Alcatel-Lucent brings the desk phone to the iPhone

Alcatel-Lucent has launched an application for iPhones and laptops designed to provide users with the same functionality as a desk phone.

The Multimodal Communication Companion is designed to offer the same features of the firm's existing Office Communication Solution to provide flexibility for mobile workers at small firms.

Alcatel-Lucent explained that the application adds Web 2.0 communication technologies, such as multiple voice and data communication, to the iPhone.

The company said that users will be able to remotely access contact lists, communication history, voicemail, email, faxes and a shared calendar, as well as monitor and set up call forwarding options for desk phones remotely.

Brook Savage, business development manager for SMBs and mid-market at Alcatel-Lucent, claimed that the new application had been designed to offer a combination of flexibility and simplicity.

"A large number of mobile workers want unified communications applications that give them the ability to do more on the go, but that don't require them to learn a whole new set of functions," she said.

"We have developed the new application to allow them to access a range of content on the go in a quick and easy manner, identical to that of their desktop functionality."

Savage added that Alcatel-Lucent will bring the application to market for other smartphone platforms in the near future, including Android.

The Multimodal Communication Companion for iPhone is available free from the Apple App Store.