Centigram Corp of San Jose, California has introduced a new, modular, voice messaging system with six times the capacity of its existing VoiceMemo product. Each VoiceMemo II module will support from four to 24 ports and up to five hours of storage, but the system architecture – the Intel 80286-based Centigram MESA Modular Expandable System Architecture – will accommodate up to 120 ports with up to 200 hours of storage. According to the company, MESA uses fewer hardware components than before, allows for easy addition of new features and makes the system simple to operate and to install. It also permits system expansion in the field without loss of data. New features in VoiceMemo II include message delivery, which enables the system to deliver unplayed messages to a subscriber at any designated telephone number; a user-configurable system, which enables customers to select from as many as 32 different classes of service to fit their individual application; multi-language voice prompts, which allow non-English speakers to be prompted in their own language; variable-length security passcodes; subscriber enable/disable for paging; voice paging support; primary and secondary paging numbers; multi-ple returns to operator; day/night system greetings; port usage statistics; wake-up capability; private and multiple-party messages; and individual message delivery confirmation. VoiceMemo II also includes features found in VoiceMemo such as mnemonic prompts; a new-user tutorial; system and personal distribution lists; and standard paging support. A single VoiceMemo II module measures 28 high, 8 wide and 20.625 deep, the smallest footprint of any voice messaging system in the industry, says Centigram. Hotels, bank loans Centigram voice messaging products are used in more than 20 industry-specific applications, including guest registration and messaging for the hotel industry and on-line bank loan information and processing. Additional application-specific software packages will be announced in the near future. We are very excited by the range of applications that our new system, with its increased capacity, allows us to reach, said George Sollman, president and chief executive officer. The versatility of the VoiceMemo II, coupled with our recent infusion of $7.6m in equity financing, strengthens Centigram’s ability to serve the needs of a very broad range of users, he added. VoiceMemo II pricing begins at $32,000 for a single, five-hour/four-port module. The largest system (200 hours/120 ports) is priced at under $300,000 and will be available in the second quarter 1988. During the next 12 months, Centigram customers can exchange their current VoiceMemo system for a new, full-featured VoiceMemo II at a substantial savings. The trade-in price will range from $21,000 to $23,500, depending on current system size. For example, a 15-hour/14-port VoiceMemo can be exchanged for a 20- hour/16-port VoiceMemo II for $23,500. Centigram says that 50 VoiceMemo II systems have already been delivered.
