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Q:
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Why did AltiGen choose the Microsoft Windows NT Operating System?
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A:
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AltiGen saw very
early that Microsoft had released a quality Operating System that would become the
standard within business' in the United States and around the world. AltiGen made a
significant early investment in the development of an entirely NT based hardware and
software solution. Now that the AltiGen solution has been shipping for several
years, with thousands of customer installations, the investment and maturity of the
product are paying off. Beware of solutions that are based on dead-end proprietary
technologies or just plain old technologies such as OS/2 or DOS.
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Q:
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What Operating System is the AltiGen voice mail solution based on?
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A:
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Microsoft Windows
NT. The entire AltiGen solution was developed from the ground up to work exclusively
in the Windows NT environment. Be aware that many voice mail solutions that are sold
today are still based on the DOS Operating System, which is soon to be unsupported.
Also be aware that these same systems are often running on a 386 or a 486 base PC, which
is obsolete by today's computing standards.
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Q:
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What is the difference between AltiWare OE and CE?
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A:
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AltiWare CE has all of the strength of
AltiGen's award winning AltiWare Open Edition with the TAPI and MAPI components removed.
This makes AltiWare Classic Edition the best alternative for customers who desire
simplified system management and don't require third party software integration or
Exchange integration. AltiWare CE eliminates the added complexity associated with third
party software integration. AltiWare OE is based on TAPI/MAPI and open to third party
software integration as well as Microsoft Exchange integration. AltiWare OE is the optimal
choice for developers or customers who want to integrate with other TAPI and MAPI
applications.
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Q:
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What is meant by an IP Telephony Gateway?
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A:
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AltiWare IP (Internet Protocol) in an IP
Telephony gateway. A gateway transforms voice transmission into data packets that can be
routed over an IP network such as the Internet, an internal intranet or virtual private
network. A gateway at the call destination receives the data packets and converts them
back into voice.
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Q:
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Are you reliant on a PC or the network for your telephone system to function?
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A:
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No. Besides the actual Communications Server, the AltiGen solution does not rely on a desktop computer
or a computer network to function. The AltiGen solution can operate perfectly well
in an environment with no computers in the building or in an environment where some or all
of the employees have a computer on their desk, connected to a Local Area Network.
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Q:
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Can I manage the telephone system myself? Isn't paying $200 every time that a technician comes out to move an extension or to make a simple change to the telephone system a little much?
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A:
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Yes. Because the AltiGen solution is based on Windows NT and supports a Graphical User Interface, you
the customer will be able to manage basic tasks internally, without relying on your
vendor. Your Authorized AltiGen Dealer will be happy to train both your employees on
how to manage basic changes to their extension, and your designated telephone system
manager on how to do simple "moves, adds and changes."
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Q:
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Why did AltiGen choose to provide an "Open, standards based" solution in AltiWare OE instead of a proprietary solution?
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A:
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History has shown that when a
vendor creates a great product and allows other vendors to easily work with and even
improve upon that product, that original product has a much greater chance of becoming the
industry "standard." One great example of the past (10 years ago)
would be the proprietary Mid-range computing systems from IBM, DEC, WANG versus the newer
"open, standards based solution" called the Local Area Network or LAN.
Both products were geared towards the small to mid-sized business. The traditional
systems were closed and proprietary, which meant that you were dependant on the IBM's,
DEC's and WANG's of the world to improve the product. The traditional systems were
expensive to purchase, and the Manufacturer's were slow to respond to customer demands.
Novell, 3Com and Microsoft came to market with products that were less expensive,
provided more flexibility and more functionality. The Local Area Network solution
also allowed other company's to write applications that integrated with and improved the
LAN. This "Open" approach allowed Novell, 3Com and Microsoft to grow from
a small companies to industry giants, essentially putting WANG out of business, crippling
DEC to the point of recently being acquired by Compaq and causing IBM to go through a
significant restructuring of the company.
AltiGen, and many of the Telecommunications
Industry experts, feel that history is repeating itself with the business telephone
system. The traditional telephone systems are expensive and not very flexible, and
could easily follow the path of the DEC, WANG and IBM products. The AltiGen solution
is cost effective, powerful and works with many other products available in the market.
AltiGen is on the right path to follow the Novell, 3Com and Microsoft's of the
world. Business owners have a choice...choose the traditional telephone system and it's
limitations, or go with an open, standards based solution that has more flexibility, more
functionality and a brighter future.
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Q:
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How reliable is the AltiGen Telephone solution?
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A:
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Very Reliable. Because of the
flexibility of the Communications Server it can be configured to be much more reliable
than the traditional, proprietary telephone system. Most AltiGen customers have the
solution installed in a Computer Telephony Server that comes standard with multiple power
supplies, multiple cooling fans and many times multiple hard disks. If any one
component fails, the system automatically switches to the "good" component
without interrupting telephone service. AltiGen customers are very excited about
implementing a Windows NT based solution, because of the power and reliability of the NT
Operating System. An example from the Microsoft Web page shows the types of companies that
rely on the NT Operating System:
Carolina Power & Light is the
leading power company in the Carolinas, providing electricity and energy services to more
than 1.1 million customers. It ranks in the top 20 power companies nation-wide. CP&L
runs fossil fuel and nuclear power plants with mission critical applications on multiple
NT Servers on a 24 hour a day, 7 day a week, 365 day a year basis.
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Q:
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What happens to my telephone service in the event of a major power outage or a server failure?
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In the event of a power outage, one that
out lasts your battery back-up or UPS, AltiGen supports the "Power Failure Save"
feature which will connect a Trunk line from your Telephone company to an internal
extension to create a "direct" line. This direct line will have "dial
tone" the instant that you pick up the phone. With the AltiGen solution based on the
Communications Server and the Microsoft Windows NT Operating System, it is very unlikely
that you will ever experience a system failure. In the event that this rare event
does happen, by partnering with your Authorized AltiGen Dealer, you can have every Trunk
line on the telephone system turn into a "direct" line. This configuration
would limit any disruption to the business.
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Q:
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Why did AltiGen choose to work with Industry Standard or "off the shelf" analog telephones?
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Reduced cost and better
availability to you the customer. Standard Analog telephones are the most
manufactured telephone in the world and are available almost everywhere – from your
local retailer to your Authorized AltiGen Dealer. Traditional telephone systems use
"digital" telephones that are expensive and are only available from that vendor.
The one analogy that we often use is "if you were told that your computer
keyboard would cost you $600 and it was only available from one source in the world,"
you would probably say, "Sorry, that's unacceptable and I will choose another
product. "Our philosophy is that you should be able to choose from many
different manufacturers of telephones, at a reasonable price, that provide the same
functionality that any proprietary "digital" telephone provides.
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Q:
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With the AltiGen solution, can my business still answer every call with a "live" person?
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A:
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Yes. AltiGen's software product called AltiConsole gives the receptionist the ability to
handle every incoming call. Auto Attendant can be used as a backup to the
receptionist before and after business hours, to give your customers 24-hour access to
information and employees voice mailboxes.
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Q:
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What about upgrades to the telephone system when my business grows or when my needs change?
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A:
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The AltiGen solution is based on open, industry standards such as Intel based computing servers.
When the computing technology changes, your server can easily be upgraded by your
Authorized Dealer, by upgrading the actual Processor, installing a larger hard disk or
even installing mirrored disks. When your business grows, all you need to do is to
contact your Authorized AltiGen Dealer to let them know that you need more capacity.
The AltiGen Dealer will come out and install another AltiGen board into your
server, and then configure the new users for you. As new software releases are made
available from AltiGen, or you decide that you need a third party software solution from
one of the AltiGen Development Partners, Your Authorized AltiGen Dealer will come to your
site and load the new software on your AltiGen Communications Server. This product
flexibility allows you to stay current with the latest technology in both hardware and
software, reducing and hopefully eliminating the need for you to ever replace your
telephone system again.
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Q:
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Will I lose anything if I choose the AltiGen solution over a traditional telephone system?
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A:
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No. AltiGen covers all of the basic features that you would get from any traditional telephone system
and also includes many advanced features as part of the standard solution. AltiGen
supports the industry's proven technology of Windows NT, offers you the customer more
flexibility and a better long-term growth path that protects your investment.
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Q:
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Do I have to memorize "feature codes" to make the AltiGen system do things like transferring a call?
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No. Most "off the shelf" telephones have programmable keys that become your
"function keys." For example, on each telephone, you can have a button to
transfer a call, a button to put your phone on Do Not Disturb, a button to Log into the
Customer Service Queue, a button to Log you into voice mail to listen to your messages, etc.
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Q:
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What are the different types of telephone systems and where does AltiGen fit in?
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A:
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The different types of Telephone systems or services that we see in the small to mid-sized business are
a) Key system b) PBX with voice mail c) Centrex services.
a) A Key system is usually
the most basic telephone system that is used within the small business. With a Key
system, the actual telephones have buttons on them that allow users to select telephone
lines or telephone extensions. Many key systems do not have voice mail, Auto
Attendant or any other advanced features. Key Systems have built in obsolescence, in
that small businesses often outgrow the system when they grow past 24 or 32 users.
b) PBX stands for Private Branch Exchange.
This essentially means that you have a small Telephone Switch within your office
that intelligently takes incoming calls and transfers them to the appropriate extension.
The telephone company utilizes very large PBX's to handle all telephone traffic
between business' and residences. The AltiGen solution is a PBX with
integrated voice mail, Auto Attendant, Automatic Call Distribution and other advanced features.
c) Centrex services are often used in the small business environment.
Centrex Services are those services that you "rent" from the local
Telephone Company. This can be as basic as just a telephone line and telephone
number, to renting individual voice mailboxes and even renting Auto Attendant.
Centrex services become too expensive and too cumbersome to deal with after a company
reaches about 10 to 12 employees. It becomes apparent after 10 users, that the
monthly rental charges will go on forever, and for the same cost per month, you the
customer could be "buying" an in-house telephone system with many more advanced
features and functions that truly improve communications.
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Q:
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Can I use any computer to run the AltiGen solution?
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A:
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No. Most computers that you purchase at your local retailer are not suited to properly run your
AltiGen telephone system 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Your
Authorized AltiGen Dealer will provide you with an AltiGen "Certified" Computer
server that is designed to run Windows NT based telephone systems. Most Certified
servers come standard with multiple power supplies, multiple cooling fans and the option
for multiple hard disks.
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Q:
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Why does AltiGen only sell through Authorized Dealers?
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A:
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AltiGen believes very strongly in partnerships. To truly bring world class solutions to market, we
have teamed with quality business partners across the Unites States and throughout the
world. By contacting AltiGen directly, we will partner you with your local
Authorized AltiGen Dealer. You can feel confident that the AltiGen Authorization
means that your local dealer has received extensive product training. You may also
feel confident that every Authorized AltiGen Dealer owns an in-house AltiGen Demonstration
system so that they will know the product today as well as tomorrow.
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Q:
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How does AltiServ compare with a low cost Key system? How about features like being able to see all the lights on the phone (so you can see who is on the phone without a PC).
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A:
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Key systems are dead-end technologies that are actually more expensive when you add voice mail or any of the other standard
features that AltiServ provides. In order to be competitive today, and grow in the future,
companies need systems that provide the flexibility and power that the computer model
provides. The ability to add software and hardware components as business needs change is
a clear AltiGen advantage. For those cases where some locations must have multiple line
appearances, we have a partner relationship with d.b.a. Telecom who manufactures a
specific "off the shelf" telephone that supports line appearances and can
display who "is" and who "is not" on the telephone, directly from your telephone display.
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Q:
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What does "Internet-integrated" mean?
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A:
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Voice mail distribution is no longer confined within the company, so messages can be sent virtually free over the Internet to
any destination with an Internet address in the world. You can also access your phone
settings and other call management features via a Web-browser with AltiReach.
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Q:
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Do AltiGen products work with Microsoft Exchange?
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A:
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Yes. AltiServ with AltiWare OE and AltiWare IP works with the Microsoft Exchange client and server. You
can use AltiServ's SMTP/POP3/MAPI e-mail server on a standalone basis or configure it to
synchronize with an Exchange server to provide enhanced capabilities, such as have voice-
and e-mail automatically forwarded to alternate locations. AltiWare OE is MAPI compliant
to allow tight integration with Microsoft's Exchange Server and other major E-mail
servers. AltiGen also works with any other standards based SMTP/POP3 E-mail client that
supports MIME attachments and WAV files.
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Q:
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Does AltiGen provide the E-mail server?
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A:
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Yes. AltiGen provides a POP3 E-mail server as part of the system that must be used if the integrated voice mail/E-mail
feature is deployed. Microsoft Exchange Client includes an SMTP gateway, which allows it
to work with AltiGen's POP3 E-mail server. Any other SMTP/POP3 based E-mail client such as
Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, Eudora or Zmail will work with the POP3 E-mail
server included with the AltiGen system.
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Q:
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When will you support fax? Fax-on-demand?
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Fax server capabilities and fax-on-demand are not part of the basic functionality provided by AltiGen on the AltiServ.
However, there are many third party solutions that are designed to work with the Microsoft
Windows NT environment. These solutions can operate in the same Communications
server at the AltiGen solution. Your Authorized AltiGen Dealer would be happy to configure
the appropriate fax solution for you.
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Q:
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When will you support T-1/E-1, BRI and PRI?
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A:
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AltiGen is working closely with a manufacturer of MVIP compatible digital trunk boards for use in AltiServ systems. This
approach will be used to provide T1 connectivity. These boards will also be used to
deliver E1, BRI and PRI connectivity after the initial T1 boards are fully released in 1999.
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Q:
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Where do third party software applications come from?
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Applications are developed by AltiGen Dealers and third party ISVs (Independent Software Vendor) who are certified through the AltiPartner program.
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Q:
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Why did AltiGen choose to follow the Microsoft Telephony standard (TAPI)?
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A:
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AltiGen believes in following the "Best of Breed" products, and that is Microsoft
Windows NT. It is estimated that 80% of all businesses will be running their
computer servers on Microsoft Windows NT by the end of 1999. With this computing
power, AltiGen realized that there was an opportunity to offer businesses more value by
supporting the Microsoft standard. There are hundreds of thousands and possibly
millions of software developers in the United States and all over the world that can write
software applications to the TAPI standard. This worldwide support gives you the
customer more options when it comes to improving your AltiGen telephone system with third
party software enhancements. (AltiGen works very closely with Microsoft and wants you to
be aware that the current release of TAPI is 2.1, with version 3.0 coming soon. Be
aware of vendors touting TAPI compliance for version 1.4, which adds no value to your solution)
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Q:
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What are some third party applications that I can run now? Later? Will my application run on your platform if it conforms to TAPI or MAPI?
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AltiGen supports TAPI 2.1 and MAPI 1.0. AltiPartners who are currently doing applications include: Coresoft (desktop call
control), Tricarta (attendant console hardware) and CallManage (least cost routing carrier
selection). AltiGen is also working with other developers who chose not to be identified,
for competitive reasons, until they formally announce their new offerings. Since
AltiWare™ provides a TAPI service provider, third-party applications written to this
Microsoft specification can be integrated into the AltiServ™ environment and run in
the same Telecom Server.
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Q:
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What kind of database backup strategy do you have?
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A:
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The complete telephone system configuration can be backed up automatically every night to any drive on the network. The configuration can also be backed up to floppy diskettes or to a local hard drive.
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Q:
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How do I buy AltiGen products?
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A:
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AltiGen sells products through its Authorized Dealers. To locate your nearest Authorized Dealer, contact our sales department at 510-252-9712 x 1. For questions or general information, send e-mail to info@altigen.com.
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E-Mail us now!
