SOFTWARE GROWTH

A software-based communications environment will simplify adding users, features and applications – without the old-school hassles of adding more hardware at each major increment of users. A highly scalable infrastructure, such as Siemens' OpenScape Voice application, enables you to implement just two highly resilient servers and grow up to 100,000 users without adding more hardware. It eliminates cost spikes and allows growth one user at a time, if needed, so that you can keep your cashflow optimized.

A centralized solution means that adding users at any location is equally efficient, with no servers or systems to be added at each location. Users can be added directly to the central system. Local gateways can be added to support local trunking and network fail-over as warranted. What isn't needed is a site implementation and management team at every branch. You can manage it all from your data center.

A well-architected communications infrastructure also simplifies the addition of applications. Look for software suites that are well integrated by design, sharing core functions – like session management, routing, SIP and SOA engines and administrative environments – among multiple applications. These solutions will generally offer more integrated functionality out of the box and will be considerably simpler for users and service staff alike.

For example, Siemens' OpenScape UC Suite is built upon the OpenScape UC Server, a common software foundation for voice, comprehensive unified communications, unified messaging, integrated video, contact center solutions and more. Once the OpenScape UC Server is installed, adding applications, users or sites is, in many cases, a matter of software licensing and configuration. The core infrastructure – the communications engine - is already in place. A software-based communications architecture gives you greater functional and user scalability, with less drama and for a lower cost.