Thomson Telecom, VCON and MATERNA Announce the Voice+ Initiative at CeBIT in Hanover, March 18-24, 2004
Voice+ allows simple access to multimedia PC communications from a PSTN phone
Dortmund/Hannover, 10. März 2004
Paris (Date) – THOMSON (Euronext Paris: 18453; NYSE: TMS), VCON (Nouveau Marché ISIN Code: IL 00 108 30540), and MATERNA Information & Communications introduce “Voice+”, a joint initiative that will help bridge the traditional PSTN world with the booming broadband world. By pressing a single button, phone users will gain instant access to a new multimedia communication experience. The Voice+ initiative will be demonstrated at CeBIT in the Thomson booth, Hall 27 Booth A28.
The Voice+ initiative leverages the respective technologies and market forces of three companies: THOMSON Telecom brings its expertise in telephone and broadband equipments; VCON adds its knowledge in vast deployment of Video and Data collaboration networks; and, MATERNA contributes its expertise in SMSC servers for the mobile and fixed Telcos.
“The Voice+ technology realizes the potential of a converged rich media network” said Yair Shamir, CEO of VCON. ”The ease of us, services and price structure that will become available to Telco users with Voice+ are exactly what the market is asking”
Voice+ is geared towards Telcos and Broadband service providers. It allows users to launch a broadband application automatically by pressing a single button on their standard PSTN telephone. Using fixed SMS, the Voice+ system enables the end-user to access their Telco’s advanced multimedia services through broadband access. These services include remote assistance, sharing digital images, remote surveillance, videoconferencing and more.
Voice+ is the ideal solution for network operators looking for additional PSTN revenues while leveraging their broadband access to propose additional multimedia applications to end-users. With Voice+, operators can couple the benefits of both the PSTN and DSL worlds by offering their end-users multimedia communications, instantly established by pressing a button on the PSTN phone.
“Voice+ helps serve our Telco customers with combining the best of our telephony and broadband activities, fixed SMS phones and DSL modem.” said Bruno Fabre, General Manager, THOMSON Telecom. “Our new fixed SMS based phones can launch exciting services as well as send and receive SMS messages from mobile phones.
Based on integrated technology components, the Voice+ system is deployed without changing the Telco infrastructure. Thus, Telcos and Service Providers can rapidly create additional revenue opportunities from new advanced multimedia services.
“Voice+ requires real time response time. MATERNA is one of the few suppliers who can provide a FSMSC server which is real time” said Helmut an de Meulen, CEO of MATERNA. “We have a vast experience of integrating our FSMSC servers into Telco’s billing systems.”
About Thomson
With its strong knowledge of cordless telephony technologies across the
world, Thomson designs, develops and markets its products through
telecom operators, professional telephony and mass market distribution
channels. Thomson Telecom (Euronext Paris: 18453; NYSE: TMS) is a division of Thomson which provides end-to-end solutions (technologies, equipment and services) to the entertainment industries. To advance and enable the digital media transition, Thomson has four principal divisions: Content and Networks, Consumer Products, Components, and Licensing. The company distributes its products under the Technicolor, Grass Valley, THOMSON and RCA brand names. For more information: 
www.thomson.net
About VCON
VCON develops and manufactures a variety of conferencing solutions that enable seamless communication and collaboration using all forms of interactive media. The company’s award-winning technology ensures the highest audio and video performance for organizations worldwide. VCON’s meeting and collaboration solutions include desktop and group videoconferencing products, audio conferencing products, data conferencing products and management systems. The company markets its products and services through a network of reseller partners, OEMS and value-added resellers around the world. VCON has worldwide headquarters in Israel and regional headquarters in Munich, Austin and Beijing. VCON is publicly traded on Le Nouveau Marché (Nouveau Marché ISIN Code: IL 00 108 30540).
About Materna
MATERNA is one of Germany's leading software vendors of information/communications technology. The company currently has a staff of 1,115 around the world and generated revenues of 145 million Euro in 2002. The Business Unit Information implements integrated IT solutions for companies and public institutions with the goal of process optimisation. These include e-Business (enterprise portals, content management), IT service management, Business Intelligence and systems management. The Business Unit Communications offers products and solutions from the business area Mobile Solutions and Unified Messaging. This includes in particular mobile value-added services on base of SMS, WAP and Mobile Java which are distributed under the brand name Anny Way. The Anny Way Academy is active on the market in terms of trainings and consulting services as found in practice. For more information: www.annyway.com
