APEX Voice Communications Announces General
Availability of APEX Enhanced Switch version 3.1.1.

Version 3.1.1 Offers Graphical Monitoring,
SS7 Support and Message Management

SHERMAN OAKS, CA, January 27, 2004 – APEX Voice Communications, a leading supplier of enhanced services and billing solutions to carriers, telecom service providers and enterprises worldwide, today announced the general availability of version 3.1.1 of its APEX Enhanced Switch (AES), a platform for both core transport and enhanced switching services (open programmable switch), as well as service-ready solutions. The APEX Enhanced Switch combines the power of a programmable switch with the flexibility of an IVR platform by supporting Microsoft^® I/O Completion Port technology and Intel^® NetStructure^™ telephony boards for the latest in high-density, carrier-grade technologies. Key features of this latest version include a detailed graphical monitoring interface, support for SS7/C7 and improved message management.

The new graphical monitoring interface provides detailed viewing of both the switch and the progress of the call flow(s) in real time. Monitoring can be viewed in two modes: Basic or Advanced. The Basic View gives the user the ability to visually see at a glance what the status of the system ports are. Different statuses include active, idle or not configured. The Advanced View provides for more detail on each system port allowing the user to see if the system is operating as expected. For example, whether it is an inbound or outbound call and what the current state of the call is (i.e. call offered, accepted, routed).

With support for SS7/C7, AES can now reside within an SS7 network. The SS7 components, together with the SS7 hardware from Intel, provides AES with direct connection to the SS7 network, allowing it to function as one or more signaling point node(s) within the network. Currently supported SS7 specification from the ITU-T include: MTP Level 2 ITU Q.701-703, MTP Level 3 ITU Q.704-707 and ISUP ITU Q.761-764, Q767. Support for ANSI is also available upon request.

"The new monitoring interface will dramatically increase the productivity of our users and allow them to more easily make responsive adjustments to their existing services, saving both time and money, while the SS7 module will enable telecom service providers to build high-density, low cost networks using increasingly popular techniques, such as ISUP Loopback, for various enhanced services, including prepaid calling," said Elhum Vahdat, Executive Vice President of APEX Voice Communications. "These two enhancements once again show APEX's commitment to both bettering our customer's existing services, while increasing their ability to create innovative, leading-edge services."

The improved message (voice prompt) management tool now has the ability to centrally manage voice prompts. This, along with the ability to record, listen and edit voice prompts, gives the user an extremely flexible tool for managing various messages. Voice prompts can easily be exported and imported from one system to another, and can be done remotely via OmniView^®, the integrated service creation and configuration management environment for AES. Additionally, all AES configurations are also now saved centrally in a database.

As a switching platform, with scalability to over 4,000 non-blocking ports in a single platform, the APEX Enhanced Switch can work as an enhanced gateway in a mixed environment, supporting both TDM and IP networks, while providing core switching functions such as tandem switching. As an enhanced services platform, AES can be the basis for revenue-generating applications such as prepaid calling, intelligent 800-number routing, voice/fax messaging, voice-activated dialing, mass calling and high-density IVR, increasing service provider's average revenue per user (ARPU).

OmniView is a registered trademark of APEX Voice Communications, Inc. Intel and NetStructure are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries. Microsoft® is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.