OKI Unveils CTstage® 5i, its Latest Contact Center System Converging CTI and IP-PBX Technologies
Enhances durability and expandability in a single architecture
CTstage® 5i
Tokyo, Japan, November 7, 2006 -- Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (TSE: 6703) today unveiled its CTstage® 5i that converges OKI's CTI and IP-PBX technologies. This combination enhances durability and expandability while maintaining the flexibility and usability of the previous model. The system is based on a single architecture, supporting IP contact centers from those with just a few operator seats up to those with several thousand seats, enabling seamless expansion. The provisioning of the product starts from January 2007 in the Japanese market as an entry model to enable IP contact centers at a low cost.
"We are happy to introduce the CTstage 5i, the latest model of our CTstage, which is the top product of its kind, holding a 43% market share* for contact centers in Japan," said Katsumasa Shinozuka, CEO of Oki Electric Industry. "In developing this product, we focused on providing a user-friendly system for operators, managers, system operators, executives, and all those who are involved in contact center operation. Users can rely on the system as it flexibility enables them to respond to future changes in the business environment."
Many companies are introducing contact centers as they play an important role in connecting customers and the company. The functions required in a contact center are not only to respond to inquires, but also to improve customer satisfaction and contribute to sales. Thus, contact center functions are becoming more complex and sophisticated. With these changing requirements, in the fiscal year ending March 2006, the contact center market in Japan has grew by 10% year to year and is expected to grow by 10% annually* going forward.
OKI has led the IP telephony market in Japan ever since the dawn of the market, and has also established strong track record with its CTI products. In the new CTstage 5i, OKI combines its IP-PBX technologies and CTI technologies, and incorporates other OKI products to control communication equipment, which is the core of the contact center. For example, using OKI's robust gateway ensures an alternative path when failures occur. In addition by simplifying the structure by separating the gateway from the server to control calls, CTstage 5i makes it easy to build configuration having redundancy, thus improving availability significantly.
OKI has also facilitated collaboration with IP-PBXs, such as with OKI's IP telephony server IP CONVERGENCE® Server SS9100, making it easier to connect to office IP phones. In this way, an all-company contact center can be created enabling more effective customer response. CTstage5i is also equipped with OKI's high-quality sound technologies "eSound" and "My eSound," which keep the voice at a high quality, making calls easier to hear, and thus, reducing the operator load. With these features of enhanced control functionality and easy phone call recording, users can improve business efficiency when developing, operating and administering their systems.
OKI will exhibit its CTstage 5i at the "OKI Info-telecom Converged Solution Fair 2006" from November 9 to 10 at Roppongi, Tokyo, and at "The 7 Call Center/CRM Demonstration and Conference" from November 16 to the 17 at Ikebukuro, Tokyo.
About CTstage
OKI launched the CTstage in 1996 as a CTI (Computer Telephony Integration) system to converge computer and telephony. The previous model, CTstage 4i provides a contact center solution with softswitch and UnPBX architectures. Ever since its launch in 1996, over 5,200 cumulated sets were sold (as of September 2006), being installed and operated in various markets.
About Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
Founded in 1881, Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. is Japan's first telecommunications manufacturer, with its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. OKI provides top-quality products, technologies and solutions to its customers through its info-telecom system business, semiconductor business and printer business. All three businesses function as a collective force to create exciting new products and technologies that satisfy a spectrum of customer needs in various markets. Visit OKI's global web site at http://www.oki.com/.
- * Source: Yano Research Institute 2006
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