Mitel Enhances Unified Communications Solution, Integrates Inter-Tel Line

By Erik Linask

Group Managing Editor

 

In order to support a growing interest in IP Communications solutions, particularly in the vast SMB market, vendors must be quick to adapt their solutions to market demand.  Today, this more than just VoIP, which, not long ago, was the new and innovative and cost saving service.  Although VoIP adoption is still growing, rising travel costs and a desire to increase productivity on the road or in the office have driven vendors and providers to enhance their solutions with added mobility and collaboration features — Unified Communications (News - Alert).

 

Addressing what it says are the “top concerns” of SMBs as they look to increase customer satisfaction and drive revenues, Mitel (News - Alert) has leveraged its investment in Inter-Tel, enhancing its product set, enabling its customers to do just that, with new messaging, mobility, and conferencing features

 

Key to success in any segment, the Mitel Applications Suite is easy to deploy and manage, with multiple applications residing on one server, including audio and Web conferencing, enabling increased collaboration, and also helping reduce travel costs. 

 

It also includes unified messaging, providing the capability for people who do have to travel an easy way to access voice mails and emails, increasing responsiveness and consequently increasing customer satisfaction.  In addition, Mitel adds single-identity mobile integration, proving secure access to network resources for remote workers and mobile employees. 

 

These unified communications capabilities, currently available for the Mitel 3300 IP Communications Platform, but the company is leveraging its Inter-Tel (News - Alert) acquisition and, to make best use of the Inter-Tel product line, will make the Mitel Applications Suite available for the Mitel 5000 Network Communications Solution by the end of the year.  (The Mitel 5000 is the former Inter-Tel 5000.)

 

 

In addition, Mitel’s 5200 and 5300 series IP phones are also now available for the Mitel 5000, providing increased flexibility for customers of the former Inter-Tel.  The Mitel phones easy access to the features available on the Mitel 5000 platform, including large graphical displays, wideband audio support, and programmable self-labeling keys for one-touch access on the 5300 series.  Additional peripherals are also now compatible with the Mitel 5000, including the Mitel Wireless LAN Stand and the Mitel Gigabit Ethernet Stand.

 

“The integration of Classic Mitel and Classic Inter-Tel products and services delivers significant channel value,” commented Scott Bussey, National Director of Sales for Integra Telecom, Mitel’s #1 Dealer in 2007.  “An example of this is the former Inter-Tel 5000, now the Mitel 5000, supporting the Mitel 5200 and 5300 series IP self-labeling phones as well as Gigabit Ethernet Stand and Wireless LAN Stand. These new capabilities enhance the competitiveness of the Mitel 5000 and allow partners to approach their installed base and new customers with enhanced offerings.”

 

With the new, rebranded product portfolio, Mitel now offers a unified communications solution that includes entry level options all the way through higher end mobile alternatives, along with the constituent hardware.  Indeed, having integrated the Inter-Tel line into its offerings, Mitel is easily able to provide solutions for all corners of the market, from the smallest with fewer than five users, to as many as 65,000 users with the Mitel 3300. 

 

Importantly, it also means growing businesses are assured they have a communications solution in place they will not easily outgrow.  And if they do, they will likely be able to afford a new one.