Tellumat's Sigma to lift Vox customers into the big leagues

Tellumat, a leading South African telecoms equipment provider, is releasing its first bulk order to Vox Telecom, the country's foremost alternative telco, for the celebrated Sigma communications solution for small offices and home offices (SoHos).

The deal marks the start of the much-anticipated mass release of the Sigma in South Africa, a move that will accelerate SMMEs' and consumers' adoption of end-to-end converged communications functionality in their offices and homes.

The Sigma has spearheaded British Telecom's (BT's) all-out push in the UK single-line broadband market, and has been favourably reviewed by local commentators. Steven Ambrose of Gadget.co.za notes that the Sigma "will make your small company feel big, and increase your efficiencies".

Bennie Langenhoven, Managing Executive of Tellumat Telecoms, says the Sigma has already seen small-scale distribution in the country. "But our increased focus on partnerships with telcos, ISPs and network operators will accelerate this communications revolution. These channels offer customers the benefit of an all-in-one solution and bundled services, such as voice minutes, VOIP termination, Internet services and much more."

Vox Telecom Limited, listed on the AltX exchange of the JSE, has taken on the Sigma through its BizCall product division. The Sigma will initially be distributed via @tlantic Internet, the consumer ISP acquired by Vox last year.

Doug Reed, CEO of Vox Telecom, says the company exhibited the Sigma at ITWeb's recent Digital Life expo, where it attracted much interest. Dederick Venter, @tlantic Internet marketing director, adds the unit fits perfectly with @tlantic's consumer focus, and says it will reach a broad array of customers quickly, given @tlantic's nationwide footprint.

"With the technical backing of Tellumat, we feel we have a winner here, a uniquely enabling solution that will lift its users into the big leagues."

The announcement builds on an existing partnership between Tellumat and the Vox group, which kicked off in January 2008 when Tellumat was awarded preferred supplier status to Orion Telecoms - another group company - of the Inter-Tel 5000 business communications platform.