AltiGen Announces CTOP(TM) to Leverage AltiServ(TM) Open System Platform and Launches Developer Program

AltiPartner(TM) Program Provides Infrastructure and Continuity in Movement to

                                  Open Systems 

LOS ANGELES, March 5 /PRNewswire/ -- AltiGen Communications, Inc., Fremont, Calif., today unveiled its strategy for openness and inaugurated the AltiPartner(TM) program for developers of computer telephony enabled applications. Computer Telephony Open Platform (CTOP(TM)) is the architecture used by AltiGen to ensure developers and customers that AltiServ(TM) based solutions will continue to support accepted industry standard programming interfaces. The announcement was made during the Computer Telephony Conference and Exposition under way here.

"The growing popularity of AltiServ(TM) compels us to further open our platform to developers," said Leyla Aylikci, director of product marketing at AltiGen. "The CTOP(TM) architecture allows AltiGen to support accepted industry standards and provides developers with the access they need to create enhanced applications and hardware components. Developers will be able to enhance our native application modules or substitute their own as appropriate. This will result in faster time to market for developers and supports AltiGen's mission to make CTI easy and affordable. The alternatives we bring to developers and the end-user community are truly unique in the industry."

AltiGen's developer kit is used to deliver the CTOP(TM) environment. CTOP(TM) is composed of three layers so developers can gain system control at the level that best suits their needs. The innermost layer is AltiCore(TM) which communicates directly with the resources on AltiGen's Quantum board. The second layer is made up of application modules that provide functions such as PBX, voice-mail, ACD, auto-attendant and others. The outermost layer contains the application programming interfaces (APIs) that can be used by third-party software to control the system. These APIs allow enhancement or modification at the application module level and/or access to base AltiCore(TM) resources for development at a lower level.

AltiPartner(TM) is AltiGen's developer partner program. It is designed around AltiGen's resolve to support industry standard APIs and recruit qualified partners. Elements of the program include technical support during development, testing and certification of applications and assistance in moving application products through AltiGen distribution channels.

"We are now working with AltiGen on their initial developer release of client/server TAPI and extensions," said John White, vice president of Coresoft Technologies. "We are very inspired with what AltiGen is doing with CTOP(TM) because combining it with our CenterPoint(TM) product creates a complete and powerful telephony solution. Complete solutions will allow dealers moving into the computer telephony market to easily provide their customers simplicity of operation at an affordable price."

AltiPartners(TM) can begin developing to Microsoft's TAPI 2.0 and 2.1, MAPI and AltiGen's TAPI extension specifications available today. In addition, AltiGen's developer kit is available today in a limited release for select AltiPartners(TM). On May 19, 1997 the kit will be available to all AltiGen software developers with a joint beta program to follow in July. Beginning in August, 1997 AltiGen will certify software developers' AltiWare(TM) ready applications. As the kit evolves, both software and hardware developers will have access through the CTOP(TM) environment to the resources on AltiGen's Quantum board. AltiGen will always continue to support accepted industry standard APIs, allowing AltiGen to maintain an open "standards-based" development environment.

"This is an important step for us and the industry," said Aylikci. "No other company is embracing an open model like AltiGen. By providing CTOP now and evolving it in the later half of this year we will be providing a very strong foundation to allow rapid market growth."

AltiGen Communications, Inc. is the leading provider of the "All-in-One" telecommunications server. Its products represent the convergence of computers, telephone systems and the Internet into a single Microsoft Windows NT-based platform. AltiGen provides advanced PBX, auto-attendant and voice mail functionality and further integrates them with the Internet to provide CTI functions on a global basis. AltiServ(TM) allows users to improve customer service and simplify communications for all employees including mobile workers and telecommuters. Computer Telephony (CT) Magazine awarded AltiGen a Product of the Year for 1996.

AltiGen Communications, Inc. is located at 45635 Northport Loop East, Fremont, CA, 94538, Tel., 510-252-9712, Fax, 510-252-9738, E-mail GlobalCTI@altigen.com, Web Page at http://www.altigen.com/

SOURCE AltiGen Communications Inc.

     -0-                             03/05/97 

/CONTACT: Shauna Lindsay of Lindsay and Company, 415-938-3379, or smlpr@aol.com, for AltiGen; or Leyla Aylikci of AltiGen Communications, Inc., 510-252-9712, ext. 403, or leyla@altigen.com/

CO: AltiGen Communications Inc. ST: California IN: CPR TLS SU: PDT

KW-RB -- SFW002 -- 5293 03/05/97 12:30 EST http://www.prnewswire.com