Canadian-based next-generation IP telephony solutions provider Mitel Networks says technology shifts and the deregulation process in SA mean that this is a prime market for growth.
Graham Bevington, Mitel MD for EMEAAP, describes deregulation as a "compelling event that will change the marketplace forever".
Bevington says he has seen deregulation in the US and UK resulting in improved services and reduced costs to consumers. "The results of deregulation are usually positive," he says. With this in mind, Mitel Networks is targeting the local market, and plans to expand into the rest of Africa too.
Mitel Networks expects the local market to prove "huge" for the company, although it has not yet quantified the cash value of the potential market for its products.
Mitel Networks launched its new South African marketing plan with a presence at ITU Africa 2001 at Gallagher Estate this week. The company exhibited a range of offerings together with its marketing partner, March Networks, a developer and distributor of integrated communications applications and delivery platforms. Mitel Networks is represented in SA by NetCom CRM for its range of PBX products. More local partnerships are being investigated.
Mitel Networks` integration of voice and data infrastructures, with patented dual-bus architecture in its IP platforms, allows communication systems to accommodate IP and digital phones. The Integrated Communications Platforms allow enterprise customers to seamlessly implement or upgrade to a voice-over-IP (VOIP) infrastructure without sacrificing any of the features or functionality of the traditional PBX. Clients also benefit from a broad range of IP-enabled applications.
Among other sectors, Mitel Networks is targeting the local small and medium enterprise (SME) market with its next-generation converged voice, video and data applications. Its single-box product for SMEs, the Mitel Networks 3100 Integrated Communications Platform, provides a business communications system, local area network and a gateway to the Web, in a single platform. The product includes features such as integrated auto-attendant, voicemail, router and power sensitive hub, IP-based voice and data communications, and management tools and applications.
The new Mitel Networks 3300 Integrated Communications Platform provides scalable IP communications for the medium to large enterprise. Building on the 3200 ICP, the 3300 ICP offers voice features and supports a suite of IP-based applications and desktop appliances. The 3300 ICP is controlled by a Web-based management system, allowing users to control features online.
Another advance by Mitel Networks is its 6500 Speech-Enabled Applications, using new architecture that brings speech recognition capabilities to a wide range of telephony solutions, applications and standalone products. Mitel Networks 6500 Speech Enabled Applications technology supports conversational speech recognition, recognising entire sentences and not simply single words.
Visitors to Mitel Networks` exhibition at ITU Africa 2001 are reported to have shown particular interest in the IP LAN telephony solution and BroadBand Digital Video offerings.
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