IBM Systems Magazine, Power Systems - IBM i digital edition, March 2009 - 12

Trends attendant, voice mail, automatic call distribution, call-detail reporting and more. Many vendors may add a few bells and whistles, but otherwise will stop here and call it UC. True UC solutions need capabilities like integrated meet-me voice conferencing; PC-based soft phones with presence, instant messaging and video conferencing capabilities; voice/ unified messaging; integration with e-mail, calendar and other desktop applications; find-me/follow-me capabilities; support for a wide variety of clients and third-party applications; and the list goes on. A true UC solution must be future-proof and simple to use. marketplace for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) that provides one-stop shopping for IBM systems, complementary applications and network connectivity. The Nortel solution has its roots in the global open-source ecosystem, specifically the sipXecs initiative from SIPfoundry (www.sipfoundry.org). SIPfoundry is an independent, nonprofit open-source organization with the mandate of building a global and truly unified communications system using the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), a universally accepted communications protocol. Nortel has taken the open-source code and layered on it a comprehensive testing and support system, feature and application-performance enhancements, a certification process for interoperability, client integration, and other important quality-related verification activities (both on the software itself and related to integration with certified IBM Power Systems). SCS500 also offers an optional high-availability mode for load sharing across two IBM platforms (with the primary for call control and the secondary for media services) for seamless backup and optimized redundancy. The Nortel Approach IBM Power Systems can be combined with open-source applications and Nortel to UC-enable your investment. Many of you may be interested in open source and what it can do for your business, but you don’t want to take the chance on using some science project for your critical communications. But solutions providers can use open source as part of the refinement process for new features, applications and capabilities, and as a result, help expedite the overall development cycle. Open source also offers a level of transparency to the development process and an effective way to feed requirements into the solution as it evolves. Such is the Nortel Software Communication System 500 (SCS500) UC solution offered on IBM System i* and Power Systems running IBM i. SCS500 (www.nortel.com/scs500) is a software-based UC solution that’s easily loaded onto existing Power Systems. It’s also preloaded on all IBM Power Systems solutions sold via the IBM Smart Market (www.ibm.com/smartmarket), a new online Saving Time and Money How can a UC solution save you time and money? Let’s imagine you have a traditional PBX phone system and are looking at upgrading. As a software-based solution, SCS500 runs your existing IBM system and saves you the expense of additional core hardware platforms. Table 1 (below) shows that IP telephony has been proven time and again to significantly lower total network operating costs, while dramatically simplifying management and administration activities. Table 2 (page 14) profiles a few Table 1 Capabilities Lower Network Operating Costs Description Use one fully converged network leveraging your existing IBM investment. Dramatically simplify moves, adds and changes (MACs). Increase bandwidth agility. Time and money savings Save on outsourced IT and telecom costs and expensive new hardware you don’t need. Save up to $400 per user per MAC1 with plug-and-play capabilities and an intuitive administration portal. Leverage SCS500’s SIP trunking capabilities. Avoid charges using “on net” calls between sites. Use power over Ethernet (PoE) with IP phones to avoid expensive electrical cabling. Uninterruptible power supplies back up Ethernet switches, which power IP phones and can provide connectivity to laptops2,, keeping you connected if the power goes down. Teleworkers can avoid leased line, real-estate and travel Converged IT/telephony network Simpler administration Service provider charges Avoid long-distance charges. Eliminate the need for separate cable New site/user deployment drops to each user’s station. Improve business continuity Business continuity strategy with PoE. Teleworker enablement Cost-effectively enable teleworkers. expenses with PC-based soft phones and high-speed Internet. 1. Voice Over IP—Trends and Direction, Analyst, Nemertes Research 2007 2. Connectivity to laptops via IP phones with integrated two-port switches; one for phone connectivity/power and the other for laptop connectivity. 12 MARCH 2009 ibmsystemsmag.com/ibmi

http://www.sipfoundry.org http://www.nortel.com/scs500 http://www.ibm.com/smartmarket http://www.ibmsystemsmag.com/ibmi

IBM Systems Magazine, Power Systems - IBM i digital edition, March 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IBM Systems Magazine, Power Systems - IBM i digital edition, March 2009