CounterPath introduced NEC's Smart Mobile Client that provides features and functionality from the desk phone to the cell phone using the Enterprise Mobility Gateway (EMG), a 1U Linux server. The clients currently support smart phones: Apple iPhone, Android through the Web client, Blackberry, Nokia Symbian platforms and Windows Mobile.
When I spoke with Todd Carothers, VP of Product Management at CounterPath, he said that the Smart Mobile Client is now available for iS3000. Benefits are that user cellular identities are protected and an estimated 30 percent savings on enterprise cellular spending is sure to get the attention of existing NEC customers. Inbound company calls are shifted automatically over to the WiFi network without user intervention. These benefits are in focus with what people want.
When a user leaves a company such as a real estate firm, companies don’t want customers following that person--but while still employed with the company, that same person wants their mobile identity protected. Designing out user intervention is good, since having to remember to switch on and off of WiFi is a step users forget. Targeting cellular savings makes sense with estimates of 70-80 percent of originating mobile cellular calls being made from indoors.
UC may or may not be moving fast enough, but those tasked with selling need to focus on cellular bills of their customers. Indoor Mobility shouldn’t mean spending premiums for phone calls. Todd said I should be hearing more about NEC’s customers using this solution in the months ahead. CounterPath is no stranger to mobility and UC--they are well suited in the Apple circles, having a UC client that runs on most communications devices.
