Expanets Launches Voice-Activated Call and Message Management Solution

ENGLEWOOD, CO - Small and medium-sized businesses can now use the human voice to control their e-mail, PBX, voicemail, fax, pagers and mobile phones with Expanets Voice Control, a suite of communications management solutions powered by speech processing technology from Sound Advantage. Expanets Voice Control is the newest contact management solution from Expanets, a U.S. provider of converged communication solutions to medium-sized businesses and partner business of NorthWestern Corp. (NYSE: NOR). Expanets Voice Control users can manage all of their calls and multimedia messaging through the use of voice commands, from either inside or outside of the office. The solution provides auto-attendant capabilities that answer and direct all incoming calls on a 24-hour basis, and eliminates the need for callers to wade through directories or menus to connect the person or department they need to reach. "Voice Control is an efficient 'front door' that makes it easier for callers to reach employees or departments within a business," said John Cosgrove, Vice President-Solutions Strategy, Expanets. "This comprehensive solution can also give mobile workers access to all of their mission-critical communications, including e-mail, voicemail and faxes, whether they're at the office, at home, in the car or on the road." Expanets Voice Control uses technology from Sound Advantage, a developer of voice-user interface technology for communication, messaging and content. Sound Advantage delivers call-processing solutions that speech-enable common office technologies like customer resource management (CRM), e-mail, fax, PBX and voicemail to businesses. "We have worked closely with Expanets to deliver a call completion solution addressing their market," said Tim Wudi, President and Chief Operating Officer at Sound Advantage. "Expanets has demonstrated a continuing ability to service a broad base of customers. Expanets Voice Control will set a new standard in the call completion and unified communications arena."