Bell Canada to Trial Nortel Networks VoIP with Centrex Customers

📅 January 8, 2002 - Bell Canada and Nortel Networks today announced plans to conduct the first NorthAmerican trial of Nortel Networks Interactive Multimedia Server, a new Voiceover Internet Protocol product designed to deliver advanced multimediaservices. Beginning this month, Bell will trial the product with its largestenterprise Centrex customers, enabling them to increase employeecollaboration and improve productivity.

Nortel Networks Interactive Multimedia Server is designed to deliver instantvideo calling and other new telephone, Internet and video services using"off-the-shelf" computer hardware. It can be deployed in existingterrestrial or wireless networks, or in next generation packet voicenetworks.
"People have grown accustomed to the convenience provided by services likecaller ID and voice mail delivered over traditional telephone networks,"said Sue Spradley, president, Carrier Voice over IP, Nortel Networks. "Nowas we move to more cost-effective 'packet' networks, Nortel NetworksInteractive Multvimedia Server will deliver new, practical services that willfundamentally improve the way we communicate."
"Bell Canada is committed to providing converged IP solutions together withindustry leaders to deliver increased value to our customers and offer themmore communications options," said Joan Highet, vice president Voice, BellCanada. "This trial is the next step in the evolution of our Business Accessservices toward a suite of Hosted Business Telephony solutions. ThroughNortel Networks technology, we will be positioned to add or modify newservices and deliver them ubiquitously across our entire network."
As part of its Centrex IP evolution, Bell Canada plans to trial several newservices with Interactive Multimedia Server, including:Personal Call Management - users can specify how and when calls arereceived on a wireless, business or home phone based on pre-specifiedinstructions. Preferences can be customized based on time of day, Caller IDor other parameters.Instant Video Calling - users can initiate a video or voice callwithout having to pre-arrange conferencing facilities simply by putting on aheadset and clicking a button.Hot Desking - employees can carry phone numbers and callingpreferences with them when they change desks or offices, whether for the dayor for permanent relocations.Collaborative Messaging - regardless of location around the world,workers can collaborate in real-time, sharing files and Web pages, orengaging in interactive whiteboard sessions.
Nortel Networks Interactive Multimedia Server is available now with furtherservices and applications to be added in second quarter 2002. InteractiveMultimedia Server will also serve as an applications platform for NortelNetworks next generation Wireless Networks solutions, supporting 3GPP OpenServices Architecture specifications and taking advantage of the latest IPtechnology including Session Initiation Protocol.