One of Japan's Biggest, High-End Retailers Rolls Out LiteScape Interactive VoIP Applications

Together With Cisco Japan, LiteScape's ServicePoint for Retail Applications Are Driving Increased Sales at Mitsukoshi

LiteScape Technologies, Inc. (www.litescape.com) today announced that LiteScape, Cisco Systems and Mitsukoshi have introduced a pilot consumer focused retail solution for the large Japanese retailer's commercial stores. The solution, implemented during a period between January 31 - February 13 as a trial project of the RFID-based future stores, creates "intelligent fitting rooms" which offer a significant reduction in the time and labor needed to search stock and product information, greatly enhancing both employee productivity and customer satisfaction.

Available today, this Cisco "store of the future" vision combines LiteScape's RFID/XML-based applications with Cisco CallManager and IP-based devices to offer shoppers self-service, IP communications throughout the stores and directly from their fitting rooms. Busy shoppers can have merchandise delivered directly to their fitting room without needing to exit the room, walk out into the store, and search the shelves. Utilizing LiteScape's applications, Mitsukoshi has automated and streamlined a number of customer and employee tasks including product browsing, product lookup by SKU, inventory checks in the store, and the ability for customers to contact live agents to place orders.

At the Ginza store, where this trial system was introduced in combination with other solutions related to the RFID-based Future Stores system, sales increased 15.8% over the same month in the previous year. "We were able to increase customer service by lowering the wait time. Customers can access real-time information themselves and talk to a sales person quickly and when desired," said a spokesperson for Mitsukoshi. "These applications help differentiate our service from the competition and in return build customer loyalty."

The IP devices are easily installed in a limited space without imposing on the customer experience, and serve as an information terminal which directly integrates with the company's existing enterprise-wide customer and inventory database. This allows for access to and management of customer information -- such as account information, purchase history, product and size inventory status -- in a secure, authenticated manner.

"The Intelligent Retail Network helps streamline business operations, improve supply-chain visibility, accelerate decision-making, and enhance the customer experience," said Hideaki Okuma of Cisco Japan. "The combination of Cisco's unified communications for retail solution with LiteScape applications are a natural fit for the retail industry where technology has the potential to greatly enhance a store's consumer-facing image and drive revenue."

"LiteScape is pleased to work with Cisco to create their store of the future vision and witness its successful roll out to the largest retailer in such a significant market such as Japan," said Rod Hamlin, executive vice president of sales and marketing at LiteScape. "The tangible results in terms of ROI and, more importantly, customer satisfaction, speak for themselves. We've only scratched the surface on the impact VoIP applications can have in a retail environment, and are excited about the future adoption of our point of self-service applications in the U.S. and worldwide."

LiteScape's solutions currently help thousands of users leverage their IP-network, playing a critical role in reducing costs and driving new revenue, while increasing organizational efficiencies. LiteScape partners with Cisco to make these retail applications available worldwide.

About LiteScape Technologies

LiteScape enhances the value of IP-based networks through secure, personalized collaboration and communication. By communications-enabling telephones with interactive voice, text and image capabilities, LiteScape solutions improve business processes, employee productivity and the customer experience. The company's products provide VoIP Collaboration solutions for personalization (converged CRM) and security (identity management). LiteScape markets its products globally through value-added resellers and strategic partners including Bell Canada, Cisco, and Avaya. Headquartered in Redwood Shores, California, LiteScape is privately held and funded by top tier investors. For additional information, please visit www.litescape.com or email info@litescape.com