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FirstHand Technologies Announces Enterprise Mobility Gateway Enabling Enterprise Communications Everywhere

Solution Pushes Advanced Enterprise IP PBX or Hosted Service Features Onto Smartphones, WiFi and Dual Mode Devices

CHICAGO, June 6, 2006 – FirstHand Technologies, an innovator in mobile VoIP software for enterprise use, today announced here at GLOBALCOMM the FirstHand Enterprise Mobility Gateway. The Linux server application works with existing FirstHand client products to enable mobile worker access to communications features previously only available through their desktop IP phones.

The FirstHand Enterprise Mobility Gateway works with the FirstHand Mobile Assistant application for smartphones and the FirstHand Mobile Console 2.0 application for WiFi and dual mode (WiFi and cellular) phones. These software products form a comprehensive solution by putting advanced services such as instant messaging, presence, corporate directory, click-to-call, call screening and call directing (delivering incoming calls to a nearby phone number such as a conference room or home phone for a period of time) into the hands of mobile business users anywhere.

David Hattey, president and CEO of FirstHand Technologies said, “Seventy million Americans use cell phones for work, yet virtually none of them are able to access a single IP PBX service from their mobile device. Using the breakthrough capabilities of the FirstHand Enterprise Mobility solution, users can accelerate decisions, increase productivity, strengthen regulatory compliance and improve mobile expense control. We are delivering enterprise communications everywhere.”

The FirstHand Enterprise Mobility Gateway projects IP PBX features into the mobile domain. For incoming calls, call-screening details are securely delivered to the users’ mobile device, regardless of whether it’s a BlackBerry, Microsoft Mobile 5.0, Symbian or Nokia Series 60 smartphone, WiFi or dual mode device. Users have the option to accept, forward to a colleague or send the call to enterprise voice mail. Call control never leaves the enterprise for the highest levels of compliance, security and professionalism.

Enterprise Mobility Gateway is designed to interoperate with market leading IP PBXs. Users are securely connected over a wide array of wireless networks limited only by the device and network availability. Using encryption to assure privacy in messaging and call control, Enterprise Mobility Gateway delivers a secure and efficient connection to each client over wireless networks. Mobile devices can be remotely locked or disabled so that in the event of a lost or stolen phone the enterprise services are not available to unauthorized users.

“The move toward VoIP enables enterprises to attain a higher level of availability, flexibility and responsiveness,” said Ronald Gruia, program leader of Emerging Communications at Frost & Sullivan. “Employees can communicate anytime, whether in the office, at home or on the road. With innovative new products such as FirstHand Enterprise Mobility Gateway, FirstHand is well positioned to improve an enterprise's productivity by enabling workers to use their downtime more efficiently, enhance their workflow and shorten response time to customer inquiries. Hence, it provides compelling value for enterprises, PBX vendors and carriers.”

The FirstHand Enterprise Mobility Solution will be demonstrated in booth 39020, at the Telecommunications Industry Association GLOBALCOMM show in Chicago June 5-7, 2006 and will be available for customer field trial involving leading service providers and IP PBX vendors starting in June 2006.

About FirstHand Technologies (www.firsthandtech.com)
FirstHand Technologies (formerly SIPquest) is the leading developer of Converged Multimedia Client software for desktop, WiFi, Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) and IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) environments.  Based in Ottawa, Canada, the company differentiates its mobile VoIP offerings by enabling the broadest available market through a range of leading channel partners and the widest array of mobile devices.

The company’s solutions are embedded or bundled into the world's largest equipment vendors, systems integrators and service provider’s products to quickly and seamlessly deliver rich multimedia services to their end-users.  Partners include 3Com, BroadSoft, Cisco and Nortel among others. FirstHand Mobile Console is the client of choice for leading service provider-based Voice Call Continuity servers including BridgePort, Cisco and Stoke. For more information visit http://www.firsthandtech.com or call +1-613-254-8886.

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