Siemens Enterprise Communications Contact Center Solution Now Optimized for the Data Center and Virtualized Environments

BOCA RATON, Fla., May 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Siemens Enterprise Communications, a premier provider of enterprise communications solutions, today announced the release of OpenScape Contact Center V8, the next generation of its innovative contact center application which is now optimized for data center and virtualized environments. This open, reliable solution enables deployment flexibility, simplified management and cost savings through server consolidation from both the server and desktop perspective.

Customers now have the option of running OpenScape Contact Center V8 software on their VMware data center infrastructure, rather than on proprietary hardware at each location. By leveraging new capabilities of the award-winning OpenScape Unified Communications Server 2010 and Siemens Enterprise Communications recently announced relationship with VMware, this approach enables businesses to save money and reduce operating costs for hardware and maintenance.  

"Virtualization is increasingly critical to IT," says Irwin Lazar, vice president, Nemertes Research. "Ninety-three percent of companies are using virtualization to optimize server resources, allowing IT shops to save money by reducing capital and operational costs. By virtualizing contact center applications in the data center and on the client side, IT managers can maximize their virtualization investments while improving agent productivity and customer service."

OpenScape Contact Center V8 also features Web-based agent, supervisor and management desktops. These powerful applications require 'zero footprint', provide virtual accessibility, and are easily customized to meet the unique contact center requirements in a Web 2.0 world. Plus, the new solution's innovative combination of Web clients, software/server virtualization and new subscription licensing make it easier to deploy home-based or remote agents virtually at multiple locations.  

Continuing the company's Open Communications approach, OpenScape Contact Center V8 delivers on a cross-portfolio, standards-based open virtualization strategy, and new hosting and subscription pricing options help make the solution more affordable. Scalable to 7,500 active agents, OpenScape Contact Center V8 offers multi-channel inbound, outbound and automated self-service that improves the effectiveness and efficiency of a company's contact center operations.

Included with OpenScape Contact Center V8 is a scalable, software-only, SIP-based integrated IVR (Call Director SIP Service) which provides a cost effective way to front-end the contact center while delivering self-service capabilities with reduced complexity and lower cost than typical IVR solutions. Plus, as a SIP-based solution, it does not require proprietary hardware, making it easier and less costly to deploy and maintain.

With a new hosted edition optimized for service providers, customers can further reduce the financial barriers to adoption. The new modular, pay-as-you-go subscription licensing makes it an affordable option for contact center customers of all sizes. Providing pre-integration with common third party communication applications like Microsoft CRM, SAP and Siebel, further eases already strained IT departments.

"With this latest version of OpenScape Contact Center, not only do we provide Web-based desktops and an integrated IVR to bolster the classic contact center goals of productivity and customer service, we provide IT with the flexibility to meet business goals, quickly and cost-effectively," said Scott McDonald, vice president and general manager for contact centers at Siemens Enterprise Communications. "Since it is optimized for virtualized environments, it gives IT managers increased deployment flexibility and easier management, all while saving money."

About Siemens Enterprise Communications

Siemens Enterprise Communications is a premier provider of end-to-end enterprise communications, including voice, network infrastructure and security solutions that use open, standards-based architectures to unify communications and business applications for a seamless collaboration experience. This award-winning "Open Communications" approach enables organizations to improve productivity and reduce costs through easy-to-deploy solutions that work within existing IT environments, delivering operational efficiencies. It is the foundation for the company's OpenPath® commitment that enables customers to mitigate risk and cost-effectively adopt unified communications. Jointly owned by The Gores Group and Siemens AG, Siemens Enterprise Communications companies include Siemens Enterprise Communications, Cycos, and Enterasys Networks.

For more information about the Siemens Enterprise Communications or Enterasys please visit www.siemens-enterprise.com or www.enterasys.com.

Note: Siemens Enterprise Communications & Co K.G. is a trademark licensee of Siemens AG. HiPath, OpenOffice, OpenScape and OpenStage, are registered trademarks of Siemens Enterprise Communications & Co K.G. or its affiliates. All other company, brand, product and service names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

This release contains forward-looking statements based on beliefs of Siemens' management. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "forecast," "expect," "intend," "plan," "should," and "project" are used to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the company's current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause the actual results to be materially different, including, among others, changes in general economic and business conditions, changes in currency exchange rates and interest rates, introduction of competing products, lack of acceptance of new products or services and changes in business strategy. Actual results may vary materially from those projected here. Siemens does not intend or assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Siemens Enterprise Communications