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Nortel Says Its Research Shows Big Opportunity to Sell Fixed Mobile Convergence to SMBs
[February 17, 2008]

Nortel Says Its Research Shows Big Opportunity to Sell Fixed Mobile Convergence to SMBs


(Wireless News Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)
The potential for sale of IP-based technology to small and medium-sized
businesses (SMBs) is substantial, according to recent market research
commissioned by Nortel.

Nortel said that's good news for service providers, thanks to its IP
Powered Business Solutions, that make it easy for service providers to
sell and host pre-tested IP solutions to the growing SMB market.

Fifty percent of SMBs surveyed have voice networks three or more years
old, and despite the fact that nearly half characterize themselves as
"early adopters" or "on the leading edge of new telecommunications
technology," only 40 percent have actually implemented VoIP or any
IP-based mobile convergence solution.

"The research clearly indicates a great opportunity for service
providers to target SMBs," said Alf deCardenas, general manager,
Carrier Multimedia Networks, Nortel. "Our solutions are designed to
help them deliver a full range of simple solutions for SMBs that easily
allow carriers to offer advanced SIP applications without the cost or
complexity often associated with next generation communication
services."

Launched in October 2007, Nortel's IP Powered Business Solutions
combine the latest carrier VoIP technology with SIP phones and other
devices, all available for delivery on-site or fully-hosted by the
service provider. Also integral to these solutions are Nortel's Global
Services for SMBs, which include planning, installation, management and
technical support. The solution will be available this quarter to
carriers in North America and Europe with other regions following
shortly thereafter.

The research, conducted with RONIN Corp.(2), included a web survey of
approximately 900 SMB and Enterprise decision makers across the United
States, France and the United Kingdom. It was designed to gain insight
into SMB perception and use of VoIP, along with SIP applications like
click-to-connect and converged mobility for Wi-Fi and cellular calling
from dual-mode handsets. The value SMBs place on SIP services and the
impact of pricing on service adoption were also assessed.

Among other findings, the research found that:

- SMBs are more likely to go to service providers than resellers for
voice hardware and Internet services.

- Converged mobility - the ability to make phone calls over WiFi and
cellular networks via a dual-mode phone - is the service SMBs are most
likely to consider for implementation followed by web services like
click-to-connect and converged desktop applications that allow you to
easily control calls from any cellular phone using a laptop application.

((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected]))

((Distributed on behalf of 10Meters via M2 Communications Ltd -
http://www.m2.com))
((10Meters - http://www.10meters.com))

Copyright ? 2008 Wireless News

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