IBM signs exclusive SA deal with Polycom

IBM SA has signed an exclusive deal to become the distributor of Polycom IP phones in SA.

The deal is a coup that allows IBM SA to provide a range of advanced features offered by IP telephony, but at a better price than other handsets. The Polycom handsets are CiscoVerified and are compatible with its widely used CallManager backend system.

"What used to be an expensive environment is now much more cost-effective," says Giovanni Venturella, IBM SA`s senior networking and connectivity specialist.

IP-based telephony is a burgeoning market because of the advantages it offers for converging a variety of communications systems into one protocol.

As Internet Protocol is the default on which the world`s communication backbone runs, it makes sense to switch to this phone system. In addition it reduces the cost for corporates to maintain a separate telecommunication network on top of an IP-based, computer infrastructure.

"What IP phones allow us to do is move closer to IP convergence, replacing a PABX with Cisco`s IP CallManager," says Venturella.

Apart from the obvious advantage of being much more cost-effective, it adds greater intelligence to the phone system. "The other benefit is that it replaces the entire switchboard," says Venturella.

A receptionist no longer needs a computer or terminal, as the feature-rich Polycom phone has its own small screen and the ability to track which users are on a call, in a meeting or otherwise unavailable.

The Polycom model IP500CS phone has sophisticated features, including several function and service keys. These service keys can plug into any IP-based services, such a local contacts directory for a corporate, or white or yellow pages on the Internet.

The phone has its own keyboard, and is a powerful and interactive terminal that can be used for other functions such as live stock quotes or checking flight schedules. It is even enabled to perform e-commerce transactions, such as booking hotel rooms and services, or even ordering pizza through a service like Mr Delivery.

The service button allows users to scroll and select services, through the offered menu options. An additional advantage of this type of transaction is that the phone can automatically supply the vendor, like Mr Delivery, with the user`s address and other details.

All of these services are stored on the Cisco CallManager backend, which can also plug into other unified messaging systems or be integrated into a corporate database. Therefore, if the local directory of in-house phone numbers is linked to the CallManager, looking up the contact details of a colleague can all be done on the phone.

"For corporate clients, for instance," says Venturella, "it allows for re-routing of calls across the Internet to any destination that is connected using IP. A travelling executive can receive calls made to his Johannesburg office if he is in the Cape Town office for a meeting, or calls could also be re-routed to his home.

With Cisco`s CallManager, a set of filtering rules can also be applied that takes away the need for a personal assistant. For instance, the phone can be set to accept urgent calls from one particular client while diverting all low-priority calls to voice mail.

"Additionally, for a large hotel it allows greater flexibility and cost savings than traditional PABX systems. What`s more, if customers are travelling between hotels in different cities, calls can be routed to their new destination while they are in transit, as has been demonstrated in an IBM pilot project in the US," says Venturella.

Yet another advantage of the Polycom phone is that it can be set to update itself by visiting the Polycom server and checking for new drivers. Using a preset time, most likely late at night or in the early morning, it updates its own software.

"This reduces the administrative maintenance time required from the network administrator. It`s not only a very intelligent and self-maintaining phone but it saves time too."