VoIP Week in Review from TMCnet: Alcatel's Multiple Deals

By Johanne Torres

TMCnet Contributing Editor

 

This week, the VoIP Minute Watch brought you news from BroadSoft, Alcatel (News - Alert), ShoreTel, and AudioCodes (News - Alert).

 

VoIP application software provider BroadSoft and VoIP, IMS and IP supplier Atreus Systems announced on Monday that they extended their partnership to offer service providers the opportunity to launch residential VoIP services. The partnership will allow for the integration of Hosted PBX, IP Centrex and Business Trunking applications; and will aid operators to launch differentiated residential VoIP offerings.

 

On Tuesday, BroadSoft announced that Danish RTX Products, a manufacturer of wireless communication systems and OEM products, integrated its wireless local loop (WLL) system with the BroadWorks VoIP application platform. The WLL system from RTX Products allows businesses to connect an existing fiber optic or copper cable network to an IP and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT)-based wireless network. WLL offers wireless access with seamless handover between cells with the BroadWorks platform to enable VoIP applications on end-user terminals for a wide cross-section of subscribers, including those in remote areas.

 

French technology provider Alcatel announced many deals this week. On Monday, the company announced that it entered into an agreement with Video Furnace to resell its system for enterprise VoIP. The new deal called for the Video Furnace System to be sold, distributed, and supported globally through Alcatel distribution channels. Alcatel's enterprise video-over-IP system delivers live broadcast and on-demand video services to any network connected viewing device, such as a notebook or desktop computer.

 

Alcatel announced on Tuesday that it had signed an agreement to offer Syndesis' carrier-grade suite as part of its Operation Support Systems (OSS) portfolio. Combined with Alcatel integration services, service providers will be able to launch services such as Triple/Quad-Play, IPTV (News - Alert) and VoIP. The deal called for Alcatel to embed Syndesis' IP Triple-Play service delivery management systems into its suite of next generation network offerings. The system would reduce the time associated with the installation of IP networks and the delivery of feature-rich IP-based video, voice and data services.

 

Alcatel announced its third deal of the week on Wednesday. The company scored a GSM expansion contract with Unitel, a mobile operator in Angola and the sole GSM operator in the country. The new contract is reportedly valued at 41.5 million Euros. The move will enable Unitel to increase the capacity and coverage of its GSM network across the country, therefore giving people in previously underserved areas access to mobile communications.

 

The French technology provider ended the week announcing that it was chosen by Naya Tel of Pakistan to supply the region's first fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) system to deliver high bandwidth triple-play services to over 30,000 subscribers in the capital city of Islamabad. Naya Tel is an alternate service provider. With Alcatel's system in place, the provider will be able to offer voice, video and data services.

 

IP PBX company ShoreTel released version 6.1 of its IP telephony for systems aimed at branch offices and small businesses demanding key system functionality. With version 6.1, ShoreTel will offer an emulation that is part of a single hardware and software platform which spans all levels of key system and PBX functionality, for those organizations with 10 to 10,000 employees. ShoreTel 6.1 introduced the ShorePhone IP 212k, an ergonomic IP key system telephone with 12 programmable buttons, exceptional audio quality, and a big LCD display.

 

Israel-based provider of Voice over Packet (VoP) technologies AudioCodes announced on Tuesday that it entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Nuera Communications, Inc. Nuera provides VoIP provider of infrastructure systems for broadband and long distance with an extensive client base in North America as well as in Asia and Europe. The transaction is expected to be completed at the end of the second quarter or early in the third quarter of this year (2006), and is subject to usual and customary conditions for transactions of this nature, including regulatory approvals. The procedure has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies and by the stockholders of Nuera.

 

There you have it folks, another exciting week in the VoIP industry! Stay tuned and read the VoIP Minute Watch for the latest news…

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Johanne Torres is contributing editor for TMCnet and Internet Telephony magazine. To see more articles by Johanne Torres, please visit Johanne Torres' columnist page.