Cap Gemini Ernst & Young Opens Cisco Systems Interoperability Verification Testing (IVT) Center for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Region

Test Center to Verify Third Party Applications

PARIS , Jan 8, 2002 - The Cap Gemini Ernst & Young Group announces today the opening of an IVT center for Cisco Systems located in Paris, France. Telecom Media Networks France S.A.(TMN), an industry practice of the Cap Gemini Ernst & Young Group was nominated by Cisco Systems as a preferred partner to provide the IVT Center, in the EMEA region. It covers Internet Protocol (IP) Telephony and Content Networking technologies, a crossroad featuring both functional and architecture aspects.

Cisco Systems AVVID Partner program is an interoperability and co-marketing program, which promotes the openness of Cisco Systems AVVID (Architecture for Voice, Video and Integrated Data) that enables customers to rapidly implement verified solutions. In order to join the Cisco Systems AVVID Partner Program, partners must pass a series of verification tests. Upon completion, the solutions are validated, and partners are entitled to use the "Cisco Systems verified" logo. Qualifying partners is crucial for the success of the open standards approach that brings effective, best-of-breed applications for customers on top of Cisco Systems infrastructure.

The IVT center is hosted by.TMN to serve its partners and customers. The IVT center promotes competencies in the testing processes for IP telephony, call center and rich media streaming environments, one of the key for TMN, converged technologies strategy.

"Cap Gemini Ernst & Young is the technical support contact for Cisco who delivers validated and standard-based solutions," said Robert Dunkley, Executive Director of NIS. "Proven interests and needs show the Cisco AVVID Partner Program is on the rise."

To date, Arc Solutions, Telesnap and NETWISE completed the IVT center tests and are currently in the validation process. "Arc provides call centers and operator console solutions while Telesnap offers personal productivity application based on telephony and data integration. NETWISE provides operator console solutions that links to the enterprise presence management and contacts directory. Providers of e-conferencing, voice over IP recording, and unified messaging solutions are future candidates." Dunkley said. This IVT center is available for software vendors interested to participate in the Cisco Systems AVVID Partner Program. More information on : http://www.cisco.com/go/AVVIDpartners.

Cap Gemini Ernst & Young is one of the largest management and IT consulting firms in the world. The company offers management and IT consulting services, systems integration, and technology development, design and outsourcing capabilities on a global scale to help businesses continue to implement growth strategies and leverage technology in the new economy. The organization employs about 57,000 people worldwide and reports global revenues of more than 8.5 billion euros (2000 pro forma). More information about individual service lines, offices and research is available at http://www.cgey.com