Siemens updates its unified communications line-up

Convergence & VoIP This newsletter is sponsored by Fluke Networks Get a FREE Network Assessment! Want to understand the impact of application performance across your network? By taking advantage of our free network assessment, you'll receive a customized network assessment based on your specific needs. Click here for more information. Network World's Convergence & VoIP Newsletter, 05/09/07 Siemens updates its unified communications line-up By Steve Taylor and Larry Hettick Siemens Communications announced Tuesday several updates to its OpenScape unified communications portfolio. The first upgrade is targeted at providing an easy starting point for unified communications with a new OpenScape VoiceLink solution that enables Microsoft’s Office Communicator client at the desktop. With the enhancement, the SIP-enabled version of OpenScape VoiceLink now supports the Siemens’ HiPath 8000 IP softswitch. The second update is a new release of OpenScape Enterprise that provides a new toolbar desktop client for Windows. The unique toolbar client allows users to access “multimedia presence, instant messaging, voice and Web conferencing while still allowing full desktop ‘real-estate’ to be allocated to line of business applications,” according to the company’s statement. Siemens also announced enhancements to the OpenScape Systems Development Kit (SDK) that include pre-built packages targeted for financial services that use a Salesforce.com CRM application and to Life Sciences companies that need real-time access to people and information into Siebel CTMS screens. Executive Guide - VoIP: No Turning Back Discover how real-work enterprises are deploying VoIP via several case studies Click here for more information. The third element in the portfolio announcement positions OpenScape Enterprise Hosted into the ‘software as a service’ model. Siemens has worked together with Accenture and Ensim Corporation to build provisioning, billing and management software interfaces needed by service providers. Our analysis: Siemens, like other IP telephony providers is moving forward with additional enhancements to its unified communications feature; it is continuing to further integrate with Microsoft’s features and it is making it easier for service providers to offer a hosted unified communications service. Is it just us, or does there seem to be a common industry theme over the last few months?   What do you think? Post a comment on this newsletter

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Contact the author: Steve Taylor is president of Distributed Networking Associates and publisher/editor-in-chief of Webtorials. For more detailed information on most of the topics discussed in this newsletter, connect to Webtorials, the premier site for Web-based educational presentations, white papers, and market research. Taylor can be reached at taylor@webtorials.com Larry Hettick is an industry veteran with more than 20 years of experience in voice and data. He is Vice President for Telecom Services and Infrastructure at Current Analysis, the leading competitive response solutions company. He can be reached at lhettick@currentanalysis.com This newsletter is sponsored by Fluke Networks Get a FREE Network Assessment! Want to understand the impact of application performance across your network? By taking advantage of our free network assessment, you'll receive a customized network assessment based on your specific needs. Click here for more information. ARCHIVE Archive of the Convergence & VoIP Newsletter. BONUS FEATURE IT PRODUCT RESEARCH AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Get detailed information on thousands of products, conduct side-by-side comparisons and read product test and review results with Network World’s IT Buyer’s Guides. Find the best solution faster than ever with over 100 distinct categories across the security, storage, management, wireless, infrastructure and convergence markets. Click here for details. PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered to your inbox each day. Extend your knowledge with a print subscription to the Network World newsweekly, Apply here today. International subscribers, click here. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World newsletter, change your e-mail address or contact us, click here. This message was sent to: networking.world@gmail.com. Please use this address when modifying your subscription. Advertising information: Write to Associate Publisher Online Susan Cardoza Network World, Inc., 118 Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772 Copyright Network World, Inc., 2007