Nortel Networks launches new communication platform
The Multimedia Communication Server (MCS) 5100 software allows collaborative capabilities using a single communication platform. The network enables multimedia calls (video, voice and data), conferencing, instant messaging, whiteboards, file exchange and joint Web browsing in real time.
Users can also personalise their call screening and call routing as well as set up their own presence indicators via Web interface on a PC.
IT consulting, systems integration and outsourcing services provider Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) recently deployed Nortel's voice over IP and data networking solution and installed MSC 5100 in its Sydney network. CSC will first be using MCS 5100 Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-enabled audio-conferencing function to "realise a quick return on its investment in the MCS 5100 software."
Nortel Networks Australia and New Zealand president Steve Wood said the convergence platform has reduced their company's cost by AU$280,000 since its implementation last year. CSC backed this claim saying they have had 10 to 15 percent cost reduction in their Sydney operations.
According to CSC director Iain McGregor, the company's business case for IP telephony identified significant savings, particularly across voice communications and cabling infrastructure in their new Macquaire Park building.
"We initially projected savings of 5.5 percent but in reality we are achieving considerably more than this in areas such as STD costs between our Perth and Sydney offices as well as move-adds-changes (MACs) activity. We have plans to extend IP telephony functionality to other offices in Australia and, eventually, across our entire global operation," he said.
Wood said the CSC implementation is one of the largest converged greenfield networks in Australia and Nortel's first MCS 5100 deployment in Australia and New Zealand.
McGregor believes customers will relate positively to how CSC is leveraging voice over IP to meet its own business needs. He added that most of their customers are mainly focusing on telephony, video conference and the ability to work from home most, if not all, of the time.
"We've found our customers' business cases are virtually the same as ours, and I think the reasons we've implemented IP telephony are precisely the same as their's are going to be," he said.