Bell Canada is aiming to speed up the development of custom new IP-based products by partnering with Mitel Corp., March Networks Corp., NewHeights Software Corp. and Ubiquity Software Corp. for research and development at Bell’s latest innovation centre in Ottawa.
The group of Wesley Clover Corp. companies, headed by Sir Terry Matthews, will collaborate with Bell Canada in an open environment to enable rapid development of IP-based communication technologies and business applications.
Bell will work with Mitel in voice over IP, with March Networks in IP video security, New-Heights Software in converged voice, video and data and Ubiquity Software in SIP-based (Session Initiation Protocol) communications.
“This type of direct customer interaction makes the most sense,” said Carmi Levy, a senior research analyst at Info-Tech Research Group in London, Ont. “We’re seeing a lot more of this type of collaboration as companies try to accelerate time to market for new products and services.”
The Bell Advanced Solutions Innovation Centre is the 10th interactive research and development centre launched nationwide by Bell Canada. “Inviting customers to be a part of product development increases the potential to successfully deliver to market,” said Levy. “Instead of a given IP solution, service providers are working with customers to tailor their current and future needs.
“As a result, while the complexity of the products is growing, the time to market is shrinking.” Basking Ridge, N.J.-based Avaya Inc. runs an open house at its Executive Briefing Centre at the company’s Canadian headquarters in Markham, Ont.
“Avaya calls it their toy store, where the company invites analysts, customers and vendor business partners to partake in and experience the latest technologies,” said Levy.
“These centres allow vendors to show customers, suppliers, and other constituents how their technology works in a much richer setting than a mere presentation.
“No presentation can deliver the depth of knowledge and experience as well as a site visit, where participants can take the technology through its paces.”
Bell Canada says Canadian businesses will benefit from an accelerated time to market and significantly lower deployment costs.
“Customers can better match the solutions to their specific business needs and challenges,” said Levy. “Ultimately, resources like this can help customers make better acquisition and implementation decisions.”
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