Enterprise Telephony News
Mitel and Inter-Tel Merge
Mitel Networks Corporation announces the acquisition of Inter-Tel Inc. for US$723 million, combining two market leaders in IP communications, each with well-respected product portfolios that target small to large businesses. Mitel’s international presence and Inter-Tel’s successful managed service offerings in North America also lend strength to the union. The transaction is expected to become final in the third quarter of 2007.
“The combination of Mitel and Inter-Tel has the potential to be a major force in the SMB market for IP Telephony. In 2006, Mitel ranked fourth with a 10.6% share of that market, and Inter-Tel ranked seventh with an 8.9% share. The combined share of 19.5% will rank the company first by a wide margin, ahead of Cisco (13.5%) and Nortel (13.1%),” according to Terry White, vice president of InfoTrack for Unified Communications (a TelecomWeb and TelecomTactics sister division, www.telecomweb.com).
Though there is some overlap in the product lines of the two companies, both offer solid and forward-looking communications solutions for small, mid-size and larger businesses. For a time, the combined company is likely to continue to sell and support both product lines, but like other telecommunications corporate mergers, eventually the products will evolve into new offerings that reflect the best of each manufacturer, while ensuring investment protection for existing customers.
Mitel offers a portfolio of unified communications products to improve communications and efficiency in any business environment. Among the offerings is the Mitel Customer Interaction Solutions portfolio for contact centers that utilizes SIP and Microsoft Office Live Communications Server for “presence-everywhere” so that contact center agents can set up collaborative conversations among subject experts and customers. Additional productivity tools include Mitel Mobile Extension (LCS integration), Mitel Quick Conference (LCS integration), Mitel NuPoint Messenger IP (LCS integration), and Mitel Your Assistant. Mitel’s broad portfolio of IP phones benefits all business types with single line IP phones (LCS presence with Active Directory), a full-featured IP Appliance, phones with built-in HTML, as well as dual-mode models that support both SIP and MiNET protocols.
Current telephony systems include Mitel’s SX-200 IP Communications Platform for small to medium-sized businesses with up to 600 users. And, for larger businesses, Mitel sells its flagship 3300 IP Communications Platform (5,000 users per controller or 65,000 per cluster)* worldwide, with a presence in over 90 countries and selling through a distribution network of over 1,200 channel partners. Recently Mitel announced the Mitel PARTNERprogram, a new channel program that offers rewards for revenue performance, sales and service certifications and varying levels of service that provide top tier partners with additional benefits, tools and Mitel support.
Inter-Tel also has a comprehensive portfolio of business telephony products, including communications solutions sold in North America, as well as international offers via its subsidiaries Inter-Tel Europe, Swan Solutions and Lake Communications. Swan Solutions of the UK sells Callview contact center software for small and mid-sized businesses that integrates with PBX and IP PBX systems from leading vendors in the European region and is sold by Inter-Tel in North America as the Contact Center Suite. Ireland-based Lake designs communications products for the “under 40 user” market, including the OfficeLink modular telephone system that Lake develops for Inter-Tel in the U.S. (EncoreCX) and for other customers in Europe, including BT, KPN, Telecom Italia and Commander Communications PTY in Australia.
Inter-Tel has recently upgraded its Inter-Tel 5000 Network Communications Solution, a modular system that incorporates a Linux operating system and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) gateways and scales to 75 IP endpoints (CS-5200) or 175 IP endpoints (CS-5400) or 250 IP endpoints (CS-5600). In the fall of 2006, Inter-Tel introduced the Inter-Tel 7000 IP-based system with server platforms that support from 100 to 2,500 stations. Inter-Tel customers can select from a wide array of forward-looking applications that include Inter-Tel’s Unified Communicator, Call Center Suite, Enterprise Messaging and Enterprise Conferencing/Instant Messaging and a variety of IP, digital and wireless telephones.
Below is a snapshot of currently available telephony platforms from Mitel and Inter-Tel. Visit www.telecomtactics.com for full details on each system.
Platform |
Introduction |
Application |
Maximum Stations |
Inter-Tel EncoreCX |
2003 |
Key |
40 |
Inter-Tel Axxess |
1993 |
PBX |
1,700 |
Inter-Tel CS-5000 |
2005/2006 |
IP-PBX |
350 |
Inter-Tel 7000 |
2006 |
SIP Softswitch |
2,500 (users) or 20,000 (devices) |
|
|
|
|
Mitel SX-200 ICP CX/CXi |
2004/2006 |
Converged IP-PBX |
150 |
Mitel SX-200 ICP MX |
2003 |
Converged IP-PBX |
672 |
Mitel 3300 ICP |
2001 |
Converged IP-PBX |
5,000 per controller (65,000 per cluster)* |
* Mitel’s 3300 ICP Release 8.0 will support 5,000 users per controller (June 2007) up from 1,400 users in earlier releases.
Samsung BCS Announces OfficeServ 7100 for SMBs
 Samsung Business Communication Systems (BCS) announces the OfficeServ 7100 IP platform, a new member of the OfficeServ communications system family to become available in early summer 2007. OfficeServ 7100 targets smaller businesses with the same feature package, IP technologies and telephone set options as its predecessors, OfficeServ 7400 (1,344 ports) introduced in 2006 and OfficeServ 7200 (192 ports) introduced in October 2005. For multi-site businesses, OfficeServ 7100 networks to other 7100 systems and other OfficeServ systems (via SPNET over IP or Qsig over PRI). And, customers who experience growth at a later date can affordably migrate from the OfficeServ 7100 to one of the larger systems since features and operation are the same.
Designed for small enterprises and home offices, the OfficeServ 7100 is a single, compact “office in a box” that is pre-configured for simple installation. Default programming sets up four CO lines and eight stations, expandable in four port increments up to a maximum of 24 trunks and 32 stations and four voicemail ports. The 4-port voicemail and auto attendant application is embedded on the Main Processor card, as well as eight Media Gateway Interface channels to support VoIP functions (IP telephones, IP networking and IP trunking - SIP or H.323). An additional 16 MGI channels can also be added.
Like the earlier OfficeServ systems, the 7100 supports all Samsung keysets, including earlier iDCS series equipment and the relatively new ITP-5100 series of VoIP keysets, OfficeServ Softphone and DS-5000 series digital phones, as well as the Samsung wireless Internet handset that operates over dual-band wireless Access Points (IEEE 802.11a and 801.11b/g WLAN technologies).
OfficeServ 7100 will be sold in prepackaged sets or in individual parts.
ShoreTel Rolls Out 7th Generation of its IP Telephony Platform
ShoreTel, Inc. announces ShoreTel 7, the seventh generation of the company’s IP PBX platform that scales to 10,000 users. The new version simplifies administration, adds employee productivity features and introduces new higher-density switches in smaller footprints. IT personnel can take advantage of an import utility for offline changes across all users, automatic deletion of voice messages per a specified time period, Web-based CDR reporting and more. For end users, ShoreTel’s Personal Call Manager now features Programmable Toolbars and integration with the Contact Center desktop. Over 50 buttons can be programmed for one-button access to web browsers, call history or other applicable functions per the employee’s specific role (secretary or sales executive for example). A call center agent client can be combined with ShoreTel’s Personal Call Manager desktop client for additional functionality such as log in/out, chat, silent monitor and barge-in.
Other new employee productivity features include an Auto Find Me feature that sends a call directly from voice mail to Find Me destinations without the need for the caller to enter digits. A new Escalation Notification feature automates call routing to ensure that calls are answered, providing “round-the-clock” service to customers; a system administrator configures rules that transfer or escalate a voice message to phones, pagers or e-mail devices until it is heard. End users will also benefit from custom ring tones, mailbox full notification and workgroup call handling based on wait time.
 ShoreTel 7 adds new hardware switches with increased capacity in smaller footprints, including four new Voice Switches: the pictured ShoreGear-220T1 (100 IP phones and one digital T1 interface), ShoreGear-220E1 (70 IP phones and one digital E1 interface), ShoreGear-50 (50 IP phones and 6 analog ports) and ShoreGear-90 (90 IP phones and 12 analog ports). The new ShoreGear voice switches interoperate with earlier ShoreGear switches which include the 24-port ShoreGear-120/24 (120 IP phones or 24 analog ports); the mid-range ShoreGear-60/12 (60 IP phones or 12 analog ports); the ShoreGear-40/8 (40 IP phones or eight analog ports); the 24-channel ShoreGear-T1 voice switch (T1, PRI signaling) and 30-channel ShoreGear-E1 voice switch (PRI signaling).
Customers can deploy ShoreGear switches in any combination to configure a system to fit their needs. Up to 200 voice switches can be connected anywhere on the IP network for a maximum of 10,000 ports.
ShoreTel 7 is now available as a free software upgrade for existing customers who have a maintenance contract. ShoreTel 7 is typically priced from $500 to $650 per user; language packs are $995. Specific pricing for new ShoreGear switches is as follows: ShoreGear 50 (US$2,695), ShoreGear 90 (US$4,195), ShoreGear 220T1 (US$7,995) and ShoreGear 220E1 (US$7,495).
Vertical Unveils Xcelerator IP
Vertical Communications announces the Xcelerator IP, an all-in-one VoIP and wireless solution for small businesses with up to 24 employees such as a Small Office Home Office (SOHO). The new solution integrates SIP-based IP telephony, a data router/firewall, a wireless access point, voicemail and an auto attendant into a single compact, cost effective system that is easy to install and manage. In addition,  customers can combine voice and data over SIP trunks provided by a certified Internet Telephony Service provider (ITSP). To date, Vertical has certified BlueMile, Quantumvoice and Simple Signal.
Xcelerator IP (pictured) supports up to 24 Vertical IP2007 SIP telephones, as well as computers, printers, card readers, fax machines and other business equipment. The IP2007 speakerphone (pictured) has four line keys and four soft keys, a 2-port Ethernet switch, support for Power over Ethernet and is configurable via soft keys, navigation buttons or a Web browser. Xcelerator IP also supports up to eight VoIP SIP trunk connections and three FXO PSTN trunks, as well as one FXS port, four 10/100 Ethernet LAN ports and an integrated 802.11g Wireless Access Point. SIP carrier services eliminate the need for media gateway devices.
Additional functionality includes a 4-port voicemail and auto attendant capability with four hours of storage and two customer-defined languages. Businesses with multiple locations can network up to 10 units, communicating with a common dial plan, while an integrated WiFi Access Point (802.11g) connects wireless  laptops, softphones and SIP handsets – a benefit to mobile employees. Xcelerator provides a number of security features, including WEP encryption, 802.1x and WPA/WAP2 authentication, password protection, built-in firewall and packet filtering.
Xcelerator IP and the Vertical IP2007 Telephone (sold separately) are available now in North America through Vertical Business Partners.
| Productivity Applications |
Avaya Addresses SMBs with Conferencing and Contact Center Solutions
Avaya Inc. announces two new solutions for midsize businesses that aim to improve interactions with customers and colleagues. Avaya Meeting Exchange Express is a new conferencing solution that supports up to 300 audio participants on a single server and integrates client applications from Microsoft, IBM and Adobe for ad-hoc conferencing without the need for specialized equipment. Notable functionality includes integration with IBM Lotus Sametime and Web Conferencing for click-to-call and on-screen functions, integration with Microsoft Outlook for conference scheduling, a built-in Web interface and conference moderator capabilities such as call recording, participant rosters, and question / answer sessions. Available globally in May 2007, Avaya Meeting Exchange supports numerous languages, including Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Russian.
Avaya also announces that Customer Interaction Express (CIE), a contact center software suite for mid-sized businesses, is now available in North America. CIE was first introduced earlier in 2007 in the EMEA region as an “all-in-one” contact center software suite for small and medium enterprises typically with 100-1,000 employees, including 20-150 contact center agents. The solution has a single user interface for agents, team leaders and supervisors and promises simple implementation, intelligent call routing and reporting and incoming/outgoing communications via multiple media (phone, e-mail, fax and SMS). Additional functionality includes outbound campaign management, customer self-service (via Interactive Voice Response, speech recognition and text-to-speech) and incremental licensing for adding agents and options.
CIE is available for Avaya Communication Manager systems and Integral 55 systems formerly from Germany-based Tenovis which was acquired by Avaya in 2004. Though Avaya is positioning CIE for the 20-150-agent range, CIE can scale to meet larger requirements. Avaya, however, offers and recommends other solutions for larger contact centers, including the Avaya Interaction Center, a large enterprise multimedia contact management product.
Genesys Announces Numerous Partnerships at G-Force
Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories, Inc., an Alcatel-Lucent company, announced a number of new initiatives at the recent G-Force event in San Diego in April 2007 that focused on improving the customer experience with Genesys' Dynamic Contact Center concept – a concept that addresses resource optimization for handling “peaks and valleys in customer traffic,” while considering available resources (human and automated) and business goals (sales targets and customer satisfaction ratings, for example). "The ability to orchestrate traffic, resources and outcomes enables companies to optimize cost, quality and revenue goals," says Rob Hilsen, Public Relations Manager at Genesys.
At G-Force, Genesys and RightNow Technologies announced a joint solution that combines the Genesys 7.5 customer interaction management suite with RightNow, a CRM solution that lets agents easily manage calls using the RightNow Service desktop and a click-to dial feature. The solution integrates two modes of self-service (web and voice) with a seamless transition to assisted service (voice, chat, e-mail) both proactively and by request via a single knowledge base and single routing engine, according to Genesys.
 To improve the overall customer experience across channels, Genesys and ClickFox are integrating the Genesys 7.5 customer interaction management suite with ClickFox’s Customer Behavior Intelligence (CBI) software. CBI software takes large interaction datasets, such as Web, IVR and agent transaction logs, and creates visual maps or paths (pictured) that lead to customer abandonment or customer frustration. These "path" details then feed ClickFox’s analytics, and the customer experience is tracked across channels. The information highlights opportunities for improvement. Genesys will resell the ClickFox product/services suite.
XO Interactive, a subsidiary of XO Communications, provides an on-demand, proactive communication solution designed for vertical markets such as financial, banking, healthcare, utilities and insurance industries. Viewed as an important opportunity to improve customer loyalty per a Genesys survey of 4,300 consumers, “proactive contact” uses outbound contacting to notify customers of order status or upcoming renewals or even thank them for their business via the telephone, Short Message Service, instant messaging, paging and other channels. In addition, XO Interactive also announced an on-demand, integrated Genesys-RightNow solution which combines both companies’ offerings as a hosted service.
For SAP customers that use SAP Customer Relationship Management and the SAP NetWeaver Business Intelligence component as their analytic tool, Genesys announces the Genesys Gplus Adapter to provide real-time analytics from the contact center to the SAP analytic package for a real-time view of contact center statistics. A customer will use both the Gplus adapter for SAP CRM and the adapter for SAP analytics. Genesys and SAP have a long-time relationship, and Genesys is one of the first to achieve all three levels of SAP certification.
Polycom Unveils RMX 2000 Version 2.0
 Polycom, Inc. announces Version 2.0 software of its RMX 2000 real-time media conferencing platform, a new high performance, “future-focused” video conferencing system introduced just a few months ago. RMX 2000 provides an on-demand platform that does not require users to pre-schedule conferencing resources, but instead enables ad-hoc multi-point video conferencing in conference rooms and on desktops and mobile devices. Polycom sees a transformation in the way businesses use video conferencing, noting a trend away from scheduled video conferences (that require technical personnel for assistance) toward unattended, on-the-fly conferencing, combining both audio and video participants. RMX 2000 is ideal for customers utilizing IP communications and is suitable for small, medium and large conferencing networks, supporting 20 to 80 simultaneous multipoint conferences per system.
The new Version 2.0 software, an engineering breakthrough which allowed Polycom to introduce new functionality sooner than expected, provides the flexibility to handle Common Intermediate Format (CIF), Standard Definition (SD) and High Definition (HD) resolutions in a single video conference, addressing the needs of today’s customers who have a mixture of endpoints participating in a conference. Polycom’s approach helps businesses by bridging the future-focused HD with today’s non-HD environment so customers can take advantage of the latest in HD while still conducting conferences with non-HD users.
Version 2.0 also addresses the international market with support for 12 languages in all - English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Russian, German, Korean, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese and Norwegian. And, a new T1/E1 card adds support for PSTN Networks and scales for up to 400 ports of PSTN audio (or simultaneous conferences). (Support for 80 “IP” video ports was available with the first release.)
Available in early third quarter 2007, Version 2.0 is free for existing RMX 2000 customers who have a standard maintenance agreement. A new system starts at US$53,000 or $2,650 per port for a 20-port configuration.
In other news, Polycom has launched new Polycom Global Services programs - a new HD Readiness program assists customers in moving from ISDN or IP conferencing to high definition video conferencing, and the Single Path IP Network Assessment service is available to test and troubleshoot VoIP performance. On Demand Conferencing Services are also now offered to help customers migrate successfully from IT-scheduled conferencing to end-user-initiated conferencing that does not require reservations.
Tadiran Telecom Launches Coral Navigator
 Tadiran Telecom announces the Coral Navigator, a desktop productivity tool for PC-based call management. Designed to work with the Tadiran Coral IPx system, Coral Navigator provides users with presence information so they can see the status of other users on the system, as well as set up buddy lists and personal profiles. A visual interface makes it easy to manage voice conferences and video calls (two users with Webcams) and use instant messaging.
Notable features include contact management (system directory and personal telephone lists), instant messaging to communicate internally with others on the system, Meet-Me conference set up and management, Call Log, Call Record, Personal Call Rules and Personal Profiles to route calls based on “in a meeting” or “on vacation.” Navigator users can view screen pops before answering a call and can redirect, place the call on hold or choose not to answer. Users can also program buttons on their desk telephone (any Tadiran digital or IP phone) and use the Dialer to pre-program the dialing of phone calls.
Coral Navigator licenses are priced according to the number of users and have a server and user component.
Toshiba Releases Video Communications Solution 2.0
 Toshiba America Information Systems Inc., Digital Solutions Division (TAIS DSD) announces enhancements to its Video Communications Solution (VCS), an affordable video solution for the company’s Strata CIX IP telephony systems. Toshiba’s VCS enables “virtual in-person meetings” for collaboration and interaction among remote employees in today’s growing and distributed business environments. Version 2.0 increases the video conferencing capacity to three participants who can share desktop applications or documents, transfer files and utilize a message board for text messaging during a conference. A future Version 3.0 will support 8-party video conferencing.
VCS fully integrates with Toshiba’s Strata CIX systems (and earlier Toshiba Strata CTX TDM systems that are upgraded for IP telephony) and is pre-installed on the Media Application Server (MAS), an optional server running multiple such as auto attendant, voice mail, automated speech recognition, text-to-speech, unified messaging, IVR, ACD, Web-browser administration, FeatureFlex and third-party applications.
In addition to the Strata MAS with VCS software, users will need VCS client software on their PC and a USB camera (third party), and the user can choose from several telephone options - a Toshiba digital telephone, IP wired or wireless telephone or Toshiba SoftIPT softphone with recommended USB handset or headset. The third-party USB camera is needed for video, but not needed if the customer wants to use collaboration only.
Aspect Software Offers Broad Language Support for Perform Module
 Aspect Software, Inc. announces that its Aspect eWorkforce Management 7.0.1 – “Perform” module is now offered in French, German, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese, making this solution available in the European, Latin American and Asia-Pacific regions. Prior this release, the user interface, help and documentation was in English only.
The “Perform” module, one of six fully integrated Enhancement Packages available for the Aspect eWorkforce Management application, tracks agent performance, both historically and in real-time. “Perform” provides managers with real-time schedule adherence alerts and historical schedule adherence reports that can be used to ensure that agents are performing optimally.
Aspect’s eWorkforce Management and the six add-on packages are compatible with the Aspect Call Center ACD system and with most other ACD systems on the market. The application can also be integrated with Aspect’s Unified IP advanced contact center operating environment that combines communication routing, data integration, advanced speech, reporting, and analytics applications, in addition to workforce management, into one tightly integrated open standards-based software format. Unified IP gives businesses a single view of their contact center operations and a single point of control.
Cisco Establishes Sales Operations Center in Portugal
Cisco is establishing the “Hercules center” in Lisbon, Portugal, creating a sales center for Cisco in the European market. In addition to supporting customer service throughout Europe, the new center is considered a “significant win” for the Portuguese economy since it creates new jobs (50 employees initially and 80 by mid-2008), as well as demonstrates to other companies that Portugal is well-qualified to support global operations. The center’s employees will be highly trained, speak multiple languages and will embrace diversity by hiring employees of differing gender, age, disability and experience.
The Hercules centre is a cooperative effort among Cisco, the Portuguese government and the API (Portuguese Investment Agency).
Nortel and Microsoft Open European Collaboration Center
Nortel and Microsoft have opened the European Collaboration Center in Maidenhead, United Kingdom, one of two new centers established under the Innovative Communications Alliance (ICA), a four-year strategic alliance between Nortel and Microsoft aimed at transforming business communications (voice, video and data) into a single Unified Communications platform. The new facility enables “hands-on design and proof-of-concept workshops to help customers evaluate technology and understand how it can meet business needs,” according to Nortel. Customers can “trial” technology before purchasing to experience how the technology would operate and improve business in their own environment. On-site experts from Nortel and Microsoft provide consulting, network assessments and readiness, network and security configuration and assistance with implementation.
The Nortel and Microsoft strategy signifies a commitment to customer needs and helps to accelerate the convergence of IT and voice communications.
A second Collaboration Centre opened in April in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina with additional centers to follow in 2007.
snom Partners with ADDIX, BorderWare and Patton
 snom technology AG announces a number of strategic partnerships that extend interoperability and improve security. Most recently, snom and German IP PBX manufacturer ADDIX announce the certification of snom SIP telephones on Astimax, an Asterisk-based PBX widely sold in Germany that can scale to 3,000 users. In addition, snom announces interoperability with the SIPxNANO IP-PBX (pictured) from Patton Electronics Company, an “ultra-miniature appliance for offices with up to 30 extensions” which is available worldwide. Together, the Patton IP-PBX, SmartNode VoIP gateways and snom SIP phones provide a complete telephony system for SMBs.
 The snom SIP phone family includes four models: the snom 300, a basic model for small offices, call centers, lobbies, recreation areas or the home, the snom 320 full duplex speakerphone designed for general office workers, the more advanced snom 360 with built-in mini browser for Web-based applications, and the newest snom 370 (pictured) with large graphical high-definition display and extended memory. Compliance with security standards, SRTP and SIPS, reduces unsolicited eavesdropping, data theft and spam calls, providing a secure telephone for sensitive environments such as banks, medical or military offices.
Recently, snom also announced additional security support via BorderWare’s SIPassure VoIP Gateway which secures SIP based communication applications (VoIP, instant messaging, presence, and collaboration, for example) and ensures that SIP applications are protected from abuse and service disruption, spam and other attacks. While snom phones already comply with TLS and SRTP security standards, the associated PBX system often does not support these standards. By integrating BorderWare’s SIPassure firewall into snom’s phones, users gain SRTP and TLS security level equivalents - all SIP traffic is encrypted between the BorderWare SIPassure and snom’s phones. In addition, the SIPassure VoIP gateway adds a Session Border Controller, a SPIT filter and a Denial of Service (DoS) attack filter.
Founded in 1996, German telephony provider snom technology AG manufacturers SIP-based VoIP telephones for small and medium-sized enterprises, home offices, and for Internet Service Providers, carriers, and OEM customers. Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) ensures interoperability with other manufacturer's SIP-based solutions, including open source based IP PBX systems. While snom continues to build market presence worldwide, the company is also expanding its presence in the North American marketplace recently opening a new office in North Andover, Massachusetts and announcing numerous partnerships with telecom manufacturers, suppliers and service providers in North America.
Tadiran Expands Business to the UK
Tadiran Telecom expands business into the United Kingdom, opening a new Tadiran UK office in collaboration with Ireland-based business partner Diacom. Diacom is a top reseller in Ireland and has many accounts with locations in the UK, according to Tadiran. Tadiran’s strategy is to establish a presence in all countries where telecom is a key market, noting that there are significant opportunities in IP migration and contact center in the UK. While Tadiran Coral systems have long been sold worldwide via resellers, the new UK office formalizes the company’s presence in the UK.
Tadiran UK has already signed with several distributors in the UK with an additional 30 to 50 distributors expected by the end of 2007. Tadiran Telecom sells and supports the Coral IPx platforms which include Coral IPx Office (150 IP endpoints), the Coral IPx 500 (up to 448 endpoints), the mid-size IPx 800 (720 endpoints), the fully scalable IPx 3000 (3,000+ endpoints) and the IPx 4000 (4,000+ endpoints) for large enterprises with critical, high-traffic operations. Tadiran also sells the Emerald ICE (Integrated Communications Exchange) digital Key system designed for small offices with 10 to 64 users (46 multi-line, 18 single line). The company offers a range of employee productivity applications for Coral IPx, including the Conference Bridge Manager, Flex Attendant PC, FlexiCall /Freedom - cell phone integration, Composit Contact Center and the Tadiran uCMC (unified Coral Message Center) and Windows integrated Coral Message Center (WiCMC) cards. The new Coral Navigator desktop productivity tool (see related article) is also available now in all regions.
Tadiran Telecom has over 100,000 customers worldwide and recently signed a series of substantial agreements, including a $1.9 million contract by the Department of Veterans Affairs that has installed and linked Coral IP PBX systems throughout its offices nationwide.
For questions, feedback and product information,
contact sgustavsen@accessintel.com. |
Four server platforms are now available: the compact ESI-100 Communications Server (up to 84 digital or IP stations), the ESI-200 which targets small or mid-sized business (190 digital or IP stations), the ESI-600 (pictured) introduced in 2006 for larger offices or multi-site customers (408 digital or IP stations) and ESI’s largest platform to date, the ESI-1000 with data redundancy to satisfy larger enterprise needs (816 digital or IP stations and currently in beta testing). All ESI Communications Servers include built-in voice mail, auto attendant and ACD with options for advanced applications such as unified messaging and VoIP (requires port card and licenses). A Mirrored Memory Module is an option for ESI-200 (24-port/600-hour voice mail) and ESI-600, but comes standard with the ESI-1000 server. (The ESI-200 with 16-port/140-hour voice mail uses solid state memory (Compact Flash) and does not need the mirrored drive.)
ESI also announces additional flexibility for its Visually Integrated Phone (VIP) software suite, adding customer-recommended enhancements such as an improved GUI and simplified installation. VIP combines ESI phone system functionality and Microsoft Outlook for call control, voice mail and contact management via a PC. Two versions are available: basic VIP and VIP Professional for managing telephone calls and voice mail, organizing contacts, call logging, telephone set programming (ESI Feature Phone). The VIP Professional version adds secure instant messaging, call recording and compatibility with other ESI solutions such as VIP PC Attendant Console, VIP ACD and VIP Softphone. 
