NEC Corp’s agreement to co-develop interfaces between its PABXs and IBM Corp’s computers is being seen as a step away from the proprietary attitude it has always taken to its Computers & Communications philosophy: NEC’s Open Application Interface will be harmonised with IBM’s CallPath Services Architecture; the NEC architecture enables its APEX – NEAX outside Japan – PABXs to be programmed by the user, enabling development of user applications such as an order entry system, an inventory management system, an electronic telephone directory; the system was demonstrated at the Communication Tokyo 91 exhibition last week, the test system using a NEAX 2400, along with a Dterm NEC intelligent phone with function keys used for numeric retrieval of data, or through a card reader attached to the phone for a free location system that identifies the location of the person the user seeks.
