NetComm Signs Technology Alliance with VoIP Industry Leader Octtel Agreement with Octtel Communications from Taiwan enables NetComm to introduce range of advanced new VoIP products for SMEs, take lead in an under-served market and boost revenue. SYDNEY, 17 November 2005: NetComm, a leading Australian provider of communications products and solutions, has signed an exclusive technology and commercial alliance with Octtel Communications – a respected global developer of Voice over IP products for small and medium enterprises. NetComm and Octtel engineers are already working together on customising VoIP products for the Australian market and shipments will start immediately. “This agreement between NetComm and Octtel Communications represents the further strengthening of a relationship that has been steadily developing over many years,” said David Stewart, Managing Director of NetComm Limited. “It will allow us to leverage Octtel’s marketleading technology to rapidly bring a range of new NetComm VoIP products for SMEs to market over the next two months. ”We have a long history of simplifying and bundling broadband-based solutions for immediate use. Now we plan to take the lead in addressing the needs of the under-served SME sector with innovative VoIP solutions. It is a great opportunity that will generate as much as $4 million in additional revenue for NetComm in the next 12 months, and give us a leading position in this sector,” he said. When combined with a VoIP provider service, these products will enable small and medium businesses to shift all of their telephony over to the Internet, permitting significant savings on call costs. The new products will range from a simple 2-port unit up to a corporate grade 16 -port flagship model and incorporate advanced features including: · PBX-style call control · PSTN backup in case of service failure · Support for multiple protocols including MGCP, SIP and Super Link The first wave of investment in VoIP started several years ago as large enterprises started implementing the technology to better manage communications between branch offices and corporate headquarters, cut local and long distance call costs, and encourage cheaper teleconferencing as an alternative to expensive travel for meetings. The next wave was earlyadopting consumers trying IP telephony for home use as the cost of broadband services rapidly declined, giving them the incentive to add devices and applications to their high-speed Internet connections. Now it is the turn of Australia’s small and medium enterprises. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there are more than 1.1 million SMEs in this country, accounting for about 30 percent of Australia’s economic activity. Over 90 percent of them are micro SMEs that employ less than 20 people. “These companies are savvy users of technology, with a strong drive to cut operating costs and boost their competitiveness,” said David Stewart. “However, many lack in-house IT resources so they are seeking technologies that are easy to implement and require low maintenance. NetComm VoIP solutions will work immediately with companies’ existing PBXs and even basic telephone systems, and they are easy to scale up and reconfigure as SMEs grow their businesses and adopt new technologies – such as IP PBXs – in future. So not only will these companies be able to leverage their existing investments in technology, they’ll also be able to reap immediate benefits by cutting their call costs,” he said. - ends - About NetComm NetComm is Australia's leading provider of broadband hardware solutions. It holds a commanding position in the key markets of Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), high-speed networking, wireless, hotspots and digital surveillance systems, and is developing a strong presence in the VoIP sector. NetComm products are researched, developed and engineered in Australia to meet local requirements and conditions. The company has a history of sustained growth and innovation, and is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX: NTC). For more information visit www.netcomm.com.au About Octtel Octtel Communication Company was established in 2001 in Taiwan. The company focuses on the research, design, development and production of VoIP gateways, stand-alone call recording systems and multimedia communication applications. Its core technology is based on an embedded Linux platform. For further information please contact:- David Stewart Managing Director 02 9424 2000 or Michael Boorne Executive Director 02 9424 2000
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