NEEDHAM, Mass. and PARIS -- Brooktrout Technology, a leading supplier of media processing and call control products, and FERMA, a leading provider of value-added services for Communications Service Providers, announced today the completion of interoperability testing and a partnership to deliver advanced IP-based messaging services to the fixed and wireless service provider market. The partnership blends Brooktrout's SnowShore IP Media Server(TM) with FERMA's Mailis suite of unified messaging applications to deliver a broad range of IP/3G unified voice and emerging video messaging services. The joint solution gives wireless and fixed carriers an innovative suite of next generation messaging services that can help drive revenue and differentiation.

"This solution enables operators to build truly integrated networks for innovative triple play services based on IP," said Peter Vescuso, vice president of Market Development for Brooktrout. "We are very pleased to partner with FERMA, a leader in the IP messaging market. It is a company that shares our commitment to develop and deploy innovative SIP-based multimedia applications for wireless and fixed operators worldwide. This partnership is yet another proof-point of Brooktrout's leadership and commitment to serve as the IP media server platform of choice for the industry's most advanced and innovative multimedia SIP applications."

The Brooktrout-FERMA solution integrates innovative next generation messaging features such as video messaging and video greetings and it is fully compliant with the 3GPP IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) service architecture. The Video Mail service supports multiple terminal types including fixed (soft phone on PC, IP video phone) and mobile terminal (3G mobile Smartphone video enabled handsets). The product features a true modular system design with an efficient, scalable and distributed architecture, offering mobile carriers the flexibility to incrementally scale services on a "pay-as-you-grow" basis. It can help to increase call completion rates by allowing video callers the option of leaving a message when the person they are trying to reach is unavailable. If the caller doesn't use a terminal with video capability, it is still possible to leave a simple voice message.

"The Brooktrout-FERMA Messaging solution gives service providers a cost- effective, self-funding migration path to 3G Services," said Coralie Mesnard, vice president of Marketing for FERMA. "The SnowShore IP Media Server's SIP- based high performance media processing capabilities give FERMA the scalability and features required to deliver our solutions to the global carrier marketplace. In addition, the SnowShore IP Media Server's ability to scale VoiceXML messaging services gives it a clear advantage in the rigorous always-on carrier environment."

Brooktrout Inc.

Ferma SA