Patent Enables Users to Bypass Voice Prompts or Tedious Long Announcements in Audio-Based Systems, Such as Voicemail, Through the Use of a Mouse or Full Keyboard
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Sept. 25, 2013) - CounterPath Corporation (NASDAQ:CPAH)(TSX:CCV), a leading developer of award-winning desktop, tablet and mobile VoIP software products and solutions, today announced it has been awarded patent No. US 8542673 from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Titled 'Multimedia Interactive Telephony Services', the patent outlines systems and methods of extending Internet telephony-based services to include interactive visual user interface elements.
Enterprises are increasingly embracing technology that puts their customer's needs first and, by eliminating the need to listen-and-wait before making a choice in an audio-based system such as voicemail or interactive voice response (IVR) service, CounterPath is reducing a major pain point associated with IVRs. This technology allows users to instead choose among visually presented options such as buttons, tables and drop-down lists which are presented in a graphical user interface (GUI) such as a web form, desktop application, Google "widget", CounterPath Bria softphone, or other interfaces such as text messages.
A broad patent, it covers communication protocols such as TDM telephony, SIP, Skype, XMPP/Jingle, Mitel MiNet, SIP/SIMPLE, XMPP, MSNP, YMSG, HTTP or SOAP, making the patent applicable to not only the Bria softphone, but also Skype, Google Talk, web browsers, Microsoft Windows or Macintosh applications or mobile devices such as iPhones, Android smartphones and BlackBerrys.
Examples of potential applications of the patented technology include:
"This patent opens the door for a myriad of new possibilities for how we interact with audio-based services like voicemail and IVR systems," said Michael Doyle, Vice President of Technology for CounterPath. "Telephony systems are still in wide use today and customers often have to resort to awkward memorized key presses to navigate services offered over the phone such as voicemail or conferences, whether through VoIP solutions such as Bria, or traditional PSTN or cellular phones. We recognized the smartphone allows for significantly increased opportunities for customers to control their phones using menus, voice, text, video options and buttons. With this patent, we continue to demonstrate the integrated approach CounterPath has towards building value and protecting technology for our current and future customers, and our investors."
CounterPath is a global leader in softphone technology, with millions of endpoints downloaded and/or deployed. With the largest list of interoperability with IP PBXs and SIP-based network infrastructure softswitches, the Bria softphone is built toward industry standards with proven multimedia technology that provides a high-quality, unified communications experience and voice and video calls over fixed, mobile and Wi-Fi® broadband networks. Bria's ability to use mobile and Wi-Fi networks gives businesses new options for "always on" connectivity while realizing cost savings through free Wi-Fi networks.
With this new patent, CounterPath's intellectual property portfolio now includes 17 patents granted and 7 additional applications pending.
To learn more about CounterPath's solutions, visit http://www.counterpath.com/solutions.html.
About CounterPath
CounterPath's SIP-based VoIP softphones are changing the face of telecommunications. An industry and user favorite, Bria softphones for desktop and mobile devices, together with the Company's server applications and Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) solutions, enable service providers, OEMs and enterprises large and small around the globe to offer a seamless and unified communications experience across both fixed and mobile networks. Standards-based, cost-effective and reliable, CounterPath's award-winning solutions power the voice and video calling, messaging, and presence offerings of customers such as Alcatel-Lucent, AT&T, Verizon, BT, Mobilkom Austria, Rogers, Avaya, BroadSoft, Cisco Systems, GENBAND, Metaswitch Networks, Mitel, NTT and NEC.
For more information about CounterPath's Bria softphone applications and provisioning solutions, visit: www.counterpath.com/products.
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