Close Working Relationship Designed To Optimize Enhanced Service Offerings For IP-Telephony Networks

Visit Comverse (Booth # 1235/1237) and Sonus (801/803/900/902) at the SPRING 2001 VON Show, Phoenix, Arizona, March 20-23

WOODBURY, NY, and WESTFORD, MA, March 21, 2001 – Comverse (NASDAQ: CMVT), the world's leading supplier of software and systems enabling network-based multimedia enhanced communications services, and Sonus Networks (NASDAQ: SONS), a leading provider of voice infrastructure solutions for the new public network, today announced an agreement providing for the joint marketing of enhanced IP-Telephony solutions for the Comverse enhanced services portfolio, integrated with Sonus Networks' Packet Telephony suite. 

Comverse and Sonus are teaming up to enable new IP-based services including multi-access call answering, unified messaging, instant messaging, voice-controlled services, and Internet call management, accessible using any device, over any network. The companies have developed an interoperable solution, based on open standards, supporting Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) that enables the deployment of these services over converged packet- and circuit-switched networks. 

"Sonus Networks is pleased to join with Comverse, the global leader in multimedia enhanced communications solutions, enabling service providers to deliver a wide range of new IP-based services," said Hassan Ahmed, president and CEO, Sonus Networks. "The Comverse portfolio of enhanced services leverages the Sonus Open Services ArchitectureTM (OSA) to speed the development and delivery of competitive new services, allowing service providers to expand market share and build new revenue streams."

"The agreement with Sonus illustrates Comverse's ability to provide open, standards-based interoperable solutions, delivering highly scalable systems in order to meet the growing market demand for multimedia communications services," said Zeev Bregman, Chief Executive Officer of Comverse. "Our collaboration with Sonus, and other vendors in this area, enables service providers deploying new packet-based networks to leverage the potential of the Internet and provide their customers with high-quality IP-Telephony services."

Sonus is part of the Comverse Spark Alliance Program, a program designed to promote cooperation in the development, marketing and delivery of enhanced multimedia communications solutions based on open standards.   

About Sonus Networks

Sonus Networks, Inc. is a leading provider of voice infrastructure products for the new public network. Sonus' solutions enable service providers to deploy an integrated networks capable of carrying both voice and data traffic, and to deliver a range of innovative, new services. The Sonus Open Services Architecture (OSA) and award-winning Packet Telephony suite cut the time-to-market for competitive new service products, allowing carriers and third-party developers to expand market share and build important new revenue streams. Its highly scalable products fully interoperate with and extend the life and utility of today's public network. Sonus embodies in its management and staff decades of experience in developing carrier-class voice, data and multimedia solutions for implementation in the world's largest networks. Sonus, founded in 1997, is headquartered in Westford, MA. Additional information on Sonus is available at http://www.sonusnet.com.

About Comverse

Comverse, a unit of Comverse Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: CMVT), is the world's leading provider of software and systems enabling network-based multimedia enhanced communications services with over 360 customers, in more than 100 countries.  

Comverse provides a wide range of solutions enabling multimedia messaging, multi-protocol mobile Internet platforms, wireless data and short messaging services, speech-controlled portal, wireless prepaid services, interactive voice response and other personal communications services. Other Comverse Technology business units include:

Comverse Infosys which provides multiple channel, multimedia digital recording, logging, and quality monitoring systems marketed to contact centers, and law enforcement agencies; and Ulticom, a leading provider of network signaling software for wireless, wireline, and Internet communications services. Comverse Technology is an S&P 500 and NASDAQ-100 Index company. For additional information, visit the Comverse web site at http://www.comverse.com.

All product and company names mentioned herein may be registered trademarks or trademarks of Comverse or the respective referenced company(s).

For more information, please contact:

Beth Morrissey
Sonus Networks
978-589-8579
bmorrissey@sonusnet.com

Paul D. Baker
Converse Technology, Inc.
170 Crossways Park Drive
Woodbury, NY 11797
516-677-7226

Barbara Krafte
Converse
100 Quannapowitt Parkway
Wakefield, MA 01880
781-224-8826