July 29, 2004 Munich, Germany -- Siemens Information and Communication Networks (ICN) will supply the enterprise infrastructure to transform one of Europe's largest privately managed networks to support IP telephony. Siemens' contract, awarded by telecommunications solutions provider Global Crossing, involves upgrading the existing voice network that Global Crossing uses to deliver fully managed services to more than 110,000 public sector personnel located at 550 locations. Global Crossing is partnering with Siemens to deliver IP-enabled telephony as a first step towards ultimately migrating government users to a fully converged IP VPN communications solution.
Based on Siemens' HiPath technology, the solution includes the ability to use any device in any location and enjoy all the functionality of the desk phone, irrespective of network infrastructure--IP, TDM, PSTN, or wireless.
For example, users could be working from home and choose to have all of their calls routed to their home telephone via the PSTN. Alternatively, they could elect to receive their calls on a soft client on their PC, which is connected to the office LAN via a secure IP VPN. Whichever choice they make, their user profile is available from that phone, providing access to all of the features and privileges they would normally have at their desk, including feature keys, unified messaging, call forwarding, and diverts. In addition, the solution provides comprehensive management reports to optimize performance and manage costs, say company representatives.
The HiPath Enterprise Convergence Architecture from Siemens enables companies to further expand their existing voice and data infrastructures, safeguard their existing capital investment, and implement second-generation IP (2gIP) applications. According to Siemens, 2gIP applications optimize company processes and lead to a sustained improvement in productivity for the corporation. Over 70% of the Fortune 500 corporations have selected a HiPath solution, including BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Deutsche Bank, Ford, IBM, Kodak, SAP, BP, and Volvo.