Ottawa-based Pronexus Inc. has signed a distribution agreement with a leading computer telephony integration product distributor in Japan.

Pronexus, which makes telephony software and development tools, will be distributing, marketing, servicing and supporting its VBVoice product through Japan's Communication Business Avenue Inc.

"By combining CBA's channel presence and Pronexus's telephony expertise and pedigree in the interactive voice response (IVR) business, we can empower a broad developer audience in Japan to take advantage of the opportunities for telephony and speech," said Pronexus's vice-president of sales and customer care Alan Atkinson in a statement.

Pronexus's VBVoice product allows clients to create flexible speech-enabled IVR applications and hardware-free voice-over-Internet-protocol (VoIP) solutions, such as emergency response systems, bill payment solutions and call centre applications.

CBA will be offering both the English version of VBVoice as well as a localized Japanese version.

The move is part of Pronexus's plan to expand abroad. The company said it was "actively pursuing" other channel partner relationships around the globe.