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10 Apr 2006
IBM has taken its first tentative steps into the IP telephony (IPT) arena by signing an agreement with 3Com to port its telephony suite onto the IBM iSeries platform.
The System I IP Telephony Suite is a combination of the hardware, database storage and security pre-integrated on IBM’s iSeries platform, and 3Com’s VCX product suite.
Honouré La Bourdette, vice-president of strategic alliances worldwide at 3Com, said IBM decided to use 3Com’s software because it is based on native standards-based IPT using SIP. This will allow IBM’s ISVs to build additional applications around the suite, she added.
“The industry is really making moves into the convergence space, and IBM saw this as a huge growth opportunity,” she said.
“IBM has an installed iSeries base of 160,000. Only about 20 per cent of these have made the transition over to IPT, so there is a massive opportunity. The whole point of this product suite is that it is based on open standards so that ISVs can start to build applications such as CRM around it. We are really converging at the application layer now.”
She said the product will be sold through IBM’s Business Partner channel, but that 3Com VARs will only be allowed to sell the suite if they have passed the Business Partner accreditation with IBM.
“The iSeries platform is complex. We will ensure that VARs have expertise in this system, and be able to demonstrate their ability to integrate applications on iSeries, before they can sell it,” she added.
Gordon Davies, commercial director of 3Com reseller Compusys, said: “You will see more and more of these types of deals as the digital enterprise becomes a reality.
“3Com has a better positioning and creditability in IPT. I’m not surprised IBM is ‘piggy backing’ on what 3Com can deliver.”
>> Further reading:
www.channelweb.co.uk/2151802
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