* Polycom's telepresence solutions and desktop video collaboration applications will be integrated with SEN's OpenScape UC platform
This time we’ll hit the highlights of several recent announcements coinciding with last week’s IT Expo, including news from Siemens Enterprise Communications Group and Polycom, Verizon Business, Digium, Aastra, DASH Carrier Services and XCast Labs.
This time we’ll hit the highlights of several recent announcements coinciding with last week’s IT Expo, including news from Siemens Enterprise Communications Group and Polycom, Verizon Business, Digium, Aastra, DASH Carrier Services and XCast Labs.
SEN Group and Polycom have announced a strategic alliance and global resale agreement that includes integration of Polycom’s telepresence solutions and desktop video collaboration applications with SEN’s OpenScape Unified Communications (UC) platform. Polycom RMX series conference bridges and HDX video endpoints integrate with the OpenScape UC Server using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and service-oriented architecture industry standards. SEN Group will also support the Polycom video solutions with OpenScale, its professional and managed services portfolio.
Verizon Business announced it working with “key strategic business partners” to expand its suite of UC&C Consulting Services. According to Verizon’s statement, the service consultants will learn about a company’s business objectives, assess its current technology, and “uncover opportunities for business-process improvement.”
Asterisk released a new version of Switchvox designed for small to midsize businesses (SMB) with its Switchvox SMB 4.5. Based on Digium’s Asterisk, the SMB version integrates a Web interface with UC features such as fax, chat and video calling — along with extending interoperability to Polycom phone handsets so features that were previously only available through the Web interface can now use phone handset displays.
Aastra launched the “MX-ONE Compact” targeted to the SMB market with up to 300 extensions. In a statement, Tim Whittington Sr., vce president and general manager, Aastra USA said: “What we have done is concentrate the features and benefits of the . . . MX-ONE call control manager to address the specific requirements of SMBs. Now, small and medium businesses can receive the benefits of a full-featured and scalable enterprise grade solution.
Dash Carrier Services (DASH) reported higher than expected year-end revenue for 2009, with 40% growth in 2009. DASH also announced that operations related to its acquisition of VIXXI Solutions are ahead of schedule.
XCast Labs also saw 2009 growth — achieving more than 48% revenue growth for the year, and surpassing the 100,000-user mark. XCast Labs CEO, Cliff Rees, expects the user numbers to grow dramatically in 2010 as the company “adds more IP-PBX, SIP Trunk, residential and reseller customers.”
