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SIPquest demonstrates unique client software solution for multivendor access point VoWiFi roaming

SIPquest delivers a unique client software solution to allow enterprise users seamless roaming in a multivendor WiFi access point environment.

Ottawa, Canada - October 18, 2004 - SIPquest Inc., a leading developer of SIP-based IP Telephony software components and applications today announced demonstrations and availability of its client software for handsets/PDAs that allows enterprise users to roam in a multivendor WiFi Access Point environment. The SIPquest technology enables less than 10ms fast handoffs, and will help drive the adoption of VoIP and advanced IP Telephony applications such as unified messaging and presence directly on WiFi handsets.

It is predicted that by 2008 there will be 145 million subscribers using WiFi based voice services worldwide. Asia Pacific is where Applico Security, a wholly owned subsidiary of one of Japan's leading Advanced MOIP switch providers, is seeing very strong growth. "We know this market well and this is exactly the technology needed to spur the adoption of VoWiFi," said Arun Kant, President of Applico Security. "Businesses are looking to stay competitive and productive and we were very impressed with SIPquest's ability to complement their SIP-based desktop communications with VoWiFi capabilities."

Until now, when users of WiFi devices move out of range of one access point (AP) into the range of another the handoff latency could be between 400 and 600ms; a delay not acceptable for voice service. The SIPquest software is composed of algorithms that reduce the handoff latency between APs to less than 10 milliseconds, independent of the manufacturer of APs used. An alternate deployment scenario is to ensure all devices in the WiFi environment are from the same manufacturer and that they have proprietary roaming solutions embedded directly into the devices. That method allows users to roam but locks the enterprise into a vendor-specific solution.

"Our solution is unique. Chipset and handset manufacturers can embed this functionality to provide mobility to end users of the enterprise WiFi handsets in a multivendor access point environment," said Alain Mouttham, chief executive officer, SIPquest Inc. "and we are already working on the next logical step: WiFi to Cellular roaming."

The SIPquest software client application resides on the WiFi handset allowing undetectable handoff from AP to AP regardless of manufacturer of the device; providing greater flexibility in the implementation of enterprise-wide IP Telephony mobility particularly when an enterprise has Access Points or Stations from a variety of vendors. The SIPquest VoWiFi Roaming mobility technology is complemented by the SIPquest Mobile Collaboration Agent that provides presence and collaboration features such as instant messaging and data sharing on WiFi devices.

SIPquest's recent advancements in VoWiFi roaming as well as extending the company's established multimedia IP Telephony collaboration capabilities to mobility are being demonstrated at Voice on the Net (VON) in Boston, MA (booth #624).

About SIPquest

SIPquest is a technology pioneer with specific expertise in Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). By embedding or bundling SIPquest SIP-based software products with their own products, telecom and datacom equipment vendors are able to take advantage of the growing demand for IP Telephony services and capabilities. SIPquest's application and component suite includes IP-based audio conferencing, video conferencing, data conferencing, application sharing, instant messaging, presence, a multimedia collaboration agent, voice mail, auto attendant, a SIP to H.323 signaling converter, an extensible SIP server and mobile WiFi roaming and collaboration capabilities. SIPquest is committed to expanding the use of SIP technologies through an exclusive licensing agreement with Columbia University's Internet Real-Time Lab and Professor Henning Schulzrinne, Chief Scientific Advisor to SIPquest and co-author of SIP. Located in Ottawa, Canada, SIPquest has the most complete and advanced suite of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) software modules and components on the market.