Siemens (News - Alert) Communications Inc. today launched a new unified communications software platform, OpenScape Unified Communications (UC) Server.


OpenScape UC Server is designed to remove the artificial legacy barriers between traditionally separate voice, video and unified communications systems to enable a comprehensive suite of UC applications, according to Siemens officials.

Siemens has built OpenScape UC Server as an open, SIP-based, software IT communications and UC application foundation with shared web-services components that leverage the company’s OpenSOA architecture.

Initially, this suite includes OpenScape Voice Application -- HiPath 8000 V3.1 R2, enterprise grade voice and IP least cost routing; OpenScape Video -- integrated HD, desktop and client video conferencing; and OpenScape UC Application V3 -- role-based UC.

Officials explained that OpenScape UC Server can operate in any existing IT or telephony environment, including IP telephony or legacy PBX telephony environments from Siemens or any other vendor.

Also, according to officials, OpenScape UC Server software is the foundation for the company’s new unified communications suite and is a new product offering available for sale starting April 30, 2008.

Explaining the benefits, officials said that the OpenScape UC Server enables presence, administration, session control and other shared services for the current and planned family of OpenScape UC suite of applications. Also, new modular capabilities are enabled by activating the desired license keys on a user-by-user basis.

Also, existing HiPath 8000 and HiPath OpenExchange applications (OpenScape Voice) have been redesigned to run natively on the OpenScape UC Server for enterprise voice and IP least cost routing.

Officials pointed out that the OpenScape UC suite of applications operates in multi-vendor environments and integrate with complementary offerings including IBM Sametime, Microsoft (News - Alert) Office Communication Server and various others.

Additionally, Siemens is also introducing a redesigned version of its OpenScape UC Application as one of the licensable offerings for the Siemens OpenScape UC Server.

According to officials, the new OpenScape UC Application V3 can now be deployed on any telephony or IT environment, works with any vendor's IP or legacy telephony platform, and integrates with nearly any IT and IM environment.

Officials said that with its modular, role-based packaging, OpenScape UC Application now offers a range of user-centric deployment options with an upgrade path within the portfolio depending on enterprise needs.

In addition, company also introduced OpenScape Video, a new portfolio, claiming it to be the first single-vendor, unified video conferencing solution integrating high-definition (HD) video, desktop PC video, voice and presence into a single communication environment.

Officials explained that OpenScape Video can be integrated with the OpenScape UC Server enabling video and voice endpoints to participate in the same conference calls and use the same directory and call numbering plans. Also, the video conferencing solution functions on a standalone basis, and includes three HD systems and a PC soft client.

“With the introduction of OpenScape Unified Communications (News - Alert) Server, we have reached a significant milestone in our transition from a traditional VoIP manufacturer to a top global software and services company focused on a new era in the enterprise communications market,” Eve Aretakis, CEO at Siemens Communications, commented in a statement announcing the latest launches.

OpenScape UC Server will be available in three versions. The Medium Edition (ME) configuration is a single server solution with optional redundancy for up to 1,000 users, according to Siemens.

The Large Edition (LE) is a multi-server configuration for up to 100,000 users with full UC functionality for up to 20,000 users and basic UC functionality for up to 100,000 users.

The third version is the Hosted Edition (HE), which according to Siemens contains additional application components to support requirements of service providers and hosting organizations.

--------

Anshu Shrivastava is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To see more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.

For all the latest enterprise IP communications, unified communications, and contact center news, please click here.

Don’t forget to check out TMCnet’s White Paper Library, which provides a selection of in-depth information on relevant topics affecting the IP Communications industry. The library offers white papers, case studies and other documents which are free to registered users.

Today’s featured White Paper (News - Alert) is titled Security Considerations for an IP PBX and Contact Center, brought to you by Interactive Intelligence (News - Alert).