3Com VCX drive delayed

Conversion of IP telephony technology to work in UK could take six months

3Com will relaunch its channel programme in the US this month, allowing its resellers to market its VCX7000 enterprise IP telephony system.

However, the need to convert the technology to work with European telephony systems means UK resellers may not see the product for six months.

"We intend to bring VCX to resellers in the UK," said Rob Coyne, general manager of 3Com in the UK. "But because the product would need different homologations, it's likely to reach the UK in the middle of next year."

However, the 90 to 95 per cent of US resellers the firm believes will not be capable of installing or supporting the product - which can cater for up to 50,000 users - will be paid a finder's fee, with 3Com doing the installation and integration.

Coyne agreed the VCX was not for all resellers but said a plan of action for the channel was still some way off.

"Because it's a high-end soft switch, a channel in the UK would be self-selecting," he said.

Mike Sparkes, business development manager at Satelcom, a top-tier 3Com partner, said: "The VCX is an existing switch. We expect to look at it in detail once it comes to the UK."