CeBIT 2008: Siemens launches unified comms offering for SMBs

The system has been designed as an all-in-one solution for the SMB market with 20 to 150 staff. Dubbed HiPath Open Office ME, the system combines email, voicemail, fax, mobile and office phone into one communications system that features presence and messaging applications delivered via a single desktop screen.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, more than 99 percent of businesses in Australia have less than 200 employees, falling into the SMB category.

Eric Hampel, general manager, Australia & New Zealand, told CRN that the system has been designed with the primary aim of making it easier for employees to contact each other. He said that the solution has been created with the needs of SMBs and the channel in mind, with simple pricing and provisioning structures in place. He said that resellers will be able to pitch savings in both money and time to their customers.

“Open Office is a huge value to a customer and therefore that’s a key value for our resellers. They now can bring unified communications into a market in the most efficient way you can imagine. The channel is ready and our channels are excited.”

“We deliver everything, the whole portfolio, through channels. So we have a 100 percent channel approach, everything is delivered through resellers.”

Resellers will be able to purchase Open Office ME through distribution company IPL.