3Com and Telkom have established a business technology partnership to take 3Com`s local area network (LAN) telephony products to the South African market.
Dan Winters, Telkom`s marketing executive for product development, says both the PC world and telephony have been growing "by leaps and bounds".
If companies wish to be competitive both locally and internationally, there is a need to integrate the two so businesses have just one network. In addition to other advantages, this will result in cost saving, since there is only one network to maintain.
The relationship between the two companies will combine 3Com`s networking solutions expertise with Telkom`s telecommunications, sales and support expertise, with the LAN telephony being sold and supported by Telkom.
The solutions will enable customers to select sophisticated telephony options, including inbound and outbound call management, voicemail, unified messaging, automated attendant, call centre services and computer telephony integration.
All the features will be managed remotely without a dedicated IT resource on site.
Buddie Ceronie, 3Com`s general manager for sub-Saharan Africa, says the partnership will not have an effect on the group`s relationship with its resellers, since they have traditionally not entered this technology area.
"The dilemma that customers face today is how to keep up with the IT industry, and how to use enabling technology to enhance their business abilities," says Telkom marketing senior executive Maurice James.
"Telkom intends to offer business solutions to the market that will enable improved productivity, customer relations and integrated call centre technology into one cost-effective solution."
Ceronie says the companies have been granted permission by the South African Telecommunications Regulatory Authority to market the products in SA. Winters adds that LAN telephony is within the terms of Telkom`s licence.
Winters says he expects the first products to enter the market in the fourth quarter of this year.
Asked whether the partnership will go beyond LAN telephony, Winters says Telkom has put no limits on the relationship with 3Com.
He adds that Telkom is not building a technology war chest because of impending deregulation of the telecommunications sector, but because customers need it.
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