[March 02, 2004] THOMSON AND VEGASTREAM TO DELIVER VoIP OVER WLAN AND DSL NETWORKS Thomson (Euronext Paris: 18453; NYSE: TMS), a leading provider of products and services to the entertainment, broadcasting and telecommunications industries and VegaStream, a leading supplier of dedicated business VoIP (Voice over IP) Gateways, today announced an agreement for the joint development, design and promotion of end-to-end VoIP solutions involving both companies' products. The joint VoIP networking solutions will combine the strength of Thomson's "Speedtouch" products in the DSL and VPN markets with VegaStream's proven track record in business VoIP to deliver complete solutions for enterprise and service provider customers. Specific application areas covered by the agreement include: * Voice over WLAN - branch office and campus deployments for wireless voice / data connectivity and using "desk" WiFi phones networked to the VoIP Gateway for connectivity beyond the enterprise * "Remote worker" - extending PBX access to remote worker / tele-worker at home using secure broadband connection and VPN/DSL products * "IP networking" - networking together existing PBXs using VoIP gateways and a secure broadband connection over VPN / DSL The joint solutions for enterprise and service provider customers - designed and developed from the combined product portfolio of Thomson and VegaStream - will be available through both the Thomson and VegaStream reseller channels, opening up new markets for both companies and extending the reach of VoIP still further into business life. "There is no doubt that broadband access is approaching critical mass with over 3 million ADSL subscribers in the UK alone. This is not only changing the way people use the Internet, but also how they use it for real business applications - and there is no more fundamental business tool than the telephone," said Tim Burne, CEO, VegaStream. "Linking voice with DSL is a compelling proposition for businesses. Increasing employee productivity whilst simultaneously cutting cost from the bottom-line explains the benefits in terms that every business understands. Thomson's huge installed base of DSL users opens up a significant latent demand for voice applications and we're excited to be working closely with them to jointly develop new business VoIP solutions." "Remote working, whether it is working from home at a satellite office, is a clear trend as the productivity gains from reducing travel and increasing access to corporate applications become better understood. However, to date, the access has been limited to data on the enterprise servers with the PBX left marooned in HQ. Extending access to the PBX so that the worker - wherever they are - has transparent access to the same functionality, such as voicemail, call forwarding and caller id, as if they were at their desk is one of the last remaining challenges in delivering on the promise of the extended enterprise. We're delighted that we are working together to create solutions with a combined product portfolio that addresses real customer needs." The joint solutions from Thomson and VegaStream will be demonstrated at CeBIT on both the Thomson stand (Hall 27, Stand A28/1) and the VegaStream stand (Hall 27, Stand E21)and will include live VoIP calls between the stands. The demos will use a range of Thomson IP phones, DSL/VPN devices, videophones, WiFi phones and DECT phones, with visitors able to call between their IP phones and ordinary phones on the stand and the PSTN (e.g. a mobile) using the VegaStream business VoIP Gateways. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]