[January 7, 2002]

Alcatel Launches Converged Branch Office Solutions With Full Feature Set And Survivability

Alcatel announced Alcatel OmniBranch solutions that offer converged voice and data to enterprises with small, medium and large branch offices. The new solutions combine the Alcatel OmniAccess 512 router and the Alcatel OmniStack 6024 workgroup switch with the Alcatel OmniPCX 4400 voice communications server for cost-effective, feature-rich voice and data services to the branch.

Alcatel can now provide customers with a wide range of capabilities in a solution that combines LAN switching, WAN routing, and all levels of voice features required to perform business such as PSTN for local calls. New branch office solutions include: Alcatel OmniBranch 10, Alcatel OmniBranch 50, and Alcatel OmniBranch 100. Each has been tested as a comprehensive solution and can integrate with competing data solutions.

�Competitively, Alcatel�s OmniBranch solutions benefit from more than 500 features and applications available on the Alcatel OmniPCX 4400, something that primitive Voice over IP (VoIP) systems simply cannot provide,� said Tom Wilburn, Alcatel senior vice president of North America Enterprise Business. �Furthermore, Alcatel's OmniBranch solutions are featured at a very aggressive price point, in some cases 30% less than competing solutions. �

For the small branch office with less than ten employees, the Alcatel OmniBranch 10 can accommodate IP phones and/or traditional analog or digital PBX services through its integrated VoIP gateway. The solution can be remotely managed from the central office and can provide enhanced services using an IP phone and the Alcatel OmniPCX 4400�s advanced IP domain technology.

For a medium branch office with up to 50 employees, the Alcatel OmniBranch 50 is a mid-range solution that can be extended to provide autonomy to branch offices that wish to tailor features to reflect the individual local branch identity. It provides the flexibility of hosting applications at both the branch and headquarters and is capable of connecting IP, analog, digital and PWT handsets remotely. Full-survivability is available as an option to ensure that business can run without interruption and without compromising features.

For a large branch office with up to 100 employees, the Alcatel OmniBranch 100 builds upon the existing solutions for the small and medium branch for full branch office benefits, leverages the unique networkability of the Alcatel OmniPCX 4400, and provides built-in survivability.

"The Alcatel OmniBranch solutions enable multi-location businesses to enjoy the full features of the Alcatel OmniPCX 4400 without a significant capital investment," said Robert Palmer, vice president of sales, Compel, an Alcatel Business Partner. "This bundled offering provides an inexpensive solution for rolling out VoIP to the branch so that companies can immediately benefit from cost savings associated with consolidating voice and data on one network."

Alcatel�s OmniBranch solutions let enterprise prepare for growth without having to worry about unexpected forklift upgrades. In addition to the comprehensive features of the solution, the Alcatel OmniBranch significantly reduces total cost of ownership with a single point of management, integrated central directory and applications, and connectivity options to maximize investments in existing technology.

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