CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (May 12, 2005) -- Vertical Communications (ASFT.OB), a leading provider of next-generation, IP-based phone systems and applications that help businesses better serve their customers, announced today that it has signed VoiceWay SAS as its distributor covering France along with North and West Africa. Partnering with VoiceWay enables Vertical to continue to build its presence in these developing markets.

“We are pleased to partner with a respected company like VoiceWay,” said Mel Passarelli, the vice president of International Sales at Vertical. “Voiceway’s background and expertise in tying together voice and data solutions exemplifies the kind of distributor that can leverage Vertical’s solutions in a way that drives true gains in productivity and customer service to businesses of all sizes.”

Passarelli and his team will work closely with the staff of VoiceWay’s France-based headquarters to cultivate relationships with VoiceWay’s network of solution providers. Vertical provides distributor partners with training classes, materials and certification; sales literature and tools; free technical support; sales support; joint marketing initiatives and channel-ready, IP-based phone solutions that help businesses better serve their customers.

“Our customers require phone systems that cost effectively integrate both voice and data,” said Nicolina Blasi, general manager at VoiceWay SAS. “We believe that Vertical’s solutions are the most effective platform for this because they unify the management of all voice, data and applications services by eliminating the need for multiple devices from different vendors. We look forward to a lasting and productive relationship with Vertical.”

The VoiceWay distributor relationship is one of several recent steps the Company has taken, including the opening of Vertical’s European office in Germany, that are designed to expand Vertical’s international presence and market position.

VoiceWay sells, installs and manages a range of converged network communications solutions – from computer telephony to high-density systems that require high-availability to IP-based remote management consoles. It offers pre-sales support, technical support, integration, development as well as technical and sales training on demand. It offers its solutions to companies in France along with North and West Africa.