Milpitas, California based Octel Communications Inc has launched a call processing system which also gives callers access to data. The system enables callers to guide themselves during a call not only through a voice messaging system but to databases, recorded message information, electronic mail notification and automated facsimile delivery from electronic libraries. The system is based on a server developed by Octel and the company claims that it is the first to unite separate information sources and make them available during the same telephone call. An employee calling in to a private mailbox on the Voice Information Processing Server can retrieve information from a connected database, review and send voice messages, hear notification of electronic mail messages, have information automatically faxed and hear a summary of the hour’s current industry news relevant to his business. The system carries caller identification such as an account number throughout the call, eliminating the need to reenter information, and scanning caller profiles in the database to present with personalised information. Other features of the system include a service which automatically selects and delivers specific news to subscribers’ voice mailboxes, a two-way message notification between the Octel voice mail application and the IBM Profs and DEC All-In-1 electronic mail, eliminating the need to check both systems for new messages and a tool to enable multiple system managers to work simultaneously on one or several Octel systems, enabling them to create and delete large blocks of mailboxes with simple commands and allowing blocks of mailboxes to be delegated to an organisation for private access and administration. The server consists of the two modules, its existing voice messaging software and the new element, the the 500D Data Module. This provides the links to host computers and peripherals necessary for the new capabilities. The Data Module is optimised for communications by using the Unix System V.3 operating system plus various communication and networking protocols. Octel says the Data Module is designed to expand its speech processing systems to new applications without compromising response times. Pricing depends on the configuration of applications as a customer can pick and choose among the services but it starts at around $20,000.
