GLOBAL CONVERGING TECHNOLOGIES INTRODUCES THE FIRST SUPER INTELLIGENT CORDLESS PHONE

A state-of-the-art invention that combines the capabilities of the cordless phone with the power of the PC to network homes without wires

DALLAS, Texas – Imagine the freedom and convenience of a phone system that can manage multiple phone lines, access the Web and connect you to your PC from any room in the house—all without wires. Global Converging Technologies (GCT) is making this vision a reality by introducing Cendis at Fall COMDEX ’98. Cendis is the first super cordless phone built to create a more livable and efficient networked home environment. "Cendis links the phone with the power of the PC. It provides consumers with advanced phone capabilities such as call routing or conference calling, Web access, as well as a way to distribute information stored on your PC to any room in your home," said Steve Hansen, GCT’s vice president of sales and marketing.

CENDIS CAPABILITIES
Cendis is built to perform functions one would normally find on business telephone systems, such as the ability to transfer calls from one cordless handset to another, conference calling capacity and a two-way intercom.  In addition, Cendis can maximize multiple phone lines managing all incoming and outgoing lines by steering traffic, whether from a PC, fax machine, DSS system or cordless handset, to the open line.  Cendis also supports the host of features available from telcos including call waiting and caller ID. "Over 20 million U.S. households have two or more phone lines to try and manage fax machines, Internet access, telephones and even DSS systems. Cendis monitors all phone lines coming into the house and routes traffic to the open line.  So, for example, you can still receive a fax while on the web," Hansen said. The Cendis cordless phone also features a unique Netdisplay touchscreen. With the built-in 56K modem in the Cendis base, the Netdisplay touchscreen serves as a web browser and can access the Internet without being connected to a PC. Information such as news and stock quotes, restaurant reviews or the weather can be viewed anywhere in the house. And because the Cendis touchscreen is wireless, battery operated and compact, it can easily be moved from room to room.  In addition, Cendis can be linked to your computer allowing you to access PC information from a Netdisplay touchscreen or wireless handset.  So you can wirelessly access recipes in the kitchen, retrieve addresses and phone numbers in the bedroom or read e-mail in the den, all while the PC storing this information sits in your home office. Cendis is Windows CE™ compatible with open architecture, enabling new networked home applications to be developed rapidly. To eliminate the need to wire multiple phone jacks to every room, Cendis features a wireless NetJack Interface that serves as a remote telephone jack. A fax machine, telephone or DSS system can be placed anywhere and plugged into the wireless NetJack to access a telephone line without rewiring the house. Cendis also can be used to network home appliances and systems. For example, Cendis can serve as a central controller for lighting or thermostat systems to manage such utilities for optimum efficiency. In fact, almost any home system can become remotely accessible through Cendis’ Netdisplay touchscreens or wireless handsets. 

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
"We have engineered this product to be flexible for the consumer and potential distributors," said Greg Jones, president and chief technology officer of GCT. "We feel good about the configuration of our first Cendis release, but expect to partner with computer manufacturers and Telcos to create new and exciting variations to the product." GCT formed partnerships with specialized technology providers to develop its first product. Integration of the web browser into Cendis was made possible through Planet Web, a leading provider in web services. DataCom International provided the Digital Signal Processor (DSP) and telecom interfaces, which allow Cendis to offer advance calling features such as caller ID and call waiting caller ID. The Radio Frequency (RF) chip sets were provided by Butterfly Technologies. "By bringing together companies with specific expertise in different Cendis
components, we will be able to get to market more quickly, with a more efficient product than we could have created alone," Jones said. Founded in 1997, Dallas–based Global Converging Technologies, Inc. (GCT), creates products that help users more easily adapt to the emerging Web lifestyle. GCT is the premier provider for the next generation of intelligent, networked wireless communication devices for the home and office.

Contact:
Amy Fennegan/Cynthia Rogers
Buzz Public Relations
(214) 744-0095
fennegan@coffeeblack.com
crogers@coffeeblack.com
Steve Hansen
Global Converging Technologies
(214) 528-6697 ext.25
steveh@globalconv.com