3Com today unveiled its Convergence Leadership Alliance Program, a multivendor collaboration to deliver integrated voice/video/data converged network solutions. This program will ease customer deployment of combined voice, video and data networks and advanced multimedia applications, to make their businesses more competitive and efficient.
As part of this announcement, 3Com also named the program`s first Convergence Leadership Alliance participants, prominent and emerging technology vendors whose products have been tested, integrated and optimised, and documented for converged network environments, explains 3Com SA`s pre sales manager, Paul Ruinaard. End-to-end converged network solutions integrating these vendors` applications and 3Com advanced convergence products are showcased in the Convergence Lab for customers. "3Com is taking a critical further step to train its field organisation as well as systems integrators and value added resellers to customise, deploy and support these solutions for customers," says Ruinaard.
He points out that 3Com has also honoured several large enterprise customers in a variety of industries including education, healthcare, retail and entertainment, for their excellence in information technology vision and early adoption of converged network solutions.
"Organisations all over the world are anticipating new business-critical applications that combine voice, video and data to increase employee productivity, decrease operating costs, improve customer service and gain competitive advantage," says Edgar Masri, senior vice president, 3Com Enterprise Systems. "3Com developed its Convergence Leadership Alliance Program to deliver integrated solutions that simplify and accelerate the deployment of these converged solutions. We are going beyond the hype, and intend to lead this trend by providing the market with real, practical support."
Three-Tiered Program to Deliver Converged Solutions
3Com`s multi-tier Convergence Leadership Alliance Program has three levels of activity:
application and technology vendor product testing, integration, documentation and training
systems integrator training and collaboration, and
end user solution consultation, design, deployment and support.
In the Convergence Lab, 3Com has collaborated closely with a range of established and emerging technology organisations to co-develop, integrate, test and support converged solutions based on their respective products. The company today named the first members of the Convergence Leaders Alliance Program:
Dell Computer - Dell Computer`s desktop computers are featured in the Lab using 3Com network interface technology.
FutureTel - MPEG-1/MPEG-2 technology for PC video, network video, video publishing and broadcast markets
International Automation Associates - solutions provider and systems integrator
Microsoft - for Windows-based streaming video technology and desktop teleconferencing solutions
Ninth House - for multimedia training software
Optivision - for MPEG video technology
Polycom - audio, data and videoconferencing products
Siemens Information and Communication Networks - solutions provider and systems integrator
Tegrity - for interactive presentation tools
Through the program, 3Com and its alliance members will document optimal converged solutions from both a network infrastructure and application perspective. This will provide customers with preferred network design recommendations for enterprise-wide deployment of the converged solutions tested and integrated in the Convergence Lab. In addition to the vendor and end user levels of the program, 3Com has developed a Convergence Leadership component for systems integrators. The Convergence Lab has implemented a program, co-hosted by Microsoft, to train hundreds of 3Com sales and design architects, as well as systems integrators, on streaming media solutions using Microsoft`s Windows Media Technologies.
"This program is designed to accelerate the deployment of applications such as online training, corporate communications and e-commerce for enterprise customers," says 3Com`s Ruinaard. "3Com has also extended its training to include solutions from all the Alliance Program members."
3Com has also presented eleven customers with Convergence Leaders awards, honouring these organisations for excellence in IT vision. 3Com acknowledged customers in a variety of industry segments for their early adoption of converged networks, some of whom provided valuable feedback to the program to ensure that the Lab solutions meet real-world requirements.
Customers receiving the 1999 Convergence Leaders awards include:
Adobe Systems
Health Sciences Centre
Naval Postgraduate School
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Pennsbury School District
Stations Casino
TRW
The University of Arizona
University Hospital (Denver)
University of California/Davis
Widener University
"Our vision of integrating, testing and demonstrating real world converged network solutions give many customers their first taste of converged applications, as well as the confidence that they can be deployed now," says 3Com`s Convergence Lab Director, David Hurwit,. "We plan to expand our alliance program aggressively to bring customers more solutions, so watch this space."
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3Com Convergence Lab
The 3Com Convergence Lab was established in 1997 to help customers understand how to design and deploy converged networks. The lab develops and demonstrates end-to-end converged network solutions that integrate advanced networking systems and features, along with traditional and multimedia applications from leading vendors. Vertical market solutions demonstrated in the lab include distance learning and distributed training, telemedicine, and entertainment. Other lab activities include publishing design guidelines and technical white papers, identifying requirements for new network features and technologies, and prototyping advanced networking capabilities. 3Com`s multi-million dollar investment in the Lab remains unique throughout the entire networking industry.
With more than 200 million customers worldwide, 3Com Corporation connects more people in more ways to information than any other networking company. 3Com delivers innovative information access products and network system solutions to large, medium and small enterprises; carriers and network service providers; PC OEMs; and consumers. 3Com `More connected`. For further information, visit 3Com`s World Wide Web site at www.3com.com or the press site at www.3com.com/pressbox.
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