Siemens Launches OpenScape Unified Communications Server to Deliver Communications Applications on a Unified Software-based Platform

Siemens Enterprise Communications today announced a significant step forward in its ongoing transformation into a software-oriented company with the launch of an innovative new unified communications software platform, OpenScape® Unified Communications (UC) Server. OpenScape UC Server is designed to remove the artificial legacy barriers between today’s traditionally separate voice, video and unified communications systems to enable a comprehensive suite of UC applications. This suite initially 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).

OpenScape UC Server can operate in virtually any existing IT or telephony environment, including IP telephony or legacy PBX telephony environments from Siemens or any other vendor – a key proof-point of Siemens’ Open Communications positioning. Installation is easy and affordable, with highly practical options that do not require expensive or complex proprietary technology stacks.

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 30th April 2008. 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, which are designed to enable easy growth and expansion. New modular capabilities are enabled by simply activating the desired license keys on a user-by-user basis.

Siemens believes that voice remains the most natural and effective form of human communications and has built OpenScape UC Server from the ground up as an open, SIP-based, software IT communications and UC application foundation with shared web-services components that leverage the company’s OpenSOA architecture. The 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. The OpenScape UC suite of applications operate in multi-vendor environments and integrate with complementary offerings including IBM Sametime, Microsoft Office Communication Server and various others.

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. 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 Hosted Edition (HE) contains additional application components to support the unique requirements of service providers and hosting organisations.

Siemens is also introducing a new, redesigned version of its OpenScape UC Application as one of the licensable offerings for the Siemens OpenScape UC Server. The enhanced OpenScape UC Application V3 can now be deployed on virtually any telephony or IT environment, works with any vendor’s IP or legacy telephony platform, and integrates with nearly any IT and IM environment. With its modular, role-based packaging, OpenScape UC Application now offers a range of user-centric deployment options with a seamless upgrade path within the portfolio depending on enterprise needs. From the single-user Personal edition to Enterprise and Developer editions, scalability to as many as 20,000 concurrent users is possible. Built on the standards-based OpenSOA framework, OpenScape UC Application allows deep business process integration into virtually any existing line of business application to provide rich communications embedded business processes (CEBP).

OpenScape Video, a new portfolio offering also launched today, is the industry’s first single-vendor, unified video conferencing solution integrating high-definition (HD) video, desktop PC video, voice and presence into a single powerful communication environment. OpenScape Video can be integrated with the OpenScape UC Server enabling video and voice endpoints to easily participate in the same conference calls and use the same directory and call numbering plans. The video conferencing solution also functions on a standalone basis, offering enterprises an easy migration to HD Video over IP. The new OpenScape Video portfolio includes three HD systems and a PC soft client.

“ With the introduction of OpenScape Unified Communications 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,” said Thomas Zimmermann, COO, Siemens Enterprise Communications. “Simply put, OpenScape UC Server is the easiest, most affordable and flexible way to introduce full UC into any existing telephony or IT environment.”

For more information, please visit www.siemens.co.uk/open/now

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About Siemens Enterprise Communications:
Siemens Enterprise Communications is one of the world’s leading vendors of Open Communications solutions for enterprises of all sizes, enabling business processes to be more productive, faster and more secure – with any device, network or information technology infrastructure. The company is headquartered in Munich and employees around 15,000 people globally. In the UK Siemens Enterprise Communications Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Siemens plc.

For further information, please contact:
Dan Purvis / Becky Kiely
Octopus Communications
+44 (0) 845 3700655 or siemens@octopuscomms.net

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