Interactive Intelligence (Nasdaq: ININ) is releasing an integrated solution that combines its all-in-one IP communications software platform with Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007. The integration is designed to help organisations communicate more effectively by adding contact centre and IP telephony functionality to OCS environments.
The Interactive Intelligence all-in-one IP communications software platform adds features such as multi-channel skills-based routing, call and screen recording, an operator console interface, workforce management, and cradle-to-grave reporting. The integration also offers the ability to exchange instant messages (IM) between the two systems using OCS's secure IM engine through a common enterprise-wide user directory.
"We've gone beyond the basic integration of simply connecting audio calls between systems," said Interactive Intelligence founder and CEO, Dr Donald E Brown. "Combined with OCS, our solution provides a broad set of contact centre and IP telephony applications, a common company directory, and simplified administration for user provisioning.
"The beauty of this combined solution is that all users can share information and communicate with one another in real-time even though they are running desktop software from two different vendors. For instance, an engineer in California running an Office Communicator Client using a PC as a soft phone can call or 'IM' a product manager in New York running our Interaction Client. In addition, because our integration to OCS uses a direct SIP connection, customers don't have to purchase pricey gateways."
"Interactive Intelligence has taken OCS integration a step forward by enabling customers to more easily take advantage of both the collaboration capabilities in OCS, and the contact centre and IP telephony functionality in CIC - all while giving users the choice of which client to run at the desktop," said Yankee Group enterprise research group analyst, Vanessa Alvarez. "From an industry perspective, this move pushes unified communications forward, which Yankee believes is critical for achieving the Anywhere Enterprise where employees, customers, assets and partners can easily connect to applications, information and services whenever and wherever they need them."
Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 manages real-time communications, including instant messaging, voice over IP, audio and video conferencing. It works with existing telecommunications systems so businesses can deploy advanced VOIP and conferencing without tearing out their legacy phone networks. Microsoft OCS also powers Presence, a key benefit of Microsoft unified communications that unites all the contact information stored in Active Directory with the ways people communicate.
In 1997 Interactive Intelligence launched its first product based on the company's all-in-one IP communications software platform called Interaction Centre Platform. This platform was designed to deliver comprehensive applications minus the cost and complexity introduced by multipoint products. Today it serves as the basis for all the Interactive Intelligence products, including Customer Interaction Centre (CIC) for contact centre automation and Vonexus Enterprise Interaction Centre (Vonexus EIC) for enterprise IP telephony.
The Interactive Intelligence integration to OCS is planned for general availability in Q3 2008. It will be offered through the Interactive Intelligence channel of approximately 300 value-added resellers worldwide.
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