|
Paris, May 20, 2008 — Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE:
ALU) today announced the release of its Office Communication Solutions
2008, it’s core SMB solution portfolio giving businesses the IP
infrastructure, communication, mobility, collaboration and knowledge sharing
features needed to succeed in today’s rapidly changing business climate. Office
Communication Solutions 2008 is complemented by open source for individual
business needs, designed from the ground-up for the SMB market, and supported
by a dedicated SMB channel program.
“Like many growing companies, we’re under pressure to maximize the use of
our internal resources in order to win new business; we also need to maintain a
high standard of support for existing customers. While we’ve always recognized
the value of CRM and resource-sharing tools, we were previously deterred by
substantial license fees,” said Steve Mills, managing director at A-1 Lofts,
specialists in converting roof spaces into living accommodation in the greater
London (UK) area. “Engaging with Alcatel-Lucent business partner  The Comms Company has proved a far better
investment. The company examined our daily business processes and identified
Alcatel-Lucent’s open source approach as the most successful and cost-effective
way to improve each process.”
Office Communication Solutions 2008 is predefined to provide a secure,
integrated, future-proof voice and data infrastructure, with open source
functionality to incorporate business critical applications. This reduces costs
and ensures continuity in a company’s communications network. Modular,
cost-effective mobile solutions are included, providing single number service
and push applications to strengthen customer relationships and improve employee
productivity by facilitating efficient access to information.
The Alcatel-Lucent Open Source initiative goes beyond lowering investment
costs, to boost revenues through retained consultancy while fostering closer
long-term relationships with customers. “With Alcatel-Lucent Office
Communication Solutions, business partners have direct access to a complete
voice, data and applications portfolio with a unique one-stop-shopping
experience, minimizing the investment and training needed to distribute the
complete offer. Customers see us less as suppliers of ‘phones on desks’ and
more as trusted business partners in the converged space,” said Jeremy Ryan,
Director at The Comms Company.
Office Communication Solutions 2008 supports the four key aspects of dynamic
communications:
-
NETWORK – IP is essential to both improve network performance and
implement cutting-edge applications, and Alcatel-Lucent helps its customers
make that transformation.
-
PEOPLE – Personalized tools and mobility within a secure environment
let employees, customers and vendors share information more quickly and
effectively, resulting in bottom-line business benefits.
- Alcatel-Lucent’s Extended Communication Server (4.1) includes new push mail
to synchronize smartphone mail, contact, task and calendar content
over-the-air, and offers embedded faxing.
- One number services, available at two levels: with any device, and with 2
clients for Smartphones (Alcatel-Lucent Cellular Extension for Windows Mobile
and Intellisync Call Connect for Nokia eSeries)
- Web audio conferencing with OmniTouch My Teamwork Office Edition (5.0) is
bundled through SIP-enabled OmniPCX Office for SMBs.
-
PROCESS – Open source development, exemplified by a relationship
with leading open source solution provider
Red Hat, lets Alcatel-Lucent integrate real time voice into basic business
processes.
- Innovative eCommerce, or Customer Relationship Management (CRM) based upon
SugarCRM Inc. open source packages, deliver direct business benefits to SMBs
such as A1
Lofts.
- The integration of an XML applications framework within the Extended
Communication Server (ECS) provides real-time communication within business
processes of the SMB.
-
KNOWLEDGE – Facilitated by mobility, unified communications and
enterprise 2.0 applications, knowledge sharing epitomizes dynamic
communications. Open source packages (based upon Drupal*) deliver Web2.0
interactive collaboration platform for integration in the SMB.
“Alcatel-Lucent’s commitment to open standards gives our small and medium
customers real flexibility in terms of which operating system, carrier and
applications they utilize as they move to the dynamic communications model that
we believe is key to their success. A dynamic communication framework enables
SMBs to strengthen their communication relationships, improve collaboration in
a mobile environment and increase performance according to their individual
business requirements,” commented Tom Burns, Chief Operating Officer of
Alcatel‑Lucent’s Enterprise activities. “Alcatel-Lucent supports IP
transformation with the best communication and collaboration solutions on the
market.”
The Alcatel-Lucent Office Communication Solutions for SMBs has been adopted
by more than 12 million employees of 500,000 companies across 130 countries,
supported by more than 1,500 certified channel partners.
For more detailed information about the Office Communication Solutions
2008, visit www.alcatel-lucent.com/smb or
download the
new brochure.
An online video overview of the Alcatel-Lucent dynamic enterprise
vision is available at www.the-dynamic-enterprise.com
*Drupal is a registered trademark of Dries Buytaert
|
