September 28, 2010
PZ Cussons Selects Azzurri for Unified CommunicationsBy Anil Sharma, TMCnet Contributor PZ Cussons, a global fast-moving consumer goods group, has selected Azzurri Communications to deliver, manage and support a Unified Communications (News - Alert) solution for its new UK head office and manufacturing plant. Azzurri as part of three-year $2.53 million contract will provide a managed service that brings together 10 communications suppliers into a single contract and service level agreement. Officials with Azzurri said that the company will proactively and remotely manage PZ Cussons’ Local Area Network and wireless network via its Network Operating Centre, and manage PZ Cussons’ Voice over IP telephony, calls and lines provision and print and document solutions. Company officials said that the contract also includes smartphone and mobility management for 350 devices. PZ Cussons has selected a variety of devices to suit its differing needs across the business, including iPads and iPhones, smartphones running Windows Mobile and more functional Nokia (News - Alert) phones. “Azzurri were very competitive and came through well on each element of the tender. This allowed us to go single source with our communications supplier which helps hugely with service management, and provides economies of scale,” said Ged Bithell, group head of infrastructure for PZ Cussons, in a statement. Mark Quartermaine, CEO, Azzurri Communications (News - Alert), said that the company’s customers recognize that effectively integrating their corporate networks with business and communications applications will drive significant business benefit. But the deluge of vendor hype on Unified Communications can make decision-making difficult for them. “We believe Azzurri’s key strength is helping large enterprises, like PZ Cussons, understand which aspects of telecommunications are most important to their business, and then effectively managing numerous suppliers to integrate and deliver transformational projects,” said Quartermaine. Azzurri is an independent managed communications services provider, delivering flexible voice, data and mobile communications at every level. Anil Sharma is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Anil’s articles, please visit his columnist page. Edited by Tammy Wolf |