Vertical Networks Announces Technology Breakthrough For Managing Enterprise Communication

InstantOffice MultiSite Manager Enables Centralized Management For Voice, Data, and Applications Across the Enterprise

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Tuesday, February 25, 2003 — Vertical Networks® today announced a breakthrough technology solution that, for the first time, enables the central management of business communication across an enterprise. The innovative solution, InstantOffice® MultiSite Manager, changes the way companies manage communication at their branch offices and retail locations, as well as provides new tools to monitor and measure customer calling patterns across the network.

By centralizing their communication management with the Vertical Networks solution, companies can increase their competitive advantage, positively impact their bottom line by reducing operational costs, and improve their customers’ experience. Vertical Networks has already secured the interest of its existing customers from its customer advisory board regarding this offering.

“This is a fundamental change in our industry. For the first time, voice networks can be managed the way that data networks have been managed for years. Until now, branch offices and retail stores have been isolated from corporate headquarters and there has been almost no means by which to remotely monitor or manage voice and data communications at these sites or to get any visibility into the customer calling experience, ” said Alan Fraser, president and CEO at Sunnyvale-based Vertical Networks. “Vertical Networks is prepared to quickly and aggressively roll out our solution ahead of the competition,” he added.

“Vertical Networks` innovative solution, InstantOffice MultiSite Manager, allows senior managers and systems administrators, particularly those that deal with multiple branch offices or retail locations, tremendous flexibility and centralized control of their network,” said Joe Gagan, senior analyst for Yankee Group.

Evolutionary Enterprise Communication Solution
With the power of Vertical Networks, voice, data, and applications running on InstantOffice can now, for the first time, be centrally managed and monitored—efficiently and effectively—across an entire enterprise. Most importantly, enterprises now have important new management tools for visibility into their remote locations. Key benefits include the ability to:
• Consolidate reports across a network of InstantOffice systems— gaining valuable service information such as customer calling patterns and phone line utilization.
• Centrally manage network-wide updates, upgrades, and backups of voice, data, applications
• Auto-register all systems on a network and provide real-time instrumentation and recovery mechanisms
• Allow for robust authentication and security features across the entire network
• Simplify and speed up the rollout of new application projects

Overall, companies can reduce operational costs, improve customer service, increase competitive advantage and increase revenue by centralizing their communication management.

Customer Perspective About InstantOffice MultiSite Manager “The richness of the Vertical Networks solution goes beyond our expectations by enabling the centralized management and reporting of all communication throughout all of our branch offices,” said John Armstrong, Managing Director—Networked Systems, Household International. “With MultiSite Manager, we will improve our competitive advantage by being able to capture critical customer interaction and service information that will help us to easily and continuously improve our customers’ experience. We are confident that these new capabilities will improve our efficiency, lower our costs and increase our revenue. What Vertical Networks is offering is a landmark technology—a much welcomed improvement to the way that we do business,” he added.

Pricing and Availability
Vertical Networks MultiSite Manager is available now for all InstantOffice Release 5.0 systems. Pricing begins at $500 per site.

About Vertical Networks, Inc.
Vertical Networks is the leading provider of Integrated Communications Platforms (ICPs), the first systems that combine voice, data, and applications support into one remotely manageable platform. With a unique focus on the needs of enterprise branch offices and stores, Vertical Networks delivers business solutions to a wide range of industries, including financial services, medical, publishing, and retail. To ensure total customer satisfaction, Vertical Networks` strategic network service provider, reseller, and systems integration partners offer comprehensive support services, including 7 x 24 on-site support.

For more information about Vertical Networks or its products, visit the company`s Web site at www.vertical.com or call 408-585-3285.

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Contact:
Carole Gum
Vertical Networks, Inc.
408-585-3285
caroleg@vertical.com

Maureen A. Kenney
Comet Communication
Phone: 415-864-4388
Mobile: 415-860-3801
maureen@cometcommunication.com

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