Enhanced Synapse® Business Telephone System from AT&T Delivers Additional Flexibility

BEAVERTON, Ore., Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --Advanced American Telephones, which manufactures AT&T-branded telephones in accordance with a license agreement with AT&T Intellectual Property, today announced availability for the AT&T Telephony Product Line, including a new SIP Gateway and software enhancements for the popular Synapse Business Telephone System. These two enhancements to the Synapse system furthermore extend the flexibility and convenience required to meet the diverse needs of SMBs.

The Synapse software upgrade supports several new features, including multiple auto attendants, which allow a company to address the different operating hours of up to four businesses or departments, working out of the same location through one business telephone system. Business users can route calls automatically or by menu selection and set separate holiday schedules for each auto attendant. A new voicemail-to-email forwarding capability allows users to receive voicemails on-the-go through their laptops and smartphones, helping SMBs make better use of mobile communications.

Enhanced inbound call routing gives users more control over call management--whether using analog PSTN lines or direct inward dialing numbers. When paired with the system's auto attendants, users can customize call handling based on the day of the week and time of day. Outbound call restrictions allow businesses to set user permissions and restrict who can make certain types of calls, just as long distance or international. To boot, call handlers can get real time updates on user status through a new busy station signaling feature, which allows them to make more informed decisions about where and how to route calls.

New SIP Gateway

Hardware enhancements include a new SIP Gateway, which enables access to lower-cost VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service and allows businesses to leverage unused bandwidth in their data networks for voice calling. Additional benefits include the ability to connect branch offices through inter-branch calling without going over PSTN lines.

"Today's employees are more on-the-go than ever, and the resulting high communication demand means SMBs need phone systems that are sophisticated, scalable and cost-effective," said Graham Williams, vice president of the SMB group at Advanced American Telephones. "The enhanced performance of the new Synapse software, coupled with the cost-saving features of Internet telephony service using the SIP Gateway, creates a perfect solution for the evolving, fast-paced SMB environment."

The Synapse platform is an advanced business telephone system with an intuitive, easy-to-understand management interface and upgradeable software that supports up to 100 extensions. The new Synapse SB67031 Deskset can easily integrate into any existing Synapse telephone system and includes key features to provide flexibility and help SMB employees communicate effectively in or out of the office. For added convenience, the Synapse SB67031 connects to Power over Ethernet, eliminating the need for external power supplies.

The new Synapse telephone system

For more information on the new Synapse telephone system, the SB67070 SIP Gateway, the SB67031 Deskset and the complete line of SMB telephony products, please visit www.telephones.att.com/smb .

About Advanced American TelephonesAdvanced American Telephones designs, manufactures and distributes AT&T-branded telephone products in the United States and Canada pursuant to this agreement a brand license agreement with AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P. AAT is owned by VTech Holdings Ltd. VTech is a widely recognized leader in corded and cordless telephones.