CounterPath Enhances Bria Mobile Applications with SMS, Instant Messaging and Presence

Premium Feature add-on for Bria iPhone and Android softphones to include support for
real-time presence management and enable users to send messages across
supported IM services - corporate, Google Talk, Facebook and more

VANCOUVER, Aug. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - For many business users and consumers, having access to instant messaging (IM) is as important as access to voice services or email. As communications increasingly become mobile, the expectation that users be able to engage in IM on mobile devices is increasing. According to Portio Research, there were 311.2 million users of mobile instant messaging in 2010, and this number is expected to reach 1.6 trillion by 2015.

To meet this growing demand for mobile instant messaging, CounterPath Corporation (OTCBB: CPAH) (TSX-V: CCV) has now added support for the two most popular instant messaging and presence protocols: XMPP (Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol) and SIP SIMPLE (Session Initiation Protocol [SIP] for IM and Presence Leveraging Extensions) enabling IM and presence to be purchased as a premium feature add-on within its Bria iPhone Edition mobile softphone application today, with support for Bria Android Edition coming soon.

By purchasing the presence and messaging add-on, Bria mobile app users will be able to see when their contacts are available and send and receive text-based IM with their contacts across any XMPP or SIP SIMPLE supported messaging service including Google Talk, Facebook, and others directly from their mobile smartphones.

Instant messaging enables real-time communication with little to no cost and by taking it mobile and leveraging free Wi-Fi, users are able to chat with colleagues and friends without incurring traditional fees for SMS texting from their wireless provider. Enterprises that have deployed Bria softphones connected to a corporate Instant Messaging and Presence server can now enable their employees to communicate with colleagues over IM whether they are in the office, at home or on the go, making work-related messaging real-time and efficient.

"With the addition of SMS, IM and presence capability, CounterPath's Bria mobile products are solving the industry-wide problem of service and device fragmentation by consolidating voice and messaging within a single app," said Todd Carothers, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Products, CounterPath. "Using IM to chat has become commonplace and being able to do so with anyone you normally chat with over Google Talk, Facebook or many other platforms just makes sense. What's more, all your contacts will be in one place so reaching any one of your friends, family members or colleagues via IM or SMS couldn't be more simple - just access your Bria mobile app."

Because XMPP is an open standard communications protocol, the updated Bria mobile application allows users to communicate with various IM clients and across multiple platforms. By using a federation approach, a user's reach across their various networks is broadened and offers them the ability to send and receive text messages to and from any contact.

Also supported in this release is SMS messaging. This is coupled with CounterPath's Network Convergence Gateway (NCG) for wireline operators, enabling VoIP-based SMS services. Now service providers may provide "on-net" SMS messaging nearly free of cost, translating to greater savings for their customers while increasing operator margins.

Users who have already purchased Bria iPhone Edition can enjoy IM and presence functionality immediately by updating their Bria mobile softphone application via Apple iTunes and purchasing the Presence and Messaging add-on for $2.99 directly within the app (under 'Premium Features'). The presence and messaging upgrade for Bria Android Edition will soon be available from the Android Marketplace.

For more information, please visit http://www.counterpath.com/bria-iphone-edition or contact CounterPath at [email protected].

About CounterPath
CounterPath Corporation is an award-winning provider of innovative desktop and mobile VoIP software products and solutions. The Company's product suite includes SIP-based softphones, server applications and Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) solutions that enable service providers, enterprises and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) to cost-effectively integrate voice, video, presence and Instant Messaging (IM) applications into their VoIP offerings and extend functionality across both fixed and mobile networks.

CounterPath's customers include some of the world's largest telecommunications service providers and network equipment providers including AT&T, Verizon, BT (British Telecommunications PLC), mobilkom Austria, Avaya, BroadSoft, Cisco Systems, Metaswitch Networks and Mitel.

For more information please visit www.counterpath.com.

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SOURCE CounterPath Corporation