The FINANCIAL -- Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM, TSX: RIM) on May 4 announced BlackBerry Mobile Voice System (MVS) Server for Cisco Unified Communications Manager – a new version of BlackBerry MVS Server that is optimized for use with Cisco Unified Communications Manager version 6.1 or later.
BlackBerry MVS Server for Cisco Unified Communications Manager can make employees more accessible and productive both in and out of the office, and empower organizations with the management and control of corporate voice services on BlackBerry smartphones.
BlackBerry MVS, through integration with Cisco Unified Communications Manager, supports a rich set of features on BlackBerry smartphones, including:
One “reach me anywhere” corporate phone number, one caller ID and one voice mailbox for both the Cisco Unified IP desk phone and BlackBerry smartphone.
Simultaneous or sequential ringing of up to four devices, including BlackBerry smartphones and Cisco Unified IP Phones.
Easy access to Cisco Unified Communications Manager telephony functions such as call transfer and extension dialing with a seamless, intuitive user experience on BlackBerry smartphones.
Flexibility to make calls from the smartphone using either the BlackBerry phone number or enterprise line.
Ability to transition an in-session call from a BlackBerry smartphone to the user’s Cisco Unified IP Phone.
"The solution, developed by RIM as part of Cisco’s Technology Developer Program, features deeper integration with BlackBerry Enterprise Server and direct SIP integration between Cisco Unified Communications Manager and BlackBerry MVS Server for improved manageability, scalability and ease of deployment," BlackBerry reported.
With BlackBerry MVS Server for Cisco Unified Communications Manager, all outbound calls from BlackBerry smartphones can automatically authenticate and route through BlackBerry Enterprise Server and Cisco Unified Communications Manager, providing added security, manageability and functionality:
BlackBerry smartphone authentication: Designed to ensure that only authorized users are accessing Cisco Unified Communications Manager to make calls.
Flexibility in IT policies and controls for fixed and mobile voice services: BlackBerry MVS Server provides IT policies and controls, which can be applied to individuals or groups of users to prevent incoming or outgoing international or long-distance calling, 411 calls, or calls based on specified area codes, giving an organization better control of their costs. These policies can be the same as those applied to desktop calls, or different, as dictated by business and IT needs.
Call logging: IT administrators can set policies that require all inbound and outbound calls to be logged for auditing purposes or to meet regulatory requirements.
Least cost call routing: Enables IT administrators to route calls from BlackBerry smartphones through Cisco Unified Communications Manager, which can help minimize long distance calling charges.
Centralized management: BlackBerry Enterprise Server provides a central console that enables IT administrators to set up and support BlackBerry MVS services for smartphone users and manage voice activities.
Turn phone numbers into corporate assets: Companies can assign enterprise phone numbers to BlackBerry smartphones. If a person leaves the company, the phone number can be reassigned to their replacement. This ensures, for example, that if a sales representative leaves, customers will be calling the company and not the sales representative’s personal cellular number.
“We are extending Cisco Unified Communications Manager to BlackBerry smartphones to satisfy the demands of an increasingly mobile workforce,” said Alan Panezic, vice president, platform product management at RIM. “The deep integration between BlackBerry MVS Server, BlackBerry Enterprise Server and the Cisco phone system can provide mobile workers with a complete mobile office that includes secure email, corporate applications and enterprise voice services on their BlackBerry smartphones.”
“BlackBerry MVS Server and Cisco Unified Communications Manager together with BlackBerry Enterprise Server is a powerful combination for unified communications,” said Laurent Philonenko, vice president and general manager, Cisco Unified Communications business unit. “The integrated solution now enables IT professionals to manage mobile costs by extending corporate voice policy to their mobile devices, while offering BlackBerry smartphone users a rich set of familiar enterprise features through the same elegant, user interface of the BlackBerry smartphone.”
BlackBerry MVS Server for Cisco Unified Communications Manager will be available for North American customers in the third quarter of this year. It requires BlackBerry Enterprise Server 4.1.5 or later, Cisco Unified Communications Manager 6.1 or later, and a BlackBerry MVS Client installed on BlackBerry smartphones running BlackBerry Device Software 4.5 or later.
BlackBerry MVS Server is also available for a variety of telecommunications environments, including support for mixed TDM and IP PBX environments.
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