Demonstration System Using Videophones on 3G Mobile Phones

ASIA : Oki Electric Industry announced its development of "Visual Contact Center," a demonstration system using the videophone function on 3G mobile phones.

With the full-scale shift to 3G mobile phones, 30% of mobile phones in Japan have become 3G(1). With this penetration, new services using the broadband such as videophones and video downloads, are becoming popular, which predicts a need for contact centers to use videophones in addition to traditional voice.

"This is Japan's first contact center system to utilize NTT DoCoMo's FOMA(R) Videophone. With this system, communication with video and pictures can be conducted, which will release the stress and frustration many people experience when calling voice-only contact centers. Thus, we believe it can deepen the relationship between companies and its customers," said Katsuyoshi Koide, President of Multimedia Messaging Company at Oki Electric. "Going forward, Oki will actively deploy sales activities for the commercialization of Visual Contact Center."

Visual Contact Center connects Oki's contact center system "CTstage(R) 4i" with NTT DoCoMo's 3G mobile phone, FOMA network through NEC's video solution 3Gvirdnet(R)(2). By utilizing broadband, this system enables abundant communication by combining voice, video and pictures, which strengthens the core communication between companies and their customers.

About CTstage 4i

Oki launched the CTstage in 1996 as a CTI (Computer Telephony Integration) system to converge computer and telephony. CTstage 4i is the latest model launched in 2002 that provides a contact center solution with softswitch and UnPBX architectures. Ever since its launch in 1996, over 4,500 cumulated sets were sold (as of March 2005), being installed and operated in a wide range of fields.

About Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.

Founded in 1881, Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. is Japan's first telecommunications manufacturer, with its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. With the corporate vision, "Oki, Network Solutions for a Global Society," Oki provides top-quality products, technologies and solutions to its customers through its info-telecom system business, semiconductor business and printer business. All three businesses function as a collective force to create exciting new products and technologies that satisfy a spectrum of customer needs in various markets.