Kanata, Ontario-headquartered Northern Telecom Ltd launched nced its Visit FastCall software package for Windows, claiming it as one of the first Telephony Application Programming Interface-compatible PABX products on the market. According to the company, the computer-integrated telephony offering will enable users of its Meridian 1 PABX to automate inbound and outbound telephone call handling through their desktops. Northern Telecom says that, by linking a user’s personal computer and Meridian telephone through a serial interface cable, Visit FastCall will enable a call centre agent to interact with Windows for a range of applications including telemarketing, customer support lines and order processing. According to the company, the offering uses Dialled Number Identification Service and Calling Line Identification information from the Integrated Services Digital Network. The agent’s computer then automatically opens an associated application screen enabling access to the client database on the personal computer or local network server, says Northern Telecom. In addition, all telephone functions, such as dialling, hold, conference and hangup, can be executed from the computer keyboard. Inbound and outbound call control, such as time-of-day routing, is based on individually set rules and expert system concepts, and a single keystroke activates outbound preview dialling from any application, says the company. The product will ship this month in the US and is set for availability here in the UK and in Scandinavia next quarter; no prices were given.
