Mitel Demonstrates the World's First Telephone to Computer Connection Using
the Universal Serial Bus (USB)

Marks Arrival of USB Telephony, New Class of PC Peripherals

(February 6, 1996, KANATA, CANADA) - Mitel Corporation today demonstrated
the world's first Telephone to PC connection using the Universal Serial
Bus (USB) during the Universal Serial Bus Developers' Conference in Santa
Clara, California. Mitel's demonstration of an actual USB telephone marks
the arrival of USB telephony, a new class of PC peripheral. PC's can now
be `telephony enabled' simply and easily without having to open the box
while providing the same level of functionality as traditional plug-in
card solutions.

Mitel is part of a consortium of companies, including Intel, Microsoft,
Compaq and others from the PC and telecommunications industries that are
developing and backing the Universal Serial Bus as a new open standard for
connecting peripherals to the PC. Mitel has worked closely with the
initial development group for USB and as co-chair of the USB Standard
Sub-committee for Communications Devices continues to actively propel
USB's ongoing development.

Designed to provide a standard, low-cost "plug and play" interface between
PC's and peripherals, the Universal Serial Bus brings higher speed
PC-to-peripheral communications, allows for hot attach/detach of
peripherals, and provides for the connection of multiple devices to a
single serial port.

Mitel is the first telecommunications company in the world to take the USB
concept and demonstrate actual USB Telephony. This demonstration is
another example of the company's leadership in the Computer Telephony
marketplace, and demonstrates Mitel's commitment to open architectures
utilizing TAPI and USB standards.

The integration of computer and telephone technologies has great practical
value for the business person of today. USB PC users will now be able to
plug in peripherals, such as Mitel's USB Telephony devices, with the same
ease as plugging into an AC power outlet. USB's self configuring software
will give users a fully functioning and configured peripheral without
having to struggle with the conflicts commonly encountered with
installation of today's plug-in card solutions.

With Mitel's USB enabled computer telephony peripherals, the desktop can be
personalized to meet individual voice and data needs through the
combination of intuitive screen based applications and the familiar
operation of the telephone. These products will help with harmonizing work
and family activities for the telecommuter and other home office workers
by turning their PC into a personal assistant that screens calls, takes
and leaves messages, sets up conference calls, forwards calls, reads
e-mails and even understands spoken commands.

Ian Munns, Mitel's Senior Vice President of Marketing and Technology, said,
"Computer-telephony integration (CTI) is one of the core technologies of
our corporate strategy today and will continue to be a cornerstone of our
growth in the future. We are committed to working with the information
technology industry's leaders to develop PC-telephony applications built
on USB. The company has already shown its leadership in this area by
demonstrating the world's first USB-PC telephone. USB elevates the ease of
use of the PC to a level that will enable it to gain much greater mass
market appeal. Our goal is to gain widespread acceptance of the USB PC
Telephony peripheral as the standard communications vehicle on the
desktop."

Jim Pappas, USB Program Manager at Intel remarked: "Mitel has demonstrated
its dedication to USB by presenting the world's first USB Telephone demo
at the February USB Developers Conference. Acceptance of USB is very much
dependent on early adopters, like Mitel, demonstrating the kinds of new
and exciting devices this technology will bring to the PC marketplace."

Mitel Corporation is an international telecommunications equipment
supplier, providing enterprise, workgroup and desktop solutions,
semiconductors, public switching systems, network enhancement and gateway
products, open server-based communications products, systems and
components. The Company is active in major growth markets such as computer
telephony integration and emerging technology systems and had revenues of
$589 Million Cdn in fiscal year 1995. Mitel is committed to advancing
people to people communications in an open distributed environment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Ian Chadsey
Director, Corporate Affairs
(613) 592-2122, ext. 4088
E-mail
 
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