Apropos Technology and Open Solutions' Maxxar Business Unit Form Strategic Relationship

Partnership Provides Member-Focused, Multi-Channel Computer Telephony Solution for Financial Services Organizations 


OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill., Aug. 17  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Apropos(TM) Technology (NASDAQ:APRS) announced today that Maxxar, a strategic business unit of Open Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ:OPEN) and a provider of Interactive Voice Response (IVR) solutions, has joined the Apropos Technology Alliance Partner program. The relationship combines Maxxar's expertise in speech-enabled interactive information solutions with Apropos' multi-channel communications management solutions.

Maxxar's Total Natural Transaction(TM) (TNT) system provides the most comprehensive set of interactive self-service delivery features used by financial services organizations, including Natural Language Speech Recognition, Speech-Enabled Lending, Text-to-Speech and Touchtone Interactive Voice Response. Now seamlessly integrated with Apropos' Multi-Channel Interaction Management Suite, this combined offering delivers a richer experience to customers transitioning from automated to agent-assisted interactions. Additionally, Apropos' multi-channel support expands Maxxar's ability to deliver online communications support to its banking and credit union customers.

"While Maxxar's TNT solution automatically handles hundreds of thousands of transactions per month, our financial services clients report that a significant percentage of their customers/members still require additional assistance through customer services," said Maxxar Senior Vice President Bob Chencinski. "We want to ensure that these interactions are routed and concluded both promptly and efficiently. Through numerous deployments at institutional banks and credit unions, Apropos has demonstrated its expertise in optimally managing live interactions. Through the software's support of e-mail and Web chat, our financial services clients can also consolidate all remote channels, providing their customers/members with additional communications options while gaining unique insights into their interaction patterns and preferences."

As Maxxar maintains relationships with leading core data processors in the financial services field, this partnership also expands Apropos' integration with these providers.

"The relationship with Maxxar via this technology alliance agreement is a natural fit," said Apropos Technology President and CEO Ken Barwick. "In addition to delivering online communications capabilities to Maxxar's extensive client base, this agreement strengthens Apropos' ties with the principal core processors, further enhancing our value proposition with a completeness that is unrivaled in the financial services space."

Later this month, Maxxar and Apropos will both participate in Harland Financial Solutions' 2005 Connections user conference, August 24-27 in San Diego, CA. At the conference, both organizations will be promoting this partnership and the value it delivers to credit unions, institutional banks and other financial services organizations.

About Apropos Technology

Apropos Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:APRS) develops communications management solutions for contact center operations. Apropos solutions are largely used when differentiated levels of service and support are required to effectively service the customer base. Organizations rely on Apropos' solutions to prioritize and intelligently route customers to the right service agent and measure contact center performance as well as enhance business continuity across the enterprise. Apropos solutions integrate with existing CRM systems to manage and archive voice, e-mail, Web chat, VoIP or fax interactions. Founded in 1989, the company serves over 300 clients worldwide from its corporate headquarters in Oakbrook Terrace, IL, and from its European headquarters in the United Kingdom. Additional information about Apropos and its solutions can be found at http://www.apropos.com/ .

About Maxxar

Maxxar, a strategic business unit of Open Solutions Inc., is a Microsoft Certified Partner and an ISO 9001 certified company specializing in interactive information solutions in addition to the development and distribution of Computer Telephony Integration products. Interactive information services solutions include Contact Center management products and Interactive Voice Response systems.

Maxxar solutions are utilized in the financial industry to enhance productivity, strengthen customer services and reduce overall operational costs. Maxxar has installed more than 2,000 computer telephony and electronic commerce systems worldwide. For more information about Maxxar or any of its products and services, please visit http://www.maxxar.com/ .

About Open Solutions Inc.

Open Solutions Inc. offers a fully featured strategic product platform that integrates data processing applications, built on a single centralized Oracle(R) relational database, with Internet banking, cash management, CRM/business intelligence, financial accounting tools, imaging, Check 21, electronic image/item processing, interactive voice response, payment and loan origination solutions. Open Solutions' full suite of products and services allows banks, thrifts and credit unions in the United States and Canada to better compete in today's aggressive financial services marketplace, and expand and tap their trusted financial relationships, client affinity, community presence and personalized service.

For more information about Open Solutions, or its financial product line, contact Mickey Goldwasser by email at , by phone at 860.652.3153 or via fax at 860.652.3156. Visit Open Solutions' Web site at http://www.opensolutions.com/ . 

DATASOURCE: Apropos Technology, Inc.



CONTACT:  Brian Schwartz of Apropos Technology, [phone],

, or Dave Reiners of Tech Image Ltd.,

[phone], ext. 233,  



Web site:  http://www.apropos.com/

http://www.opensolutions.com/

http://www.maxxar.com/ 

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