NetComm Signs Technology Alliancewith VoIP Industry Leader...

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.
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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