Cisco Systems, Intel, IBM and other companies will push
converged voice, video and data networks through a new marketing
organisation.
The Enterprise Communications Association (ECA) brings together
product suppliers, service providers and sales channel partners
that want to promote converged networks in enterprises of all
sizes.
It aims to educate potential customers about converged network
technologies and help the industry develop effective sales and
service strategies.
Converged networks can carry voice and video as well as data
over packet networks. They can simplify an organisation's IT
management, save money by eliminating multiple networks and allow
for new kinds of applications.
Many potential customers are frustrated by a market made up
of suppliers that specialise in one piece of a converged network
rather than offer a single source for everything, according to ECA.
The group aims to foster communication among members and the
creation of better delivery models for the technology.
Other large founding members of the ECA include network
equipment supplier Siemens Information and Communication Networks
and IT distributor Ingram Micro.
Microsoft, which some industry analysts expect to play a growing
role in multimedia communications in the coming years, was not
listed as a founding member. Neither were telecommunication-gear
makers Lucent Technologies or Nortel Networks.
Stephen Lawson writes for IDG News Service