Extends Desktop PBX Features to Mobile Users, Lowers Overall Telecom Costs
Sprint (NYSE:S) today announced the launch of Sprint Wireless Integration, a product that extends customers’ premises-based PBX features and functionality to their mobile phones. The solution offers business customers additional value and new capabilities by integrating Avaya “Extension to Cellular” capabilities and new Sprint network advancements.
Sprint Wireless Integration features include providing users with one phone number that simultaneously rings both the desk phone and mobile phone, along with one converged enterprise voicemail inbox. It also extends PBX features like conferencing and call forwarding to the mobile phone so users can get all the functionality of their desk phone even while away from the office. For example, mobile users can make intra-company calls by simply dialing the four-digit extension of the person they want to reach, just as they would from the office desk phone – with no access numbers to dial or codes to enter first.
Built within Sprint’s IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architecture, Sprint Wireless Integration is the industry’s first “hosted mobility” solution. “By converging wireline and wireless functionality, Sprint Wireless Integration provides a better overall service – one that is more functional and also makes communication more simple and effective,” said Tony Krueck, vice president of product management and development, Sprint. “This solution is a great example of the promise of Fixed/Mobile Convergence.”
Lowers telecom costs while extending accessibility, simplifying management
Providing PBX functionality to users’ mobile phones can provide businesses the power to simplify management of voice services. By effectively making wireless phones an extension of the enterprise voice system, network administrators reduce the number of disparate networks they manage while providing a consistent service to both desk and mobile phone users. In some cases, wireless phones can now serve as full-featured “desk phone replacements”, allowing businesses to reduce costs by beginning to replace their desk phones with more flexible mobile phones.
Wireless Integration provides additional telecom cost savings since outbound mobile calls routed through the customer’s premise-based PBX are considered “on-net” and don’t incur mobile usage charges. Mobile-to-international calls also can be routed through the customer’s PBX or international VPN, reducing rates significantly.
Sprint Wireless Integration is currently available to businesses with Avaya Communication Manager enterprise telephony PBX. Sprint will be announcing support for similar solutions with other major PBX providers in early 2007.
Sprint Wireless Integration provides:
Features
- One phone number with simultaneous ring to both the desk phone and mobile phone (using the existing desk phone number)
- One voicemail inbox using the enterprise voicemail platform
- Abbreviated (e.g., four-digit) intra-company dialing from the mobile phone
- Class-of-service extended to mobile calls for better control
- Mobile call tracking/logging by the telecom manager using the PBX
Savings
- Outbound mobile calls routed through the enterprise PBX are “on-net” and included in the monthly service fee. (Inbound calls to the mobile phone do incur minutes.)
- Mobile-to-international calls are billed as if from the enterprise PBX or VPN
- Desk phones can be eliminated if desired
- Billed as an add-on feature ($20/month) to an existing Sprint CDMA Wireless Plan
Requirements
- Premise-based Avaya Communications Manager (IP or TDM)
- Sprint CDMA mobile phone with data capability
- Sprint Dedicated IP or Global MPLS VPN connection
More details on Sprint Wireless Integration are available at Sprint.com/voip.
About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two robust wireless networks serving more than 51 million customers at the end of third quarter 2006; industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and international walkie-talkie capabilities; and an award-winning and global Tier 1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit http://www.sprint.com.
