Siemens' OpenScape UC suite upgrade, which included the acquisition of web conferencing vendor FastViewer, also features a new suite of desktop phone apps and updates on the OpenScape mobility, video and UC application elements.
After releasing the OpenScape UC server last March as the core piece of the platform (and winning Best of VoiceCon for their efforts), Siemens is "focusing more on the applications piece" with today's follow-on, said Chris Hummel, SEN's CMO.
In addition to the web conferencing portion that we reported on last week with the FastViewer acquisition, the following new elements are added with today's broad application-focused announcement:
OpenScape Phone Apps: This is a new set of 20 XML applications built to run on Siemens' Open Stage screen phones. The list includes alerts, RSS feeds, and most notably, integrations with social networking applications so that, for example, you can direct a Twitter feed to a phone screen. In addition to the 20 pre-built apps, there's also the ability for the user organization to add its own custom-built XML apps to the repository.
UC Application V4: This is the portal that started out as the original OpenScape application. Release #4 adds multi-party desktop video conferencing and support for Polycom, LifeSize, and Tandberg video ecosystems; VMWare virtualization; and native integration with Siemens HiPath 4000, the company's legacy mainstay call control platform.
OpenScape Mobility: Adds the Apple iPhone and iPad to the list of devices for which OpenScape has a version of its mobile client.
OpenScape Video: Now can unify dial plan with video systems from the vendors mentioned with regards to UC Application V4.
The announcement is further evidence--if any were needed--that communications vendors are recognizing that they've got to show strength across the board in the major functionalities that will make up next-gen enterprise communications--UC portals, video, mobility, web conferencing--and oh yeah, phones too.
