Alcatel Completes Acquisition of Telera

PARIS, FRANCE - Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA) announced that, after finalizing all customary closing procedures, the acquisition of Campbell, California-based Telera Corp. has been completed. Telera's patented Voice Web software platform uses voice extensible markup language (VoiceXML) and other open standards to enable service providers and enterprises to develop voice applications. Under the acquisition, Telera becomes a VoiceXML center of competency within Genesys, Alcatel's contact center software business, initially focusing on voice self-service solutions. Already Genesys is leveraging the Voice Web technology in its recently announced Genesys Voice Portal, a voice self-service application for customer contact management. Longer term, the VoiceXML center of competency will strengthen Alcatel's strategy to deliver converged voice and data networks. Prem Uppaluru, previously Telera's chief executive officer, has been appointed executive vice president, Voice Web Solutions, at Genesys. Mr. Uppaluru will drive voice self-service initiatives and products that support both Genesys' and Alcatel's leadership in communications technology. "Genesys is focused on delivering customer contact solutions that enable companies to build long-term, profitable customer relationships," said Ad Nederlof, chief executive officer at Genesys. "We believe Telera gives us the ability to offer a new class of interaction management applications designed to help companies maximize efficiency of their contact centers while improving customer service levels."