IBM and 3Com have developed a system to integrate IP
telephony with e-mail, messaging and core business process
applications on a single, secure platform.
The
System i Integrated Collaboration system
will feature unified communications capabilities to help
customers increase productivity, lower costs and streamline
operations, said the pair.
Because the system runs on a single IBM System i server
platform, it is easier and less expensive to manage than
competitive Windows-based, multi-server offerings, the suppliers
said.
Roland US, a leading manufacturer and distributor of electronic
musical instruments, recently selected the System i Integrated
Collaboration system to improve its customer service to the music
stores and consumers it supports.
The integration of IP Telephony with Roland's ERP applications
will arm customer service agents with recent client data, allowing
them to respond to customer requests more quickly and
effectively.
"The new system will allow us to further evolve the way we do
business. With advanced features like find me, follow me and click
to call, our sales team in the field will now be able to be reached
quickly from a central location, no matter where they are - in the
office or on the road," said David Williams, IT director at Roland
US.
The new Integrated Collaboration solution builds on the System i
IP Telephony solution IBM and 3Com delivered in November 2006.
It uses open standards such as session initiation protocol (SIP)
and creates a platform to allow the 3Com VCX comms system to be
more easily integrated with collaboration and business applications
running on the System i platform.
The System i Integrated Collaboration system is expected to be
available in the second quarter of 2007, with pricing for Domino
and Sametime integration starting at $500 (£265) per server for
each application.
The System i IP Telephony Express Editions on which this runs
starts at $37,900 (£19,950).
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