Mitel and Inter-Tel fail to deliver on roadmap

Following lengthy voice over IP merger resellers await channel implications

Gwatkin: It is still too early to say whether any products will be discontinued.

Mitel and Inter-Tel resellers are still in the dark over the channel implications of the two voice over IP vendors’ merger, which has now finally closed nearly four months after a deal was first mooted.

Canada-based Mitel cleared the last hurdle standing in the way of the $723m (£365) transaction after a shareholder motion to prevent the union was denied by the Delaware Court of Chancery.

Brian Selby, group sales director at Mitel and Inter-Tel VAR Universal Office Automation, said: “We know very little of Mitel or Inter-Tel’s plans for Europe.

“Competitors are creating uncertainty and doubt among the Inter-Tel and Mitel customer base and we are keen to have a roadmap for the joint company as soon as possible.”

Richard Dendel, managing director at Mitel VAR Britannic Technologies, expressed doubts that the vendor would continue supporting Inter-Tel customers throughout the UK, where Mitel has a much stronger presence.

“I think Inter-Tel products will be on the roadmap for the next two releases, but long-term I can’t see it is something we would invest in if we were an end-user,” he said.

Simon Gwatkin, vice president of strategic marketing at Mitel, admitted it would be “months” before a product roadmap was unveiled, but stressed Mitel would “cherry pick” the best parts of Mitel and Inter-
Tel’s offerings.

“It is still too early to say [whether or not any products will be discontinued], but we’re not going to take anything away from our value proposition,” he said.

“Our guiding principle is always to offer Inter-Tel customers maintenance on current products, along with extended and enhanced migration possibilities.”