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Natural Convergence Releases silhouette 2.0 for the Small Business Market

Broadband Voice

Broadband Voice Feature Article


March 16, 2006

Natural Convergence Releases silhouette 2.0 for the Small Business Market

By Susan J. Campbell, TMCnet Contributing Editor


Natural Convergence, Inc., a VoIP application software supplier for Service Providers has announced the general availability of silhouette Release 2.0. This latest version of its flagship product is aimed at Service Providers targeting the small business market.
 
Small businesses, primarily with 5-50 employees, will be the aim for silhouette, a hosted VoIP system that replaces traditional key systems. End-users are provided with a system that is designed to be easy to manage with all the familiar features of a key system. VoIP can provide benefit to these small business through significant costs savings with the added advantage of having no premises-based switching equipment to install or maintain.
 
Maggie Sommers, Executive VP Sales/Partner, Vaspian, stated that customers require a flexible system that allows them to easily move to new locations, add employees, expand services and change features on the fly without incurring high equipment upgrade costs.
 
Sommers added that in a market that has been technologically underserved, Vaspian is seeing phenomenal growth and silhouette is enabling the signing of long-term contracts which is unheard of in the small to mid-size market.
 
A new set of features is introduced in the silhouette intended to benefit the small business including:
 
  • The Attendant Console that enables the receptionist to oversee multiple lines in an organization with the use of the new Monitor Group feature. Together with the Mitel 5448 Programmable Key Module, receptionists can monitor lines of individual employees to see when lines are busy, allowing for efficient handling of incoming calls.
 
  • Calling Line ID or CLID provides the called party with the user’s personal number in order to return the call.
 
  • New web page to simplify operation and streamline usage.
 
  • Basic analog line support along with Mitel 5224 IP phone and Mitel 5220 IP phone.
 
  • New Conference Unit for conference rooms and executive offices (Mitel 5310).
 
  • Reseller branding in order for Service Providers to sell under different brands.
 
According to David Cork, CEO, Natural Convergence, the general availability of silhouette 2.0 enables Service Providers to offer small business customers the ability to enjoy an enhanced, scalable VoIP solution that is easy to deploy and support. Natural Convergence believes a significant business opportunity exists for Service Providers to implement and develop solutions that serve the small business market.
 
Cork also noted that silhouette 2.0 is designed specifically to be simpler and more cost effective for small businesses, improving the overall attractiveness to the market.
 
Natural Convergence is banking on the silhouette’s attractiveness to Service Providers as it is intended to offer cost savings and increased revenue opportunities while being a simple-to-use and cost-effective communication service to the end customer. The company sited the Yankee Group 2004 SMB Bundled Communications Survey that almost 40 percent of small business owners are interested in purchasing a phone system as a hosted service. 
 
John Wind, Chief Marketing Officer, Proximiti Communications, stated that his company is excited to add the hosted key system to their product portfolio of small business services as the market demand is there, having seen it firsthand.
 
As a Service Provider and Natural Convergence partner, Wind noted that Proximiti has seen that silhouette 2.0 clearly addresses the common issues of a small business from simplifying end-user installation to day-to-day usage. The solution also allows Proximiti to better serve the small business while keeping the company’s operating expenses in check.
 
Small businesses face the challenge of competing with the larger companies while operating on much smaller budgets. Consumers expect the same level of service irrespective of the size of the company. By offering these providers the tools necessary to manage communications on a shoe string budget, Natural Convergence is responding to significant demand.
 
The market for small businesses is a dynamic one in that technology can provide the ability to offer services comparable to that of the larger companies. The advantages of VoIP are being realized by many of these businesses with the need of traditional systems to still be maintained. Natural Convergence is positioning itself to respond to a segment with untapped opportunities that can produce significant growth.
 
Susan J. Campbell is a contributing editor for TMC and has also written for eastbiz.com. To see more of her articles, please visit Susan J. Campbell’s columnist page.
 
Broadband Voice





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