SEARCH

News Releases

In the News

Events

Media Center

Request Information

Media Archive

 
News Releases
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Common Voices and Natural Convergence Announce Partnership To Bring Messaging Solutions To Small Business Market
Integrated solution offers zero touch provisioning and a simplified feature set

Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Ottawa, Ontario, September 19, 2005 -- Common Voices, a Cambridge, MA-based supplier of carrier class migration and messaging solutions, and Natural Convergence, Inc., an Ottawa, ON-based supplier of hosted VoIP application software for Service Providers, today announced the activation of an OEM partnership. Natural Convergence will now package Common Voices NowMessageT solutions with their hosted key system solution, silhouette.  In addition, Natural Convergence will use Common Voices' OpenLinkT media server as part of its offering to small businesses and branch offices.

NowMessage is a call answering and unified messaging application that solves the issues with proprietary voicemail systems for wireline and wireless carriers.  NowMessage provides leading-edge enhanced services business users require on a standards-based, VoiceXML software architecture, using off-the-shelf hardware components.

Designed specifically to allow Service Providers to address the underserved small business market, silhouette was built to replace key system technology. The solution allows small businesses to easily manage their own phone services via any broadband connection. silhouette requires no premise-based equipment to install or maintain. The bottom line is cost savings and increased revenue opportunities for Service Providers and a simple-to-use, cost effective communications service for the small business market.

The combination of NowMessage and silhouette offers a complete solution to Service Providers looking to serve the small business market. Key elements of the new solution include:

  • Automatic voice mailbox provisioning with each new user added to the phone system
  • Zero-out of voicemail capabilities for incoming callers wishing to re-direct their call to another user, call group and auto attendant
  • A set of standard voicemail features suited for small business customers
  • Receive, forward and play voicemail messages using any standard POP 3 or IMAP email client, including Microsoft Outlook and Lotus Notes
  • Instantly return calls to individuals who have left voicemail messages with the press of a button

"The addition of a proven voicemail solution tailored specifically for the needs of small business represents a significant value-add for our Service Provider customers," said David Cork, Chief Executive Officer, Natural Convergence. "We have selected and implemented NowMessage because of its strong feature set and its simplified provisioning which adds a significant new dimension to our solution's customer self service capability."

Todd Hasselbeck, CEO of Common Voices added, "Natural Convergence is gaining an outstanding reputation in the communications industry and we are pleased to be working with such a highly respected partner. Already, Natural Convergence has installed NowMessage at carriers in the US, Canada, the UK and Australia. We expect this partnership to continue to grow on this successful path."

Shift Networks uses both Common Voices' NowMessage and Natural Convergence’s silhouette products in its small business VoIP telephony offering.  Based in Calgary, Shift is a communications Service Provider for small and medium-sized businesses. Rick Unrau, Chief Operating Officer at Shift, commented, "The NowMessage and silhouette combination from Common Voices and Natural Convergence are helping Shift to maintain its position as a North American leader of hosted business class VoIP services.  We recently announced that we have surpassed 1,000 customer lines and believe our use of these leading edge products is helping us to provide unparalleled services in our markets."

About Common Voices

Based in Cambridge, MA, Common Voices (www.CommonVoices.com) is a privately held communications software and professional services company. It develops voice, video and enhanced services applications for next generation VoIP, wireless and wireline carriers which solve customer service challenges and generate new sources of revenue.  The Company also provides hosted services and helps carriers manage network upgrades through its patent-pending migration capability that moves voice and data content between networks, disparate systems and even different operators.

About Natural Convergence

Natural Convergence Inc. develops and markets innovative software applications that empower carriers and service providers to rapidly deploy hosted VoIP services. Our silhouette feature server is designed specifically for the small business market, combining powerful technology with familiar functionality to replace their aging key systems. The bottom line is a highly differentiated, flexible and profitable VoIP service that carriers can offer their small business customers as part of a compelling services bundle. Natural Convergence was founded in April 2001 with offices in Allen, TX and headquarters in Ottawa, Canada . For more details, visit www.naturalconvergence.com or call 613.280.2000.

# # #

For more information:

Media & Analyst Inquiries:
Cathy Palmen
Public Relations for Natural Convergence
Cathy.Palmen@interprosepr.com
+1 408-268-8112
   

Return to top