Toshiba’s Strata CIX family of IP business communication systems has been certified as interoperable with PAETEC’s (News - Alert) SIP Trunking services nationwide.

"This collaboration is a significant milestone in the evolution of IP-based communications,” according to Sanjay Hiranandani, PAETEC senior vice president, engineering, who also explained that the nationwide interoperability of Toshiba’s (News - Alert) equipment and PAETEC’s SIP Trunking mitigates the need for large enterprises to create patchwork network solutions to address different parts of the country.

 

Hiranandani noted that PAETEC operates 39 soft switches, and they all can now deliver the reliability and durability of Toshiba’s VoIP business communication systems to business-class customers nationwide.

 

Eric Abing, product manager, Toshiba America Information Systems, telecommunication systems division, said that the Toshiba-PAETEC SIP Trunking service gives Toshiba Strata CIX IP system users ISDN-like features over a data connection without the need to buy separate services for voice and data. With this agreement, Toshiba’s dealers receive extensive training, dedicated support and revenue sharing opportunities with PAETEC, he added.

 

Rebecca Swensen (News - Alert), research analyst, VOIP services at IDC, explained that agreements between service providers and equipment manufacturers will increasingly become prevalent with the evolution of Enterprise SIP Solutions. She said that the PAETEC and Toshiba strategic relationship facilitates simplicity, flexibility and the ability to customize solutions to fit customer needs. The alliance will also simplify the process of migrating enterprise customers to SIP solutions.

 

The combination of Toshiba equipment and PAETEC SIP Trunking is now available nationwide. In 2008, PAETEC’s service footprint will now extend to 82 of the top 100 U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas. Toshiba America Information Systems, telecommunication systems division is focused on VoIP business communication solutions.

 

Toshiba has also become a National Master Sales Agent for PAETEC, according to another announcement by the companies. This makes SIP Trunking services available across the country through Toshiba’s national network of authorized dealers.

 

Brian Metherell, vice president and general manager, Toshiba America Information Systems, telecommunication systems division, said that in bringing PAETEC services to their Authorized Toshiba Dealers and enterprise customers, they can now offer nationwide SIP Trunking services, which is a major benefit for both their national account and SMB customers.

 

Metherell indicated that they also can offer all of their customers a one-stop shop for SIP Trunking and related services regardless of their location nationwide.

 

According to Jeff Howe, PAETEC vice president and general manager for national channel sales, this agreement marks PAETEC's first national sales channel partnership with a VoIP CPE manufacturer, and it gives hundreds of Authorized Toshiba Dealers access to PAETEC’s national support structure.

 

Howe said that with PAETEC, Toshiba’s dealers can offer a cost-effective, reliable voice communications solution that utilizes the power and flexibility of SIP Trunking. He believes their network services can help Toshiba dealers further solidify their relationships with end-user customers.