L.M. Ericsson disclosed its corporate vision for the future last week, a large part of which involved a new strategy for enterprise customers that focuses on converging communication networks with Internet Protocol technology.
Recently, Ericsson announced reorganization plans to better serve what it called “fast-growing and upcoming market segments.” Those segments include the consumer segment, the operator segment and the enterprise-solutions segment. At the press conference discussing this new strategy, the most emphasis was placed on the enterprise market.
Ericsson announced the creation of its Enterprise Solutions Division, which will have three areas of interest-enterprise solutions, wireless office products and business-consulting services.
“Enterprise will drive the new telecom services forward,” said Haijo Pietersma, executive vice president and head of the Enterprise Solutions Division.
To help, Ericsson announced several new products and services.
To meet the demand for one-number integration, the company introduced its Digital Wireless Office System, which it said provides enterprise networks with a one-phone, one-number capability that can be used anywhere in or out of the office.
DWOS uses Digital Advanced Mobile Phone Service technology on Interim Standard 136 at both 850 MHz and 1900 MHz. With DWOS, an employee’s mobile phone is also his or her office phone. When in the office, the phone becomes an extension of the private branch exchange system, and when outside the office, it functions as a personal mobile phone, the company said. Ericsson would install low-power radio heads inside the building or campus for network coverage, allowing users to walk away from their desks and still receive calls directed to them.
The company also announced the Mobility Server 2.0, a Windows NT and personal computer server switch for cordless phones. It is a wireless access independent wireless server that supports both local and wide area wireless solutions. Essentially, it allows customers to have both personal and terminal mobility, regardless of the PBX used, the company said. Basically, the new platform networks together Mobility Servers at different sites so people can roam from one to another, regardless of technology.
Also new is Ericsson’s OneBox unified messaging system, designed specifically for enterprise customers. The solution allows users to access all their messages via the Internet via either a computer or from any phone. It includes unified fax, voice and e-mail messaging; text-to-speech conversion for enabling messages to be read over the phone; remote access to voice mail; redirection capabilities; and message notification.
Other new products launched include a Dynamic Network Administration that provides management and reporting for converged networks; Personal Screen Call Web-based icon-driven PC telephony system; and Next Call Centre, a media streaming contact technology for such applications as intelligent call routing.
Ericsson said it also is working in the lab and in customer trials for future multimedia communication solutions such as e-commerce, Internet 3D worlds, Internet portals and Webcast applications.
“Communications technology will play a key role in delivering information and communications services to customers-wherever they are located-in their office, at home or on the move,” said Pietersma. “Neither organizations nor customers are defined today by where they are located, or by the buildings in which they reside, but by information skills and knowledge, and how that knowledge is applied as part of a team.”
