Taqua Names Head Exec

RICHARDSON, Texas -- Taqua, Inc., a leading provider of next-generation Class 5 switching platforms for voice and data convergence, today announced the appointment of Charles Vogt to the position of president and chief executive officer. Mr. Vogt joins Taqua from Santera Systems, a Plano, Texas-based Developer of next-generation Class 4/5 voice switching platforms, where he served as vice president of worldwide sales. During his tenure at Santera Systems, Mr. Vogt was an integral part of the Company's business development, product planning and partnership programs, resulting in increased market and customer traction for its switching platform. As a company, Santera Systems successfully engaged Tier I and Tier II carriers - including SBC, Verizon, Qwest and Sprint - in formal lab trials and established a local presence in Asia. "Attracting a CEO candidate the caliber of Charlie Vogt is testament to the wide market acceptance and potential of Taqua and the Open Compact Exchange (OCX). Charlie's stellar leadership qualities, skills, depth of experience, industry knowledge and international business acumen are ideally suited to Taqua's needs," said Thomas Berger, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Taqua, Inc. "On behalf of Taqua's senior management team and Board of Directors, I look forward to working with Charlie as he guides Taqua toward its goal of becoming the industry's premier vendor of next-generation Class 5 switching technologies." Taqua Systems Inc.