Siemens Communications  had two significant announcements today. First, a big step forward in its ongoing transformation into a software-oriented company with the launch of an innovative new unified communications software platform, OpenScape Unified Communications (UC) Server. Siemens recently was in the news about some job cuts as they continue on the march to become a more software oriented company.

OpenScape UC Server is designed to remove the artificial legacy barriers between today’s traditionally separate voice, video and unified communications systems to enable a comprehensive suite of UC applications.

Siemens' commitment to open technologies across the board is one of the reasons I continue to see them as a thought leader who speaks by their actions. Siemens isn't just talk, and that's one of the hallmarks of a real leader.

Siemens Launches OpenScape Unified Communications Server to Deliver Communications Applications on a Unified Software-based Platform

Innovative New Approach Enables Integrated Deployment of Voice, Unified Communications, and Video Applications Across the Whole Enterprise

BOCA RATON, Fla. — March 3, 2008 — Siemens Communications, Inc. today announced a significant step forward in its ongoing transformation into a software-oriented company with the launch of an innovative new unified communications software platform, OpenScape® Unified Communications (UC) Server. OpenScape UC Server is designed to remove the artificial legacy barriers between today’s traditionally separate voice, video and unified communications systems to enable a comprehensive suite of UC applications.

This suite initially includes OpenScape Voice Application (HiPath 8000 V3.1 R2, enterprise grade voice and IP least cost routing), OpenScape Video (integrated HD, desktop and client video conferencing) and OpenScape UC Application V3 (role-based UC).

OpenScape UC Server can operate in virtually any existing IT or telephony environment, including IP telephony or legacy PBX telephony environments from Siemens or any other vendor – a key proof-point of Siemens’ Open Communications positioning. Installation is easy and affordable, with highly practical options that do not require expensive or complex proprietary technology stacks.

OpenScape UC Server software is the foundation for the company’s new unified communications suite and is a new product offering available for sale starting April 30, 2008. The OpenScape UC Server enables presence, administration, session control and other shared services for the current and planned family of OpenScape UC suite of applications, which are designed to enable easy growth and expansion. New modular capabilities are enabled by simply activating the desired license keys on a user-by-user basis.

Siemens believes that voice remains the most natural and effective form of human communications and has built OpenScape UC Server from the ground up as an open, SIP-based, software IT communications and UC application foundation with shared web-services components that leverage the company’s OpenSOA architecture. The existing HiPath® 8000 and HiPath OpenExchange applications (OpenScape Voice) have been redesigned to run natively on the OpenScape UC Server for enterprise voice and IP least cost routing. The OpenScape UC suite of applications operate in multi-vendor environments and integrate with complementary offerings including IBM Sametime, Microsoft Office Communication Server and various others.

OpenScape UC Server will be available in three versions. The Medium Edition (ME) configuration is a single server solution with optional redundancy for up to 1,000 users. The Large Edition (LE) is a multi-server configuration for up to 100,000 users (with full UC functionality for up to 20,000 users and basic UC functionality for up to 100,000 users). The Hosted Edition (HE) contains additional application components to support the unique requirements of service providers and hosting organizations.

Siemens is also introducing a new, redesigned version of its OpenScape UC Application as one of the licensable offerings for the Siemens OpenScape UC Server. The enhanced OpenScape UC Application V3 can now be deployed on virtually any telephony or IT environment, works with any vendor’s IP or legacy telephony platform, and integrates with nearly any IT and IM environment. With its modular, role-based packaging, OpenScape UC Application now offers a range of user-centric deployment options with a seamless upgrade path within the portfolio depending on enterprise needs. From the single-user Personal edition to Enterprise and Developer editions, scalability to as many as 20,000 concurrent users is possible. Built on the standards-based OpenSOA framework, OpenScape UC Application allows deep business process integration into virtually any existing line of business application to provide rich communications embedded business processes (CEBP).

OpenScape Video, a new portfolio offering also launched today, is the industry’s first single-vendor, unified video conferencing solution integrating high-definition (HD) video, desktop PC video, voice and presence into a single powerful communication environment. OpenScape Video can be integrated with the OpenScape UC Server enabling video and voice endpoints to easily participate in the same conference calls and use the same directory and call numbering plans. The video conferencing solution also functions on a standalone basis, offering enterprises an easy migration to HD Video over IP. The new OpenScape Video portfolio includes three HD systems and a PC soft client.

“With the introduction of OpenScape Unified Communications Server, we have reached a significant milestone in our transition from a traditional VoIP manufacturer to a top global software and services company focused on a new era in the enterprise communications market,” said Eve Aretakis, CEO, Siemens Communications, Inc. “Simply put, OpenScape UC Server is the easiest, most affordable and flexible way to introduce full UC into any existing telephony or IT environment.”

About Siemens
Siemens AG (NYSE:SI) is one of the largest global electronics and engineering companies with reported worldwide sales of $107.4 billion in 2006. Founded 160 years ago, the company is a leader in the areas of Medical, Power, Automation and Control, Transportation, Information and Communications, Lighting, Building Technologies, Water Technologies and Services and Home Appliances. With its U.S. corporate headquarters in New York City, Siemens in the USA has sales of $21.4 billion and employs approximately 70,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Eleven of Siemens' worldwide businesses are based in the United States. With its global headquarters in Munich, Siemens AG and its subsidiaries employ 480,000 people in 190 countries. For more information on Siemens in the United States: www.usa.siemens.com.

About Siemens Communications, Inc.
Siemens Communications, Inc. is an affiliate of Siemens Enterprise Communications GmbH & Co. KG, one of the world’s leading vendors of Open Communications solutions for enterprises of all sizes, enabling business processes to be more productive, faster and more secure – with any device, network or information technology infrastructure. Siemens Communications, Inc. and Siemens Enterprise Communications GmbH & Co. KG are wholly owned subsidiaries of Siemens AG, with about 15,000 employees collectively throughout the world, including the U.S. headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla. For more information about Siemens Communications, Inc., visit http://enterprise.usa.siemens.com/home.html

Note: Siemens, HiPath, and OpenScape are registered trademarks of Siemens AG or its subsidiaries and affiliates. All other company, brand, product and service names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Siemens Enters High-Definition Video Market with OpenScape Video, Expanding Video Conferencing Capabilities Across the Enterprise

High-Definition Video, PC Video and SIP Voice Integrate into a Single Communication Solution

BOCA RATON, Fla. — March 3, 2008 — Siemens Communications, Inc. today introduced OpenScape® Video, the first single-vendor, unified video conferencing solution integrating high-definition (HD) video, desktop PC video, voice and presence into a single powerful communication environment. Siemens’ new portfolio of HD video endpoints makes it easier than ever to deliver high-quality video conferencing capabilities for everyone in an organization, supporting enterprises in their quest to cut travel costs and reduce carbon emissions.

Unified video conferencing brings everyone in the organization onto the same communication and collaboration infrastructure, so that the benefits of video communication can be expanded beyond the few conference rooms and users that are equipped by most traditional solutions.

OpenScape Video, when deployed with the OpenScape Unified Communications (UC) Server, also announced by Siemens today, enables video and voice endpoints to easily participate in the same conference calls and use the same directory and call numbering plans. By integrating video end-points with voice via the OpenScape UC Server, video conference calls can now be initiated based on presence information with a simple click on the desktop client. As part of Siemens’ Open Communications approach, OpenScape Video is designed to operate in any existing IT or telephony environment.

“The OpenScape UC Server enables any IP telephony infrastructure to take advantage of the single powerful collaboration environment it creates,” said Brian Collie, Senior Vice President of Emerging Businesses for Siemens Communications. “When combined with the superior HD video capabilities of OpenScape Video, users also get the best unified HD video experience at a fraction of the cost of more elaborate, yet isolated, video conferencing solutions”

The new OpenScape Video portfolio includes three HD systems and a PC soft client. VHD 600 includes an HD camera, a CD-quality conference phone and a codec that can bridge up to six parties on a video conference call. VHD 400 includes the same components as the VHD 600, but for bridging four parties, and VHD 100 is a single, point-to-point solution to enable one-to-one calls or for the user to join a conference hosted on a VHD 600, VHD 400 or a third-party video bridge. The OpenScape UC application desktop client is a video-enabled soft client.

OpenScape Video is the only end-to-end solution that delivers an optimized HD video stream along with superior CD quality voice, to each individual HD-enabled video endpoint. Participants can customize their video display and will always experience the best video quality for their available bandwidth.

“HD and video is revolutionizing the way we communicate – in the home, on the Web, on mobile devices and now in the enterprise,” added Collie. ”With OpenScape Video, all enterprise users can now participate in video communications from any SIP endpoint, and it is as easy to use and reliable as a phone call.”

OpenScape Video offers enterprises an easy migration to HD video over IP to help cut productivity robbing travel and the associated costs while providing an enhanced collaboration environment. OpenScape Video is also interoperable with video endpoints from any vendor, so that enterprises can maximize their existing investments.

Pricing and Availability
OpenScape Video will be available at the end of April, 2008, with prices starting at $8,999 for a VHD100 system. Siemens global professional services organization will enable companies to rely on a single vendor to plan and install their video conferencing solutions around the world.

About Siemens
Siemens AG (NYSE:SI) is one of the largest global electronics and engineering companies with reported worldwide sales of $107.4 billion in 2006. Founded 160 years ago, the company is a leader in the areas of Medical, Power, Automation and Control, Transportation, Information and Communications, Lighting, Building Technologies, Water Technologies and Services and Home Appliances. With its U.S. corporate headquarters in New York City, Siemens in the USA has sales of $21.4 billion and employs approximately 70,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Eleven of Siemens' worldwide businesses are based in the United States. With its global headquarters in Munich, Siemens AG and its subsidiaries employ 480,000 people in 190 countries. For more information on Siemens in the United States: www.usa.siemens.com.

About Siemens Communications, Inc.
Siemens Communications, Inc. is an affiliate of Siemens Enterprise Communications GmbH & Co. KG, one of the world’s leading vendors of Open Communications solutions for enterprises of all sizes, enabling business processes to be more productive, faster and more secure – with any device, network or information technology infrastructure. Siemens Communications, Inc. and Siemens Enterprise Communications GmbH & Co. KG are wholly owned subsidiaries of Siemens AG, with about 15,000 employees collectively throughout the world, including the U.S. headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla. For more information about Siemens Communications, Inc., visit http://enterprise.usa.siemens.com/home.html

Note: Siemens and OpenScape are registered trademarks of Siemens AG or its subsidiaries and affiliates. All other company, brand, product and service names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

This release contains forward-looking statements based on beliefs of Siemens management. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "forecast," "expect," "intend," "plan," "should," and "project" are used to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the company's current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause the actual results to be materially different, including, among others, changes in general economic and business conditions, changes in currency exchange rates and interest rates, introduction of competing products, lack of acceptance of new products or services and changes in business strategy. Actual results may vary materially from those projected here. Siemens does not intend or assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
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