AST Networks, Philips expand IP telephony portfolio

AST Networks and Philips Business Communications have announced the launch of Philips` new IP communication system SOPHO 2000 IPS to the South African market. AST Networks will have the exclusive distribution rights for SOPHO 2000 IPS and this further strengthens its portfolio of SOPHO enterprise communication systems which also consists of the SOPHO iS3000 series IP enabled PBX systems.

"The SOPHO 2000 IPS offers outstanding opportunities to address new business, as well as offering existing clients with a SOPHO iS3000 system an excellent migration path," says Denis Hodgson, MD of AST Networks, a business unit of the AST Group.

"The distribution through AST provides us with an excellent market reach, a high service level and a trusted formula for our client base in SA," adds Jan Rothkrantz, responsible for PBC`s activities in SA.

Frits Neyndorff, sales director, highlighted the new product range as an "ultimate door opener for new markets in SA and a solid investment for the expansion of our growing market in SA supported by our business partner AST".

SOPHO 2000 IPS is proving a great success in an increasing number of markets. Recently, AST Networks won the contract to supply a SOPHO 2000 IPS to Philips South Africa (PSA) in the face of tough competition.

"We have several branches in SA," says Rob Clark, PSA`s IT Manager, "and we wanted to take advantage of reduced telephony costs between those branches."

"The 2000 IPS provides the best of both worlds: the cost savings associated with a native IP environment, along with traditional TDM functionality, such as voicemail," Clark continues. "It also enables us to employ IP DECT for a number of our staff."

"There are only three suppliers worldwide that offer IP DECT at present," explains Karien Ciggaar, International Sales Manager for South Africa at PBC. "This gave us an immediate advantage over most of the competition. Furthermore, we were able to manufacture, test, ship and implement the system together with our business partner AST-networks in a record-winning time of three weeks, enabling PSA to meet their deadlines as planned."

The SOPHO 2000 IPS is running successfully at PSA and serves around 380 ports. Other components supplied as part of the contract included Management@Net and Directory Services software, the latter enabling all PSA branches to use the same central database. AST Networks also supplied two SOPHO Supervisor 60E operator terminals, around 30 IP DECT handsets and Contact@Net 250 software, providing valuable help-desk functions and internal voicemail capabilities.

SOPHO 2000 IPS offers full IP telephony between network nodes and peer-to-peer communication between IP phones. In addition, the system provides full PBX functionality, ISDN connectivity, networking and a comprehensive terminal range. The versatility of the SOPHO 2000 IPS is further enhanced by a range of applications, already known in the market through the SOPHO iS3000. Interworking enables the SOPHO iS3000 and SOPHO 2000 IPS to be combined in one network, with one common management system, common call attendance, central directory facility and featured networking.

With the introduction of the SOPHO 2000 IPS Philips and AST offer a complete range of enterprise communication solutions; from IP-enabled up to and including full IP. Current SOPHO clients gain complete freedom of choice in migrating to voice and data convergence at their own pace.