MTN Business has announced that is has initiated phase two of its convergence roadmap – MTN UniPresence.

 

This solution allows any cellular device to become an extension of an organisation’s Managed IP PBX, as it offers all the features and functionality of a traditional PABX system. It also doesn’t require desk phones anymore, meaning users can now make and receive calls wherever they are, via one number as though they are sitting at their workstations.

 

According to Angela Gahagan, executive at MTN Business, MTN’s UniPresence will allow its customers to seamlessly move between an organisation’s fixed-line to a mobile phone, using one number for any communication device.

 

Gahagan stated that traditional PBXs can be an expensive capital outlay for many organisations and if the enterprise grows, this outlay continues, in order to accommodate for further extensions as well as employees.

 

“Certainly today, with the evolution and advent of convergence communication, enterprises require a simpler solution for this environment, one that is focused on collaborating current infrastructure, while actually supporting productivity and costs - not hindering it,” Gahagan said.

 

“The market is talking about cloud based unified communications, but how does this translate into tangible business solutions?” she asked. “Currently, most employees within a company have multiple numbers and mailboxes for different devices and communications tools.”

 

“This means that when customers or colleagues try to contact them they can try a number of options – from desk phones, soft phones and mobile phones. However, the reality is that these multiple numbers have actually impacted costs and productivity negatively.”

 

“Through MTN UniPresence, users can make and receive calls wherever they are with one single number and they do not have to manage multiple voice mail boxes anymore. Now with one single number, users will have the option of setting their presence status (for reception and colleagues understand when they can take call etc.), as well as undertaking calls via any available connection – be that mobile, Wi-Fi or IP.”

 

The MTN UniPresence platform is a completely secure solution to protect enterprise privacy, but comes with a simple-to-employ interface to allow users to use one number which is linked to multiple phones be it the office, mobile, soft or home phone. This seamless integration can be configured to suit customer unique demands.

 

“Today, our customers are the first to enjoy the benefits of a single contact number and are really able to witness the power of convergence with their communications environment,” Gahagan added. 

 

According to MTN Business the one number capability is just the first of many value propositions to come from MTN UniPresence, which essentially is what the industry understands as Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) comments Justin Colyn, general manager responsible for MTN Business’s FMC.

 

“We strive to understand our customers’ business needs and address them with our solution innovation. Today these needs vary from the continuous increase in the mobility of employees, staff members needing to be always available and increased work pressures requiring instant decisions. MTN UniPresence addresses each of these demands and will enable more efficient collaboration to not only make more informed decisions, but to save costs all while improving productivity. It’s simply a brilliant offering and one we are exceptionally proud to launch.”

 

“MTN UniPresence is the next logical step in our phased, realistic approach to realising true convergence for our customers and the marketplace,” Gahagan concludes. “MTN UniPresence will streamline our customers’ business processes and allow them to really see what real convergence can achieve.”