In this information age it's easy to get bombarded by information coming in from all sides--via the phone, voicemail, e-mail and even fax. Of course, accessing multiple inboxes isn't very convenient. Various vendors at SUPERCOMM unveiled new messaging products designed to make our lives easier.
Microsoft Corp., Redmond, Wash., announced new unified messaging features for the next release of Exchange Server. That release, code-named Platinum, will include something Microsoft calls Web Store, which extends Exchange Server's support for voice and data messaging to add integration of web content, documents and applications; the new Super Long value database format, which enables streaming of large voice data files directly in and out of the Web Store; support for the voice profile for Internet messaging (VPIM) standard, which enables different voicemail systems to work together; the ability to provide service to millions of users; and support for wireless access to Exchange data.
PulsePoint Communications, Santa Barbara, Calif., is just one of the many companies using the Windows NT operating system on which to run a message application. At SUPERCOMM, PulsePoint came out with a new version of PulsePoint Messaging Application, which will provide access to public directories using lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) and VPIM.
Also at the show, 3Com Corp., Santa Clara, Calif., demonstrated new store-and-forward IP fax capabilities of its Total Control product, which also allows for the integration of fax and e-mail.
The Orchestrate E-Mail by Phone from Premiere Technologies Inc., Atlanta, allows subscribers to hear their e-mail over the phone (an electronic voice reads it) and respond to it with their own voice from any phone. Or, subscribers can respond to messages over their PCs with voice, and the receiver gets the voice message as a RealAudio attachment.
When customers signs up for the $19.95 per month service, they receive a local phone number, which is also their e-mail address for the service. The service runs over Premiere's IP network (which reaches more than 4,500 cities in eight countries) and is currently available in Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Greensboro, N.C.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Las Vegas; Nashville; and Raleigh, N.C.
NetSpeak Corp., Boca Raton, Fla., enhanced its WebPhone 2nd Line service by adding a feature that allows users to set "find me/follow me" parameters call by call. The new development also enables users to record audio messages and send them to e-mail, where it can be heard using a standard media player found in Microsoft Windows.
