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 development of solutions packages for small- and mid-sized offices that combine into a single set its AquaVocal all-in-one IP-PBX*1 and NTT DoCoMo's N900iL dual-use FOMA(R)*2 /wireless LAN handset, together with wireless-LAN access points, Ethernet switches*3 , and other equipment needed to adopt this dual-use FOMA(R)/wireless LAN handset. Sales of these new solutions packages will begin June 7, 2006.

Falling prices and the expanding functionality of data-communications networks in recent years have led to the rapid growth of IP telephony services, creating growing demand for dual-use handsets that can be used as mobile phones outside the office and as wireless-IP telephones inside the office via the company's wireless LAN. Most existing IP-PBX products to date capable of handling such dual-use handsets have been designed for use at large-scale office sites of 500 - 1000 users or more. Small- and mid-sized offices seeking to adopt dual-use handsets have faced high adoption costs and high depreciation burdens.

In response, Hitachi Cable has developed and introduced the AquaVocal series for small- and mid-sized offices of 200 users or less and for branches and sales offices of large firms. As an all-in-one IP-PBX system integrating both IP-PBX functionality and a wide range of functions needed by offices adopting IP telephony into a single unit, the AquaVocal includes various gateway functions such as an IP carrier gateway, a PSTN gateway, and a gateway for incorporating office analog telephones,*4 a PPPoE function,*5 and a survival function that enables the sending and receiving of calls over public telephone networks using analog phones in the event of power failure. These features make it possible to convert both internal and external telephone lines to IP telephony with minimal new capital investment.

In addition to confirming the interoperability of the AquaVocal with the N900iL, Hitachi Cable will develop and introduce solutions packages for small- and mid-sized offices based on the AquaVocal system.

The solutions packages for small- and mid-sized offices will be packaged by number of users (20, 50, or 100 users). Each package includes the AquaVocal unit, licenses for the corresponding number of users, an Apresia*6 Ethernet switch, wireless LAN access points from Aruba Wireless Networks Japan, and a selection of handsets matching the work styles of the users at the site in question. Customers can choose from Hitachi Cable's WirelessIP5000, wireless IP phone and fixed-line IP phones from SAXA, Inc., as well as N900iL handsets. These options allow customers to transition smoothly from equipment cost estimates to actual adoption.

Although prices depend on handset combinations and numbers of access points, the standard price for a 100-user package consisting of 30 N900iL handsets, 30 WirelessIP5000 handsets, 40 fixed-line phones, and four wireless LAN access points is 4,000,000 yen. *7

The solutions packages will be sold via Hitachi Infonet Co., Ltd. and Hitachi Mobile Co., Ltd. By pursuing further progress in linking the AquaVocal system to IP telephones and IP telephony applications, Hitachi Cable intends to expand its share of the IP-PBX market for small- and mid-sized offices.

*1	PBX stands for private branch exchange. An IP-PBX is a PBX for IP phones. AquaVocal is a registered trademark of Hitachi Cable, Ltd. in Japan.
*2	FOMA is a registered trademark of NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
*3	Ethernet is a registered trademark of Xerox Corporation.
*4	A gateway is a protocol converter used to connect telecommunications service providers, IP phone networks, general subscriber phone networks, internal phone networks, and other networks. The gateway types included vary by model. An IP carrier gateway is used to connect an internal phone network with the IP phone network belonging to a telecommunications service provider. A public-switched telephone networks (PSTN) gateway is used to connect an internal phone network to the analog public telephone network belonging to a telecommunications service provider.
*5	PPPoE stands for point-to-point protocol over Ethernet, a method of deploying the PPP protocol used to connect computers to a network over Ethernet via telephone lines.
*6	Apresia is a registered trademark of Hitachi Cable, Ltd. in Japan.
*7	This price is an estimate. It does not include installation and setup costs, maintenance costs, line charges, or consumption tax.

Content of solutions packages for small- and mid-sized offices

Model (manufacturer) and other information Quantity IP-PBX AquaVocal2004-FXSO (Hitachi Cable) 1 IP-PBX user licenses 20, 50, or 100 licenses Ethernet switch Apresia3124-GT (Hitachi Cable) 1 Wireless LAN mobility controller Aruba 200 Mobility Controller (Aruba Wireless Networks Japan) 1 Wireless LAN access point Aruba 65 (Aruba Wireless Networks Japan) 1 - 6, depending on number of users and signal reception conditions*8 Telephones FOMA(R) N900iL (NTT DoCoMo, Inc.) May be combined in ways suited to the customer's style of use and budget WirelessIP5000 (Hitachi Cable) IP NetPhone SX (SAXA, Inc.)

*8	Installing more than six wireless LAN access points requires the further purchase of additional wireless LAN mobility controllers.

*	Package prices exclude installation and setup costs, maintenance costs, line charges, or consumption tax.

Overview of AquaVocal 2004-FXSO

(four-line IP-PBX with PSTN gateway model)

specifications

Port configuration 10/100BASE-TX 2 PSTN/FXS 4 PSTN/FXO (in parentheses: number of pass-through ports for use in the event of power failure included in the above number of ports) 4 (1) Power supply Power source AC 100V (85 - 132 V), 47 - 440 Hz Switch Rocker switch with guides for preventing unintended operation (located on the front panel) Operating environment Requirements Temperature 0 - 40 degrees Humidity 20 - 85% Rh (no condensation) Installation requirements Installation (mounting) Mounted horizontally Stacking Stackable when used on a rack or a desktop Storage requirements Temperature -20 - 60 degrees Humidity 20 - 85% Rh (no condensation) Standards Noise-emission regulations VCCI Class A Telecommunications-device certification JATE-certified Functions Network connection LAN specifications 10BASE-T/100BASE-TX (IEEE802.3-compliant) Number of channels 2 ch (LAN0, LAN1) External connectors RJ-45 (shielded RTP) x 2 (duplex type x 1) Serial interface for maintenance purposes Interface specifications RS-232-level, full-duplex, asynchronous serial interfacev External connector RJ-45 x 1

(Specifications subject to change without notice.)

External view of the Aqua Vocal 2004-FXSO