Comms Dealer October 2009

BUSINESS INTERVIEW
www.comms-dealer.com
Aastra launches
NEWS EXTRA
Micro P enters
USB-based PBX
comms arena
A
astra has their existing base, to IT DISTRIBUTOR Micro P has
launched its help clean it up and start joined forces with vendor NEC in a
first software selling in a market that move designed to intensify its pres-
PBX for the SME isn’t competitive, because ence in the telecoms market.
market with an unusual you’re already the trusted Gerry O’Keeffe, MD at Micro
novelty twist – the entire advisor for your customers. P, said: “Working with NEC will
software suite is contained It’s hard for smaller resellers be a major keystone of our comms
on a USB memory stick, because they don’t have division. There is synergy between
and takes less than a the marketing capability the companies and NEC will be an
minute to install on any or the mailshot capability, integral part of our business.
networked Windows PC. nor do they have the “This is another piece of the jig-
Dealers who attended the monitoring capability saw in bringing IT and voice prod-
launch events last month, to keep track of how ucts together in our portfolio.”
co-hosted by Nimans and successful a campaign is.” Paul Bryan, Sales Director at
Rocom, for the Aastra Micro P, stated: “Our key aim is
800 range received a key Thomas Stephan, Head to grow our comms business. We
and free licenses to take of PLM SME Systems, want to take voice as well as data
home, try and demo to explained that the 800 products to the market with a view
customers. The application has been designed to to achieving the converged solution
can manage up to 200
Paul Johnson
be as simple to manage that everyone’s moving towards.”
O’Keeffe (left) & Cooper
extensions on an existing as possible. As a result, Andrew Cooper, Sales Director market share. Micro P is an estab-
LAN. The 800 uses the same Speaking at the London in its first release it lacks at NEC, added: “The NEC range of lished distributor with expertise in
engine as the Enterprise- launch event, Aastra’s features like desktop XN120 and SV8100 products and IT and data products. With Micro-
class OpenCom 100 system, Sales Director Paul Johnson videoconferencing and applications such as the MyCalls P already having NEC data prod-
and offers voicemail, told Comms Dealer that 3G support, although suite and Unified Communications ucts in its portfolio it made sense
instant messaging and the product was already these are planned for for Business (UCB) are growing in for it to include telecoms.”
presence over desktop proving successful with a software update next
softphones and the the channel. “One of year, along with a touch
Aastra 6775ip and 6773ip our reseller partners in screen SIP terminal. The
Frontier speeds past
handsets. It also supports Scotland looked at this current FMC application
Aastra’s DECToverIP product at our roadshow, runs on Symbian or
wireless solutions. Licensing and the next day sold a Blackberry handsets and
sales growth targets
starts at £2,000 for four SIP system with 45 extensions,” routes calls via GSM. FRONTIER Voice & Data has
trunks and 16 extensions. he commented. “Asterix sped past its growth targets for
and Swyx have made To reduce complexity, 2009, spurred by rising demand for
According to Phil Adams, a living out of this, but virtualised operating converged solutions.
Sales Director for distributor now they’ve got some systems and non-Windows The company has also increased
Nimans, over 20 resellers serious competition platforms are not supported its reseller and dealer partner chan-
have already signed because we can supply for the PBX software either, nel following the addition of three
up to add Aastra’s new everything end to end although the web-based new business developments manag-
software-based PBX to – the phones, software, client will run on any PC or ers in June.
their product portfolio. everything is Aastra.” Mac on the network. For a Michael J Thornton, Sales &
Interest has been strongest similar reason, the Aastra Marketing Director for Frontier
in professional practices To support the launch of 800 is currently designed for Voice & Data, said: “2009 has
looking for cost-effective the Aastra 800, Nimans and Windows XP or Server 2003 seen phenomenal growth for us.
unified communications Rocom will also be offering only. It will, however, run on It’s critical when growing a partner
Michael J Thornton
solutions. “When go into the lead generation services. the latest low power PCs. channel that standards of service the recession has been a boost for
accountancy practices, “When you talk to a lot “We did all of our testing on are maintained and not diluted. new converged comms solutions,”
the dental practices, of resellers about growing a Via C7,” says Stephan. “A Our expanded business develop- he said. “And by employing new
the doctors surgeries, their business, many people PC that isn’t even capable ment team has achieved that, while products and services to meet the
the legal fraternity and are looking outside their of playing a DVD. What continuing to add resellers and modern day demands of business
estate agents, they are existing business for new we usually recommend if dealers to our partner base.” we are experiencing growth and are
very interested,” he sales, rather than how you purchase hardware Thornton noted that as pres- driving through the recession.
commented. “Because the they can upgrade their today is the Atom 330, the sure on costs increases for busi- “We are investing in our service
applications for mobility current base,” said Adams. smallest dual core processor nesses, demand for new cost-sav- provision with continued develop-
and for FMC are everything “So we’re bringing in lead available. That will do the ing technologies such as hosted ments to our new website and
they’ve been looking for.” generation based around job for 50 users.” solutions has shot up. “Ironically, partner portal.”
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12 COMMS DEALER OCTOBER 2009 www.comms-dealer.com
12 Aastra.indd 1 6/10/09 09:07:29
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