Lod, Israel, March 6, 2008 – AudioCodes (NasdaqGS: AUDC), a leading provider of Voice over Packet (VoP) technologies and Voice Network products, today announced it has attained Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program with a competency in OEM Hardware Solutions, recognizing AudioCodes’ expertise and impact in the technology marketplace. As a Gold Certified Partner, AudioCodes has demonstrated expertise with Microsoft technologies and proven ability to meet customers’ needs. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners receive a rich set of benefits, including access, training and support, giving them a competitive advantage in the channel.
AudioCodes has been working closely with Microsoft for more than three years, providing media gateways products that enable PBX and PSTN connectivity for the Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 and Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 platforms. AudioCodes media gateways bridge the gap between existing TDM telephony networks and the Microsoft SIP-based IP voice architecture. AudioCodes’ gateways support the Microsoft “Basic Gateway” and the “Basic Hybrid Gateway” configurations. AudioCodes’ gateways provide the flexibility to support simultaneous connections of PBX and PSTN FXS, FXO, BRI, E1/T1 TDM voice connections to Exchange Server 2007 as well as Office Communications Server 2007.
“We are extremely pleased to have attained Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program. This allows us to clearly promote our expertise and relationship with Microsoft to our customers,” said Nimrod Borovsky, vice president, Marketing, Enterprise Business Group at AudioCodes. “The benefits provided through our Gold Certified Partner status will allow us to continue to enhance the offerings that we provide for customers.”
“Customers are looking for partner companies that can bridge the gap between their business demands and technology capabilities,” said Allison Watson, corporate vice president, Worldwide Partner Group at Microsoft Corp. “They need to trust in a company that can act as an expert adviser for their long-term strategic technology plans. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners, which have certified expertise and direct training and support from Microsoft, can build a positive customer experience with our technologies. Today, Microsoft recognizes AudioCodes as a new Gold Certified Partner for demonstrating its expertise providing customer satisfaction using Microsoft products and technology.”
As one of the requirements for attaining Gold Certified Partner status, AudioCodes had to declare a Microsoft Competency. Microsoft Competencies are designed to help differentiate a partner’s capabilities with specific Microsoft technologies to customers looking for a particular type of solution. Each competency has a unique set of requirements and benefits, formulated to accurately represent the specific skills and services that partners bring to the technology industry.
The OEM Hardware Solutions Competency is intended for partners that build and deliver desktop or server hardware systems, and those that design and manufacture hardware devices used as computer parts, peripherals or accessories. Partners that attain the OEM Hardware Solutions Competency are recognized for their expertise in delivering high-quality hardware solutions and are provided with information and tools needed to expand their market opportunities and maintain a competitive advantage in the industry.
“Partners that acquire the OEM Hardware Solutions Competency have demonstrated expertise and have a track record of building high-quality hardware solutions that are designed and configured with Microsoft technologies according to customer needs and supported to ensure customer satisfaction,” said Kurt Kolb, vice president, Worldwide System Builder Channel and License Compliance at Microsoft Corp. “These partners are able to closely engage with Microsoft and have access to specialized resources to help them meet and even surpass customer expectations.”
The Microsoft Partner Program was launched in October 2003 and represents Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to the success of partners worldwide. The program offers a single, integrated partnering framework that recognizes partner expertise, rewards the total impact that partners have in the technology marketplace, and delivers more value to help partners’ businesses be successful.
About AudioCodes
AudioCodes Ltd. (NasdaqGS: AUDC) provides innovative, reliable and cost-effective Voice over IP (VoIP) technology, Voice Network Products, and Value Added Applications to Service Providers, Enterprises, OEMs, Network Equipment Providers and System Integrators worldwide. AudioCodes provides a diverse range of flexible, comprehensive media gateway, and media processing enabling technologies based on VoIPerfect™ – AudioCodes’ underlying, best-of-breed, core media architecture. The company is a market leader in VoIP equipment, focused on VoIP Media Gateway, Media Server, Session Border Controllers (SBC), Security Gateways and Value Added Application network products. AudioCodes has deployed tens of millions of media gateway and media server channels globally over the past ten years and is a key player in the emerging best-of-breed, IMS based, VoIP market. The Company is a VoIP technology leader focused on quality and interoperability, with a proven track record in product and network interoperability with industry leaders in the Service Provider and Enterprise space. AudioCodes Voice Network Products feature media gateway and media server platforms for packet-based applications in the converged, wireline, wireless, broadband access, cable, enhanced voice services, video, and Enterprise IP Telephony markets. AudioCodes’ headquarters are located in Israel with R&D in the U.S. Other AudioCodes’ offices are located in Europe, India, the Far East, and Latin America. For further information on AudioCodes, visit www.audiocodes.com
Statements concerning AudioCodes' business outlook or future economic performance; product introductions and plans and objectives related thereto; and statements concerning assumptions made or expectations as to any future events, conditions, performance or other matters, are "forward-looking statements'' as that term is defined under U.S. Federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated in such statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to: the effect of global economic conditions in general and conditions in AudioCodes' industry and target markets in particular; shifts in supply and demand; market acceptance of new products and continuing products' demand; the impact of competitive products and pricing on AudioCodes' and its customers' products and markets; timely product and technology development/upgrades and the ability to manage changes in market conditions as needed; possible disruptions from acquisitions; the integration of acquired companies’ products and operations into AudioCodes’ business; and other factors detailed in AudioCodes' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AudioCodes assumes no obligation to update the information in this release.
AudioCodes, AC, Ardito, AudioCoded, NetCoder, TrunkPack, VoicePacketizer, MediaPack, Stretto, Mediant, VoIPerfect and IPmedia, OSN, Open Solutions Network, What's Inside Matters, Your Gateway To VoIP, 3GX and Nuera, Netrake, InTouch, CTI² and CTI Squared are trademarks or registered trademarks of AudioCodes Limited. All other products or trademarks are property of their respective owners.
