* NEC demos at VoiceCon equipment and software for its role-based unified communications platform
NEC Unified Solutions (NEC) unveiled a portfolio of IP-based equipment and software last week that is based on its Univerge360 strategy the company announced last month. The Univerge360 approaches communications from a people perspective, based not only on the nature of their organization’s business but on the individual roles people have within the organization.
Historically, legacy communications systems suppliers looked at the organizational line size requirements in their design and built PBX systems accordingly. As organizations started to adopt applications enabled by an IP based communications system, suppliers began to realize they could start to build systems based on vertical market applications so, for example an IP PBX had built-in applications that were different for a school system vs. a transportation company.
What we find refreshing in the approach is that with emerging unified communications solutions, we see NEC and others start to move beyond a vertical approach toward a role-based requirements design so, for example a teacher in a school gets a different terminal and software than the school’s attendance officer. The NEC strategy takes role-based requirements into account from design through implementation.
NEC’s portfolio is, according to the company’s statement, built on enhanced software for NEC’s Univerge SV7000 IP communications server and a new SV8500 enterprise server. With the software enhancements, NEC’s unified communications clients will receive advanced softphone features along with support for SIP-enabled devices, LDAP-compliant databases, Java and XML, Power over Ethernet, and 802.11 a/b/g wireless LAN.
The NEC Univerge UM8500 unified messaging system is compatible with the UC700 desktop client and MC530 mobile client, and it includes VideoMail, Find Me/Follow Me, and desktop call control. Microsoft Exchange Server integration enables the system to read aloud a schedule of activities for any given day, up to one year in advance. The UM8500 is designed for large enterprises.
The company also announced it will offer new modular IP and digital terminals, the Univerge DT700/DT300 targeted at both small and large enterprise systems.
These new products are showcased at this week’s VoiceCon Orlando in NEC’s booth, and the Univerge SV8100/SV8300 and terminals will be commercially available at the end of April.
Next time: VoiceCon highlights.
