Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise Unified Communication and Collaboration










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Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise
Unified Communication and Collaboration

by Sherry Kercher

Docid: 00018959

Publication Date: 2011

Report Type: PRODUCT

Preview

Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise’s (ALE) Unified Communication and Collaboration
products offer IP software and systems for enterprise telephone,
messaging, conferencing, collaboration, and mobile work. Its features are
designed to increase productivity and collaboration while cutting the cost
of travel for business meetings. This report describes the components of
the suite.

Report Contents:

Description

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Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise’s (ALE) Unified Communication (UC) and
Collaboration portfolio offers IP applications for enterprise telephone,
messaging, conferencing, mobility, and collaboration.

Related

Faulkner
Reports

Unified Communications Market
Trends
Report

Unified Communications Strategy.  ALE promotes a
unified communications strategy as a way to increase collaboration while
cutting costs of travel for business meetings. 

New integration for remote desktop and mobile support is designed to
increase employee responsiveness and productivity. 


Vendor

Company Name: Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise (ALE)
Headquarters:
3 Av. Octave Greard
Paris 75007, France
Phone: (011) +33-1-40-76-10-10
Web: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/
Type of Vendor: Telecommunications equipment
and services provider
Founded: 1838
Service Areas: Worldwide
Stock Symbol: ALU

In addition, UC provides a single in-house system that can connect the
disparate workforce of a company or agency spread across multi-site and
multi-national locations.  

Elements of a UC System. UC products include back-end
systems and software to power calls, messages, directories, collaboration
work tools, and information sharing from any location, using any device or
software interface.

One-Vendor Design. Like other vendor’s UC suites,
ALE’s products are designed to provide businesses with a one-stop
portfolio to meet all communications needs. 

Product Areas. ALE’s portfolio includes OpenTouch
and OpenTouch products, as well as Unified Messaging, mobility, and Web
Services.

Key Products. The ALE Unified Communication and
Collaboration portfolio includes:

  • OpenTouch Business Edition
  • OpenTouch Multimedia Services
  • OpenTouch TeamShare
  • OpenTouch Conference
  • OpenTouch Fax Center
  • Web Services
  • Unified Messaging

Unified Communications applications include:

  • My IC Web
  • OpenTouch Conversation
  • OpenTouch Message Center
  • PIMphony
  • Smart Guest applications
  • 4059 Extended Edition Attendant Console
  • Visual Automated Attendant
  • Greetings for SMB
  • OmniPCX RECORD Suite
  • OmniTouch 4625 Interactive Voice Response
  • OmniTouch Contact Center Standard Edition
  • Soft Panel Manager
  • OmniTouch Notification Service
  • Mobile Guest Softphone
  • IP Desktop Softphone

Unified Communications platforms include:

  • OXO Connect
  • OmniPCX Enteprise
  • OpenTouch Business Edition
  • IP Desktop Softphone
  • OpenTouch Enterprise Cloud
  • OpenTouch Multimedia Services
  • Rainbow

Table 1 details key components of the ALE OpenTouch Unified Communication
and Collaboration portfolio.

Table 1. Select ALE OpenTouch Unified Communications Portfolio
Product Category Description Features
OpenTouch Business Edition UC A single-server platform for providing
multimedia collaboration and mobility services. It can be provided
as pre-installed appliances, or as a software-only configuration
running on VMware. It supports desk phones, mobile handsets, and
PC, tablet and smartphone software clients providing audio, video,
IM and content sharing.
  • Professional welcome services, from greeting and group
    calls, to centralized attendant applications.
  • Contact center services, including a visual distribution
    matrix.
  • Multi-site support with bandwidth control.
  • Flexible auto-attendant, screening, group, routing and
    messaging services.
  •  Pre-installed applications.
  • Unified user management.
  • Real-time thresholds and alerts.
  • High-availability options.
OpenTouch Multimedia Services UC Management system that combines
native multi-party conferencing, multi-device support, and
multimedia into a single application suite.
  • Video at the core: voice-activated multipoint video
    switching without an MCU.
  • All-in-one pre-installed server.
  • User centricity: same experience across devices (My IC
    Phone, My IC Desktop and My IC Mobile), transparently switch
    from one device to another while interacting.
OpenTouch Conference UC Audio conferencing and screen sharing
application that lets employees set up and attend multi-user voice
calls.
  • Clear icons and easy-to-use interface
  • Host can drop or mute any participants
  • Dial participants in directly and add them to the conference
  • Instant screen sharing for host and participants
  • Ability to record a call as an mp3 file for future reference
  • Call leaders can open a conference online using any browser,
    Microsoft™ Outlook® or their mobile device (Android®, iPhone®,
    iPad® and BlackBerry®)
  • Participants can also join the conference using any of these
    three methods – See more at:
    http://enterprise.alcatel-lucent.com/?product=OpenTouchConference&page=overview#sthash.H5l7xLx0.dpuf
  • Clear icons and easy-to-use interface
  • Host can drop or mute any participants
  • Dial participants in directly and add them to the conference
  • Instant screen sharing for host and participants
  • Ability to record a call as an mp3 file for future reference
  • Call leaders can open a conference online using any browser,
    Microsoft™ Outlook® or their mobile device (Android®, iPhone®,
    iPad® and BlackBerry®)
  • Participants can also join the conference using any of these
    three methods – See more at:
    http://enterprise.alcatel-lucent.com/?product=OpenTouchConference&page=overview#sthash.H5l7xLx0.dpuf
    • Host can drop and mute participants
    • Instant screen sharing
    • Record a call as an mp3 file
    • Leaders can open a conference in any browser, Outlook, or
      mobile device
    Unified Messaging UC A messaging platform that allows for
    network-wide unified messaging services. It offers visual voice
    messaging access to voice messages from smartphones,
    Alcatel-Lucent desktop phones and softphones, and email
    applications.
    • Compatibility
      Compatible with Alcatel-Lucent IP Touch 8 Series 4028, 4038
      and 4068 Extended Edition desk phones; OpenTouch 8082 My
      Instant Communicator (IC) Phone; Apple iPhone; Android and
      BlackBerry through Alcatel-Lucent OpenTouch 8600 My Instant
      Communicator (MIC) Mobile Edition; Alcatel-Lucent OpenTouch
      Conversation (OTC) for iPad.
    • Multiple Browser Support
      Works with any browser.
    • Accessibility
      Access voice messages from Microsoft Outlook and IBM Notes
      email applications with enhanced voicemail management
      features.
    • Interface
      Telephone user interface (TUI) voice message accessibility
      from any phone.
    • Synchronization
      Message state synchronization across all devices.
    XML Web Services & Application
    Programming Interfaces
    UC Open interfaces for integrating Alcatel
    products with customer business applications. XML and APIs are
    used to handle user interactions and device management, for
    Alcatel communication platforms.
    • My IP Touch XML Services
      Allow an application to interact with Alcatel OmniPCX users
      through IP Touch terminals.
    • My Management Web Services
      Manage OmniPCX configuration data.
    • My Phone Web Services
      Telephony services including incoming call, personal phonebook
      management, phone set management, universal directory access,
      nomad mode, and call log.
    • My Messaging Web Services
      Interact with a voice from third-party application.
    • My Assistant Web Services
      Sets and reviews rules that route incoming calls for an
      OmniPCX Enterprise user.
    OpenTouch Fax Center UC Scalable, full software, board-less Fax
    over IP.
    • Remote faxing capabilities.
    OpenTouch TeamShare UC Cloud-based application for PCs,
    smartphones, and tablets, allowing users to set up collboration
    outside of the office environment.
  • Clear icons and easy-to-use interface
  • Create workspaces, invite and manage access rights
  • Share files securely and always be synchronized
  • Access from any mobile device
  • Collaborate with project members, share agendas and set up
    meetings
  • Manage tasks and track time spent on your projects
  • Easy to stay connected with members through discussions,
    notifications, chat and wall – See more at:
    http://enterprise.alcatel-lucent.com/?product=OpenTouchTeamshare&page=overview#sthash.TyJtWPlL.dpuf
  • Clear icons and easy-to-use interface
  • Create workspaces, invite and manage access rights
  • Share files securely and always be synchronized
  • Access from any mobile device
  • Collaborate with project members, share agendas and set up
    meetings
  • Manage tasks and track time spent on your projects
  • Easy to stay connected with members through discussions,
    notifications, chat and wall – See more at:
    http://enterprise.alcatel-lucent.com/?product=OpenTouchTeamshare&page=overview#sthash.TyJtWPlL.dpuf
  • Clear icons and easy-to-use interface
  • Create workspaces, invite and manage access rights
  • Share files securely and always be synchronized
  • Access from any mobile device
  • Collaborate with project members, share agendas and set up
    meetings
  • Manage tasks and track time spent on your projects
  • Easy to stay connected with members through discussions,
    notifications, chat and wall – See more at:
    http://enterprise.alcatel-lucent.com/?product=OpenTouchTeamshare&page=overview#sthash.TyJtWPlL.dpuf
  • Clear icons and easy-to-use interface
  • Create workspaces, invite and manage access rights
  • Share files securely and always be synchronized
  • Access from any mobile device
  • Collaborate with project members, share agendas and set up
    meetings
  • Manage tasks and track time spent on your projects
  • Easy to stay connected with members through discussions,
    notifications, chat and wall – See more at:
    http://enterprise.alcatel-lucent.com/?product=OpenTouchTeamshare&page=overview#sthash.TyJtWPlL.dpuf
    • Secure sharing of files.
    • Accessible from mobile devices.
    • Clear icons
    • Provides discussion, notification, and chat

    Figure 1 details ALE’s Rainbow interface.

    Figure 1. Rainbow User Interface

    Figure 1. Rainbow User Interface

    Source: ALE

    Figure 2 depicts the OpenTouch Customer Service view.

    Figure 2. ALE OpenTouch Customer Service Interface

    Figure 2. ALE OpenTouch Customer Service Interface

    Source: ALE

    Applications

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    ALE’s UC products were created for organizations of virtually any size or
    scale, looking to increase their collaborative capabilities. These
    products integrate with most enterprise systems and are scalable for IP
    multimedia communications networks, both present and in the foreseeable
    future. They are interoperable with existing resources such as corporate
    mail servers, private branch exchanges (PBXs), business applications,
    directories, and databases, and operate in a plug-and-play user
    environment. 

    Table 2 illustrates various market segments that can benefit from select
    ALE Unified Communications applications.

    Table 2. Select ALE UC Product Applications in the Marketplace
    Product Market Applications
    OpenTouch Business Edition Enterprises of up to 1500
    employees and 3000 devices
    OpenTouch Conference Fortune 100 and 500
    companies
    XML Web Services
    Application Programming Interface
    Developers
    OpenTouch Fax Center Enterprises adapting the
    workforce and realigning business processes to new IP environments
    OpenTouch Conversation Mobile Workers
    PIMphony Small to Medium-Sized
    Businesses
    OpenTouch Message Center Remote Workers
    OpenTouch TeamShare Enterprises
    OpenTouch Multimedia
    Services
    Office and Remote Workers

    Environment

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    ALE’s Unified Communication and Collaboration products run on a common
    J2EE interaction engine, allowing users to choose the interface they want
    for accessing applications and resources. This interface can be a Web
    browser, mobile phone, wireless PDA, Outlook, HCL Notes, Outlook Web
    Access, iNotes, or any kind of phone, for voice access. Unified
    Communications products will also integrate into existing PBXs, IBM
    Websphere portal, Microsoft SharePoint portal, CRM applications, ERP
    applications, directories, and databases.

    Table 3 outlines the operating environment for select ALE Unified
    Communication and Collaboration products.

    Table 3. ALE Unified Communications Operating Environment
    Product Software / Hardware
    Considerations
    OpenTouch 8600
    My Instant Communicator
    Existing business
    applications, accessed from a computer, IP phone, or PDA. Can also
    be implemented with OpenTouch UC Applications Suite.
    OpenTouch 8660
    MyTeamwork Conferencing and Collaboration
    Runs on commonly available
    computer hardware without a specialized software or VPN
    connection.
    XML Web Services
    Application Programming Interface
    Customer business
    applications.
    OpenTouch 8450 Fax Center VoIP technology and the
    T.38 fax relay capabilities of top VoIP gateways. It complements
    the Alcatel OpenTouch UC Application Suite, thus enriching unified
    messaging with fax mail, in addition to e-mail and voice
    messaging.
    OpenTouch 8400
    Instant Communications Suite
    Supports smartphones,
    wireless network technologies such as Wi-Fi and 3G, and mobile UC.
    OpenTouch 8460
    Advanced Communications Server
    Hosted and premises-based
    environments across wireless and wire-line networks.

    Support

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    ALE maintains a professional services group, which provides services for
    assessment, design, and implementation. It also offers online resources,
    such as publications, live help, support forums, software downloads, and
    contact information. Users can e-mail their questions to a staff member,
    and can also sign up for education and training courses.

    Pricing

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    The costs for ALE’s UC applications are configuration-dependent.
    Potential customers can contact its sales staff directly for pricing
    information, by filling out ALE’s sales
    inquiry
    form
    .

    Competitors

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    ALE’s UC products compete with Cisco’s Voice and Unified Communications
    products, Avaya Unified Communications Software, IBM Unified
    Communications and Collaboration software, Microsoft’s Unified
    Communications, HP’s Unified Communications and Collaboration, Oracle’s
    Unified Communications, Siemens HiPath and OpenScape, and Callware’s
    Callegra.UC.

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    About the Author

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    Sherry Kercher is an editor for Faulkner Information
    Services. She holds a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science,
    and tracks and writes about storage, communication networks and equipment,
    and Internet technologies.

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