Information (including product prices, product specifications, details of services, launch dates, inquiry information, and URLs) contained in this news release is current as of the date of the press release but is subject to change without notice. Please note that details may differ from those effective on the search date.

Hitachi Cable, Ltd. has announced the release of the Mail-Order Management System (5-user package), an IP telephony call center system based on the AquaVocal *2 all-in-one IP-PBX *1, beginning February 1, 2006.

Large-scale call centers flexibly respond to detailed requests of customers by introducing call center systems that automatically read a customer's telephone number from the caller ID, then verify numbers against an in-house database, and display the customer's order history, address, and other information on a telephone operator's PC screen. In addition, an increasing number of call centers are introducing IP telephony services to reduce the communications cost and other costs involved in maintenance and wiring associated with layout modifications.

Large enterprises generally assign 5 to 20 members to respond to product inquiries and receive orders. However, in recent years, the spread of the Internet has made it readily possible for small- to medium-sized enterprises to enter the mail-order business, which has led to a growing demand for a low-price call center system designed to meet the lower-capacity needs of such companies.

However, while CTI software *3 constitutes the call center system, most CTI software packages are intended for large systems, and while IP-PBX is the heart of the IP telephony system, most IP-PBX products are intended for large businesses with 500 to 1,000 users or more. As such, it sometimes costs several tens of millions of yen to introduce an IP-telephony call center system, which makes it difficult for a small-scale call center to introduce a similar system at a low cost.

With this in mind, Hitachi Cable has developed the Mail Order Management System (5-user package) based on the AquaVocal all-in-one IP-PBX and now offers the package at 2,980,000 yen *4 .

AquaVocal is an IP-PBX system Hitachi Cable developed for small- to medium-sized businesses, and branch and sales offices of large enterprises for up to 200 users. AquaVocal is an all-in-one IP-PBX system with various functions equipped in one unit for introducing IP telephony services in a office: the basic IP-PBX function, diverse gateway functions *5 , the PPPoE function *6 , and the survival function-for maintaining sending and receiving functionality between analog phones and the public network during power failures. AquaVocal makes it possible to upgrade office phones to IP phones for both internal and external calls while suppressing the spending on new equipment.

In addition to AquaVocal, the Mail-Order Management System (5-user package) consists of the Apresia *8 Ethernet *7 Switch, CallNavi mail-order package *9 for small- to medium-sized call centers (5-user package), five IP phones with headsets.

After Purchasing the Mail-Order Management System (5-user package) and preparing the server for installing the CTI software, client PCs, and telephone lines for accessing the public telephone network and external IP telephony networks, customers can introduce the 5-seat call center system. We also offer customization of the CTI software-which enables linkage of the call service system with the help-desk operation of the maintenance window, based on coordinated operation with the product database-or to link the system with the delivery system based on coordinated operation with digital maps.

We will sell the Mail-Order Management System through the AquaVocal sales partners. We intend to increase the compatibility of AquaVocal with IP phones and IP phone-related applications in order to expand our share in the market of IP-PBX for small- to medium-sized businesses.

*1	PBX (Private Branch Exchange): IP-PBX refers to a Private Branch Exchange for an IP telephony system.
*2	AquaVocal is a registered trademark of Hitachi Cable, Ltd.
*3	CTI (Computer Telephony Integration): Technology to integrate telephones and faxes with computer systems. CTI is used in organizations such as call centers. A CTI system integrated with the customer database can display customer information retrieved using the customer's telephone number.
*4	The system does not include the costs of installation, construction, maintenance, servers, client PCs (5 units), or telephone lines.
*5	Gateway: Protocol exchanger which interconnects communication service providers, IP telephony network, public telephone network and private telephone network.
*6	PPPoE (Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet): The protocol for using the PPP (Point to Point Protocol function through Ethernet. PPP is used in dialup connections where computers are connected to networks through telephone lines.
*7	Ethernet is a registered trademark of Xerox Corporation.
*8	Apresia is a registered trademark of Hitachi Cable, Ltd. in Japan.
*9	CallNavi is a registered trademark of Action Systems Co., Ltd.

Product included in the Mail-Order Management System (5-user package)

Model Name (manufacturer) Number IP-PBX AquaVocal 2004FXSO (Hitachi Cable, Ltd.) 1 Ethernet Switch Apresia2124-SS (Hitachi Cable, Ltd.) 1 ApresiaLight209-PoE (Hitachi Cable, Ltd.) 1 CTI software CallNavi mail-order package(Action Systems Co., Ltd.) for 5 users IP phone IP NetPhone SX (Saxa, Inc.) 5 Headset Headset (Nagatsuka Denwa Kougyousyo Co. ) 5

*	The system does not include the costs of installation, construction, maintenance, servers, client PCs (5 units), or telephone lines.

Specification overview for AquaVocal 2004FXSO (4-line IP-PBX with PSTN Gateway Model)

Port configuration 10/100BASE-TX 2 PSTN/FXS 4 PSTN/FXO(Pass through at power failures) 4 (1) Power supply specifications Input power source AC 100V (85 to 132V), 47 to 440Hz Switch Locking switch with anti-error guide (housed in front panel) Environmental specifications Operating conditions Operating temperature 0 to 40 degrees Operating humidity 20 to 85 % Rh (No condensation) Installation conditions Installation (mounting) Level installation Stacking Stackable when housed in panel/used on tabletop Storage conditions Storage temperature -20 to 60 degrees Storage humidity 20 to 85 % Rh (No condensation) Acquired certification specifications Noise emission regulation VCCI-Class A Communication device certification JATE certification Functional specifications Network connection functions LAN connection specifications 10BASE-T/100BASE-TX (IEEE802.3-compliant) Channel number 2 (LAN0, LAN1) External connectors RJ-45 (RTP with shield) x 2 (double x 1) Serial I/F functions for maintenance I/F specifications RS-232 level, full-duplex, asynchronous External connectors RJ-45 x 1