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. announces successful interoperability of its "AquaVocal"*1 all-in-one IP-PBX*2 and "LUTi IP-Phone,"*3 a softphone provided by J.Link, Inc. (headquarters: Chiba-shi, Chiba Pref.; president: Kuniaki Takahashi).

When businesses install IP telephony services, they generally chose either desktop IP phones, wireless IP phones, or softphones, or a combination, according to intended use.

A softphone system operates with IP phone software installed in PCs and uses each PC as a phone by connecting a headset and a receiver to it, which obviates the need for a normal telephone and reduces initial costs. It also allows users to make more efficient use of their desk space. As long as the PC is connected to the corporate network, users can make and receive calls with their own phone numbers regardless of their location. A further convenience provided by softphones is that users can make a call merely by selecting the destination from the address book stored in the PC.

However, in order for a company to be able to use softphones, it first needs to install an IP telephony service. While IP-PBX is the central component of such system, mainstream IP-PBX products are aimed at large offices accommodating 500 to 1,000 users or more, which makes it a quite a hurdle for small and mid-size offices to introduce IP telephony.

As a solution, Hitachi Cable sells "AquaVocal," which is a single-unit all-in-one IP-PBX equipped with various functions*4 for introducing IP telephony services into a small or mid-size office with a maximum of 200 users.

Recently, Hitachi Cable and J.Link, Inc. confirmed interoperability of Hitachi Cable's AquaVocal and J.Link, Inc.'s "LUTi IP-Phone." With this collaboration, small and mid-size offices can now introduce softphones easily.

J.Link, Inc.'s LUTi IP-Phone is a softphone that supports many additional functions above the simple one of making and receiving internal and external calls. These include "park hold"*5 -a function useful at the office-and instant messaging. The instant messaging capability of the LUTi IP-Phone enables sending and receiving text-based messages not just between users of LUTi IP-Phone, but also between users of "WirelessIP5000," which is Hitachi Cable's wireless IP phone, and "N900iL," which is NTT DoCoMo's FOMA*6 /wireless LAN dual terminal. LUTi IP-Phone also supports simultaneous bulk transmission of messages to users registered in advance in the address book, enabling prompt information transmission.

Hitachi Cable plans to continue promoting the integration of AquaVocal with various software and applications to expand its market share for small and mid-size office IP-PBX systems. AquaVocal is primarily sold by Hitachi Cable through its sales partners.

*1	AquaVocal is a registered trademark of Hitachi Cable, Ltd. in Japan.
*2	PBX stands for Private Branch Exchange. IP-PBX refers to a Private Branch Exchange for an IP telephony system.
*3	LUTi is a registered trademark of J.Link, Inc.
*4	In addition to the IP-PBX function, AquaVocal is equipped with various gateway functions (connecting different networks, including communications carriers, IP telephony networks, the public telephone network, and the internal telephone network); the PPPoE (Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet: permits use of PPP over Ethernet networks; the PPP protocol is used to link computers to networks over telephone lines); and a survival function that allows sending and receiving between analog phones and the public network even during power failures.
*5	The park hold function works as follows: a LUTi IP-Phone user who has received a phone call for another user holds the call by using the park button on the PC screen, and then, the destination user clicks the park button in his or her PC screen to release the hold and take the call.
*6	"FOMA" is a registered trademark of NTT DoCoMo, Inc.

Equipment and services confirmed to operate with AquaVocal series

Classification Product Name Company Name IP telephony service Hikari Denwa Business Type Nippon Telegram and Telephone East Corp. Hikari Denwa Business Type Nippon Telegram and Telephone West Corp. FUSION IP-Phone Fusion Communications Corp. Telephone terminal Desktop IP phone IP NetPhone SX SAXA,Inc. Wireless IP phone WirelessIP5000 Hitachi Cable, Ltd. Softphone LUTi IP-Phone J.Link, Inc. Application IP phone control software COCO-DA-Phone COCOWADOCO Inc. CTI software CallNavi ACTION Systems Corp. 3D reception system software 3d-Reco Netdimension Corp.

Overview of specifications for major models of the AquaVocal series

(Specifications are subject to change without notice.)

AquaVocal 2004-FXSO AquaVocal 2112-FXSO AquaVocal 3000 All-in-One 4-line model (IP-PBX with PSTN gateway model) All-in-One 12-line model (IP-PBX with PSTN gateway model) Dedicated IP-PBX model Port configuration 10/100BASE-TX 2 2 2 PSTN/FXS 4 12 - PSTN/FXO (Pass through upon power failure) 4 (1) 12 (3) - Power supply specifications Input power source AC 100V(85 V - 132V), 47 Hz - 440 Hz Switch Locking switch with anti-error guide (housed in front panel) Environmental specifications Operating conditions Operating temperature 0 to 40°C 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°C 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 serial I/F External connectors RJ-45 x 1

External appearance of AquaVocal2004-FXSO

Contact information for J.Link, Inc. is given below

Address: 24F WBG Marive West, 2-6 Nakase, Mihama-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba Pref.
TEL: 043-212-0411 (front desk)
FAX: 043-212-0752