IBM/NEC to Deliver Unified Communications Solution

Jan. 24, 2008

Companies say new solution will provide better service with their voice/data network environment while reducing overall costs.

Brad Kenney

IBM and NEC recently announced a collaboration to deliver advanced unified communication capabilities to the global business world. Announced at Lotusphere and based on Lotus Sametime 8.0, the solution will integrate NEC's Univerge IP commmunication servers to give companies the ability to view online presence information, and leverage click-to-call services from within a Lotus Sametime instant messaging chat, Web conference or IBM Lotus Notes email inbox.

By working with IBM to leverage the benefits of IBM Lotus Sametime software, NEC says it can help enterprises to leverage the open eco-system and extensibility that allows enterprise agents to best manage and provide better service with their voice and data network environment while reducing overall costs.

This new integration uses the open Eclipse-based Lotus Sametime platform and the Lotus Sametime Telephony Conferencing Service Provider Interface (TCSPI) to support the convergence of voice and data. Businesses can gain click-to-call access by implementing NECs TCSPI interface plug-in software in the UNIVERGE gateway module for Lotus software. Implementation of NEC's plug-in is made simple by the extensible framework of Lotus Sametime and its efficient operation through a centralized server.

The first beta release will be rolled out in February 2008.

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About the Author

Brad Kenney | Chief Marketing Officer

Brad Kenney is the former Technology Editor of IndustryWeek and now serves as director of the mobile/social platforms practice at R/GA, a global marketing/advertising firm in New York City.