VoIP enhancements from Verizon’s business unit

Verizon Business' Integrated Communications Package is targeted at businesses and government agencies whose employees want more collaboration and mobility functionality with their VoIP phones. The package is designed to reduce the time and effort needed to connect employees.

With the package, an end-user is given the control to determine who can reach him, when he can be reached, and how, enabling an employee to manage his communications.

The software includes administrator and user point-and-click interfaces allowing employees to access and manage their office phones, e-mail, Lotus Sametime instant messaging, and voice mail. The services can be used on a Web-based interface or run in conjunction with a stand-alone desktop client and Microsoft Outlook plugin. The administrative console provides a Web-based tool for near real-time service control and management.

Integrated Communications Package will be available at the beginning of September 2007 to US customers of Verizon's Hosted IP Centrex, an enterprise VoIP service Verizon hosts and manages. Verizon plans to expand the service internationally later in 2007. Verizon Business also plans to integrate the service with its audio, net and video conferencing services and contact centre services.

Analysts view the new package as a good start for businesses which are dealing with more mobile and remote employees, where there is a need for a product that provides phone, e-mail, calendaring, messaging, and presence capabilities.

An intermediate level of the Integrated Communications Package starts at $5.50 per user per month, and an advanced service including Microsoft Office plug-ins and real-time call management will be $7.50.