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Siemens Enterprise Communications Delivers UC to SMBs via Simple Software Upgrade

Posted on: Monday, 13 July 2009, 08:00 CDT

BOCA RATON, Fla., July 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Siemens Enterprise Communications Group, a premier provider of business communications solutions, announced today that OpenScape Office UC Application suite is now available on its HiPath 3000 converged voice system, complete with fully-integrated, presence-enabled contact center functionality. This latest addition to Siemens' award-winning OpenScape Unified Communications Portfolio can allow Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) to leverage unified communications (UC) to help improve customer service levels and maintain a competitive edge - even in the midst of the global economic crisis.

The OpenScape Office UC Application scales so that organizations of up to 384 users can access easy-to-use voice and conferencing services, presence, mobility, voicemail, messaging, and contact center capabilities. Because OpenScape Office now operates on Siemens' HiPath 3000 platform, UC can now be deployed through a simple software upgrade across Internet Protocol (IP), TDM and analog environments, giving Siemens' customers more flexibility in migrating to UC.

OpenScape Office on the HiPath 3000 can utilize the powerful capabilities of UC designed to address challenges facing SMBs. Key features include:

• Integrated presence designed to tackle problems associated with inefficient coordination and waiting for information by enabling individuals to easily view co-worker availability for a phone call or an ad-hoc teleconference
• Contact center functionality, including call routing capability, designed to allow SMBs to deliver accelerated levels of customer service, which would reduce customer complaints and pave the way for return business
• AutoAttendant and Call Journal functions designed to significantly decrease unwanted calls that can hamper employee productivity
• Mobility features designed to address the demands of today's on-the-go workforce by breaking down barriers to collaboration, making it possible for employees to seamlessly work together regardless of location

OpenScape Office is also now available on HiPath OpenOffice ME, a unique all-in-one UC appliance that provides a high-quality toolset that can enable organizations of 20-150 workers to benefit from productivity, mobility and collaboration features that are typically only affordable for much larger organizations. With advanced, enterprise-class features including presence awareness, conference management, Microsoft Outlook integration and mobility capabilities, HiPath OpenOffice ME can help businesses boost employee efficiency and responsiveness to deliver outstanding levels of customer service.

"With built-in unified communications functionality, OpenScape Office extends the value of a call to meet our needs," said Jim McCaskill, Base21 Director of Operations. "Siemens has provided us with the communications tools that produced both high-tech functionality and cost saving platforms. These tools are critical to our executive briefing center's infrastructure which hosts the latest in today's advanced communication technologies."

OpenScape Office is designed to help SMBs address hidden communications costs, which were recently highlighted in a global report* by SIS International Research on SMB adoption of UC. The study showed companies of 100 employees could be wasting more than $500,000 (EUR 390,000) each year by not addressing these hidden costs and estimated that up to 20 percent of these costs can be eliminated through UC.

"OpenScape Office truly democratizes UC by bringing enterprise-class functionality to a broader range of customers. UC is no longer just for SMBs with IP environments," said Michael Garland, Senior Vice President for Channels and Alliances at Siemens Enterprise Communications. "For our existing installed base of approximately 500,000 HiPath 3000 customers, we can now offer a simple and more affordable software upgrade to UC with little or no CAPEX required. For prospective customers wishing to improve their existing communications infrastructure, we can provide an open, standards-based and more cost-effective path to UC."

Inherent to its Open Communications strategy is Siemens' commitment to providing its customers with standards- and software-based business communications. This premise can provide companies with a way to mitigate risk and maintain lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), when deploying UC. In addition, Siemens OpenPath migration approach makes it possible for customers to migrate to UC at their own pace and within virtually any existing communications environment.

Availability

OpenScape Office on the HiPath 3000 is now available in North America through direct and indirect channels. OpenScape Office is also available in North America on HiPath OpenOffice ME, which is sold through a two-tier distribution model, providing small- and medium-sized customers with the customized reseller support and services they need to deploy a UC solution.

To learn more about the benefits of UC and OpenScape Office, please visit our Web site.

About Siemens Enterprise Communications Group (SEN Group)

The SEN Group is a premier provider of enterprise communications solutions. More than 14,000 employees in 80 countries carry on the tradition of voice and data excellence started more than 160 years ago with Werner von Siemens and the invention of the pointer telegraph. Today the company leads the market with its "Open Communications" approach that enables teams working within any IT infrastructure to improve productivity through a unified collaboration experience. SEN Group is a joint venture between the private equity firm, The Gores Group, and Siemens AG and incorporates Siemens Enterprise Communications, Enterasys Networks, SER Solutions, Cycos and iSEC. In fiscal 2008, The SEN Group generated revenues of approximately 3.21 billion Euros.

Note: HiPath and HiPath OpenOffice are registered trademarks of Siemens Enterprise Communications, Inc. or its subsidiaries and affiliates. Siemens Enterprise Communications, Inc. is a trademark licensee of Siemens AG. All other company, brand, product and service names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

*The study referenced above was conducted by SIS International Research from September to November, 2008. The figures set forth herein are based on the conclusions of the SIS International Research study; actual results may vary.

This release contains forward-looking statements based on beliefs of Siemens management. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "forecast," "expect," "intend," "plan," "should," and "project" are used to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the company's current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause the actual results to be materially different, including, among others, changes in general economic and business conditions, changes in currency exchange rates and interest rates, introduction of competing products, lack of acceptance of new products or services and changes in business strategy. Actual results may vary materially from those projected here. Siemens does not intend or assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Siemens Enterprise Communications Group

Source: PR Newswire

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