Unified Communications System Powered by Ascendent Systems Easily and
Cost-Effectively Transfers the Capabilities of an Office Phone to a Cell
Phone
LAS VEGAS, April 1, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon is making it easier
for on-the-go professionals to answer calls on the first ring while away
from the office, with a new unified communications service that transfers
the capabilities of an office phone to a cell phone.
The new PBX Mobile Extension offering, announced Tuesday (April 1) at
the CTIA Wireless 2008 trade show here, uses the latest version of the
award- winning Ascendent(R) Voice Mobility Suite from Ascendent Systems (a
subsidiary of Research In Motion), to deliver an advanced, enterprise-grade
unified communications system. In addition, PBX Mobile Extension now
directly supports the BlackBerry(R) Mobile Voice System (MVS) from Research
In Motion, providing BlackBerry smartphone users with secure access to a
company's PBX functionality.
The software-based service, which replaces Verizon Business' PBX Mobile
Extension offering announced in June 2007, enables large-business and
government customers to avoid the complexity and cost inherent in
purchasing and deploying separate hardware required with the prior
offering. With the new offering, companies will be able to use standard
off-the-shelf servers.
"Busy professionals today are demanding new devices and services that
help them improve their productivity whether in the office or on the road,"
said Nancy Gofus, chief marketing officer for Verizon Business. "By
combining the power of Verizon's wired and wireless networks with Ascendent
Systems' leading voice mobility software and BlackBerry smartphones, we are
enabling a new level of collaboration and productivity for an increasingly
mobile workforce."
The new fixed-mobile-convergence (FMC) offering, available next month
in the U.S. to enterprise customers of Verizon Business and Verizon
Wireless, works with traditional or IP-based private branch exchange (PBX)
service, including Verizon IP Trunking and Verizon Managed IP PBX. Among
other features, it works with any cell phone from any wireless provider in
the U.S. and enables mobile workers to move seamlessly between cell phones
and desk phones to maintain calls in progress; conduct real-time conference
calls; and initiate mass notifications enabling businesses to quickly
respond to urgent situations.
When used in conjunction with BlackBerry MVS, users get intuitive and
visual desk-phone features through menus built directly into the BlackBerry
phone application.
PBX Mobile Extension features a single phone number that simultaneously
rings on up to four devices; greater scalability for rapidly growing
companies; support for Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) trunking on
specific IP PBX platforms; and seamless integration of a corporate PBX.
With this integration, users of Blackberry smartphones from Verizon
Wireless can have a secure mobile extension of their desk phones.
According to a December 2007 report, "U.S. Fixed/Mobile Convergence
Services 2007-2011 Forecast: The Beginning of Next-Generation Enterprise
Voice," IDC forecasts that FMC services in the United States will exceed
$80 million by 2011.1 With PBX extension services like PBX Mobile Extension
from Verizon Business, users of mobile devices have access to features
typically associated with desk phones, or solutions that allow users to
hand off voice calls from wired phones to a mobile phone.
PBX Mobile Extension Support for BlackBerry MVS
PBX Mobile Extension delivers the power, performance and scalability to
fully support the integration of multiple devices in the wired and wireless
worlds, while providing a consistent set of voice features and applications
such as caller ID, call-transfer, park, hold and more. The service provides
a framework that enables businesses to preserve existing investment in
voice infrastructures such as PBX and voice mail, while integrating with
cellular, remote or home office, and office desk phones.
Since PBX Mobile Extension supports BlackBerry MVS, BlackBerry
smartphone users on the go can access enterprise desk-phone functions
directly from the menu interface of the BlackBerry phone application,
leveraging Verizon Business' IP network.
To maintain security of enterprise telephony systems, businesses can
also authenticate BlackBerry smartphone users to an enterprise PBX using
Blackberry MVS. This gives information technology (IT) administrators the
control to set voice policies that can ensure both incoming and outbound
calls made from a BlackBerry smartphone are passing through the corporate
PBX, allowing organizations to log all mobile calls.
"As businesses become more mobile and organizations look for additional
ways to improve communications, collaboration and productivity, IT
departments are increasingly embracing fixed mobile convergence solutions,"
said Theron Dodson, director of sales and marketing at Ascendent Systems.
"Together, Verizon Business and Ascendent Systems are providing the same
types of mobility benefits for enterprise voice systems that BlackBerry
smartphone users already enjoy for e-mail and data systems."
The new software edition of PBX Mobile Extension is the latest addition
to Verizon's comprehensive suite of Mobility offerings, which leverage both
the Verizon Business global IP network and Verizon Wireless domestic
network to enable professionals to seamlessly and securely conduct business
while away from the office. The offerings include: Wireless Office,
wireless voice and data, managed wireless LAN, and Secure Gateway, which
provides mobile users with access to their company's virtual private
network.
In addition, Verizon Mobility services feature advanced meeting tools
including Net Conferencing, Mobile Conference Connection, Conferencing in
High Definition (HD) and support for telepresence. Verizon Business also
offers secure instant messaging and managed e-mail to help workers enhance
collaboration and productivity.
About Verizon Business
Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), is a
global IP leader and network-based partner for delivering integrated
communications and information technology (IT) solutions to large-business
and government customers worldwide. Combining unsurpassed reach with
managed services, security, mobility, collaboration and professional
services capabilities, Verizon Business delivers global solutions that
power innovation and enable its customers to do business better. For more
information, visit http://www.verizonbusiness.com.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and
data network, serving 65.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking
Ridge, N.J., with 69,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint
venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE:
VOD). For more information, go to: http://www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and
request broadcast- quality video footage and high-resolution stills of
Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia
Library at http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
About Ascendent Systems
Ascendent Systems, a subsidiary of Research In Motion (Nasdaq: RIMM;
TSX: RIM), is the premier provider of enterprise voice mobility solutions
that allow companies to be more responsive to customers and crisis by
giving them the power to reach anyone, anywhere, immediately. The Ascendent
Voice Mobility Suite of applications provides single number reachability,
real-time notification and conferencing, and voice continuity. These
solutions allow users to automatically extend the identity and
functionality of their business desk phone to any other device. Partnered
with major mobile carrier and infrastructure providers, Ascendent has
solutions deployed in Fortune 500 corporations across many industry
verticals including manufacturing, finance, healthcare, government,
hospitality, and education. For more information:
http://www.ascendentsystems.com.
VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches
and biographies, media contacts, high quality video and images, and other
information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at
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Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news
releases.
Ascendent is a registered trademark of Ascendent Systems. The
BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the
exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited.
(1) IDC, US Fixed/Mobile Convergence Services 2007-2011 Forecast: The
Beginning of Next Generation Enterprise Voice, Document # 209800, December
2007
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