Active Voice Corporation, a global provider of unified messaging and computer telephony software solutions, announced that it has received $2 million from a major telephone equipment manufacturer in exchange for a fully-paid license to use its stutter detect technology.
According to Michael Aitken, MD of Siltek Telecoms, the agreement settles a lawsuit related to devices with message waiting indicators that detect stutter dial tones on telephone lines. "Active Voice's U.S. Patent No. 5,327,493 provides central-office voice mail subscribers the ability to visually see that they have a message waiting, rather than having to pick up the handset and listen for stutter dial tone."
"Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBCO) currently has millions of subscribers on their voice mail systems who can use our technology to find out when they have a message," states Jose S. David, Active Voice's CFO. "There are now several manufacturers, operating under license to us, that are supplying this market with the technology built into the phone or as stand alone devices. As the RBOCs offer more enhanced services such as the ability to send one voice mail message to numerous subscribers, the need for stutter detect technology will grow. Our communications technology has always been on the leading edge and we will vigorously defend our patent rights. In addition to our stutter detect patent, we have several seminal patents in the telephone call control and unified messaging technology areas with licensees such as Lucent Technologies."
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Active Voice
Founded in 1983, the Seattle-based Active Voice has offices in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. With more than 95,000 systems installed in virtually every kind of business in over 60 countries, Active Voice develops technology that helps businesses communicate better. Active Voice solutions are sold through a global network of independent telecommunications dealers, telephone equipment manufacturers, and computer resellers. More information about Active Voice and its products is available at the company's Web site, www.activevoice.com.
Siltek Telecoms
Siltek Telecoms is a specialist telecommunications distributor within the Siltek Technology Supply Chain Group, and has agreements with some of the world's leading vendors. It is the master distributor for the AVAYA range of voice products and Active Voice Corporation's portfolio of PC-based voice processing systems and Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) solutions. Controlled by Kunene Technology Ltd, Siltek Telecoms is committed to becoming the supplier of choice for telecommunications VARS and independent resellers.
Siltek Limited
Siltek Limited is the leader in the Technology Supply Chain with projected turnover of R3-billion in the year to end-June 2000. Listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Siltek comprises several complementary operating divisions, each of which is a dominant player in its niche area.