unified communications to mobile workers:

• AVST's Integrated Client Access (ICA) enables voicemail messages and fax messages to be stored on the CallXpress server, while still providing unified messaging.  Through the ICA interface, any IMAP-compatible e-mail client may access the voice and fax messages stored on the CallXpress server, without impacting the e-mail server itself.
• CallXpress 7.7 has a new interface that emulates the Octel® Serenade® (VMX) telephone user interface (TUI).  From the user's perspective, it is nearly identical to the original Serenade (VMX) TUI when it comes to sending and managing messages, while the administrative prompts have been designed to support all of the standard CallXpress options. 
• By adding enhanced Citrix® terminal services compatibility, the CallXpress 7.7 graphical user interface (GUI) can be viewed and accessed remotely using Citrix. 

Designed for integration with virtually any switch (PBX) on the market, CallXpress is a switch-independent unified communications solution that scales to meet the requirements of medium and large enterprises.  Using the CallXpress 7.7 solution, medium to large enterprises can upgrade their communications applications with unified messaging and speech-enabled capabilities without replacing their existing infrastructure.

First adopters of CallXpress 7.7 include the Detroit-area branch of All-Tronics, Inc., an installation and service provider of advanced communications systems, has been using CallXpress since 1998.  CallXpress was selected because of its configurations, Windows-based operating system, and system administration.  The branch, located in Troy, Michigan, recently deployed CallXpress 7.7. 
 
"Our associates are frequently offsite at client locations.  CallXpress 7.7 permits them to stay in touch with each other and our clients by utilizing advanced unified messaging services," said Matthew J. Ososki, branch manager of All-Tronics, Inc.  "They are able to retrieve and send e-mail, fax and voice mail messages while away from the office.  In the office they can easily manage all three types of communications with their Microsoft Outlook program."

All-Tronics also uses CallXpress to provide an automated call processing service for one of its clients, Fox Sports Net Detroit, a local television station that broadcasts Detroit Pistons and Detroit Red Wings games.  During each of the games the station runs a promotion asking viewers to call an 800 number and pick the Player-of-the-Game.  The first correct answer wins promotional prizes from the television station. 

"Our CallXpress system will answer nearly 1,000 telephone calls during these games, and can process 12 contestant telephone calls simultaneously," explained Ososki.  Each caller is processed through the use of interactive mailboxes.  A complete message with their name, Player-of-the-game guess and callback telephone number is recorded for retrieval by Fox Sports Net Detroit.  In addition, the system provides a time-stamp of the message to ensure that no one attempts to win the prize prior to the contest start time.  The messages are stored locally on the CallXpress server and utilize the Integrated Client Access (ICA) feature of software version 7.7. 

"Using the ICA feature, our administrator receives and easily manages all of the Fox Sports Net Detroit contestant messages in a Microsoft® Outlook® Inbox folder on her PC," added Ososki.  "Mass delivery and deletion of the contestant messages is instantaneous through the ICA interface.  Since the ICA feature continues to store the messages on our CallXpress system, the VPN link to the Microsoft Exchange® Service at our corporate office is not overloaded with these contestant messages."