Marconi certifies Mediatrix VoIP SIP gateway

Move expands the companies OEM agreement; application intended for secure government communications over IP

Montreal, QC (PRWEB) June 20, 2003 - Mediatrix Telecom, Inc., a leader in Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) access technology, and Marconi (London: MONI), through its Broadband Routing and Switching group, announced today that Marconi has certified the Mediatrix 1204 VoIP gateway running the SIP protocol.

By expanding on the companies OEM agreement, Marconi will now source and integrate the Mediatrix 1204 gateway, as well as the complete line of Mediatrix access devices and management software, as part of its VoIP solution offerings.

One of the applications the SIP-based Mediatrix 1204 gateways are intended for is Marconis new ViPr Virtual Presence System. This is the first of a new class of virtual presence communications platforms that provides the best of Voice over IP (VoIP) functionality and never-before-seen visual conferencing capabilities. The ViPr Virtual Presence System consists of several end-user terminals (appliances), a ViPr SIP Platform that provides call control features to the ViPr Desktops, and a set of gateways that connects the products to existing PBX facilities and outside public switched telephone network (PSTN) services. It has been successfully introduced into the U.S. Federal government market.

Mediatrix leadership in SIP technology had a lot to do with Marconi selecting the Mediatrix 1204 gateway to add to ViPrs product offerings", stated Brian Rosen, Vice President, Technology Introduction, Marconis Broadband Routing and Switching group. The Mediatrix units allow Marconi to quickly bring to market innovative VoIP solutions that provide the many benefits of standards-based IP telephony with the ability to preserve investment in legacy equipment, and maintain connectivity to all PBXs and to the PSTN. Following ViPrs successful introduction into the U.S. government markets, the next step is to introduce it into state and local government markets, particularly for telejustice applications in remote arraignments and hearings."

The relationship we enjoy with a leading vendor such as Marconi has a lot to do with the investment Mediatrix has made in advancing VoIP technology, stated Marc Shapiro, VP Marketing, Mediatrix. Because we own our intellectual property such as the SIP stack, and because we continue to develop our comprehensive interoperability program, Mediatrix remains at the forefront of delivering cost-effective VoIP products and solutions that are immediately deployable by our customers across a variety of applications."

About Mediatrix Telecom, Inc.
Mediatrix develops and markets advanced VoIP access devices, gateways and value-added software enhancements for the enterprise, SOHO, and residential markets. Its products provide an ideal migration path for end users wishing to protect their current CPE investment (analog phones, fax machines, PBX and Key Systems) while migrating to a converged IP network solution. Mediatrix products and solutions are widely interoperable and have received commercial endorsement from some of the worlds leading manufacturers of telecommunications equipment. Headquartered in Sherbrooke, Canada, Mediatrix has corporate offices in Montreal, Canada and regional offices located in the United States, Europe and Asia. For more information please visit www.mediatrix.com.

About Marconi Corporation plc
Marconi Corporation plc is a global telecommunications equipment, services and solutions company. The company's core business is the provision of innovative and reliable optical networks, broadband routing and switching and broadband access technologies and services. The company's customer base includes many of the world's largest telecommunications operators.

The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol MONI. Additional information about Marconi Corporation can be found at www.marconi.com. Copyright (c) 2003 Marconi Corporation plc. All rights reserved. All brands or product names are trademarks of their respective holders.

This press release contains forward-looking statements with respect to products, partners, customers, future growth and other matters. Please refer to the Form 20-F report and Form 6-K reports filed by Marconi Corporation plc with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements.

Contacts:
Mediatrix Telecom
Dan Pirro
(514) 285-0058 ext. 12
dpirro@mediatrix.com

NATIONAL Public Relations
Richard Petersen
(514) 843-2314
rpetersen@mtl.national.ca

Marconi
Geof Becker
(724) 742-6377
geof.becker@marconi.com