CIOL: What are the key factors that are driving SMBs adopt IP Telephony? 

Sanjay Singh: Intensifying market conditions, geographical challenges, and communication costs are some of the major drivers of IP telephony within the SMB community in India. SMBs across verticals are resorting to the deployment of IP telephony to reduce communication cost and increase their workforce productivity.

The biggest advantages of IP telephony – Mobility and Flexibility are themselves the key driving forces in the SMB market today. IP enables work cultures of ‘Always online ’, ‘Working From Home (WFH)’ and now with the affordability of our unified communication solutions (tailor made for SMBs) will facilitate features like presence, video conferencing, file sharing etc. The location of the workforce would be irrelevant soon.

CIOL: How is Nortel helping enterprises address security issues related to adopting IP Telephony?

SS: Security is one of the DNAs in any of our technology products - be it data, voice or applications. With Respect to IP Telephony, Nortel has various enterprise products such as the Secure Multimedia Controllers (SMC) that encrypt the data so it’s not tapped easily. We also use SIP TLS (SIP Transport Layer Security) to secure our IP Telephony systems.

CIOL: Will Indian SMBs adopt IT in a big way in the times of economic meltdown?

SS: In today's tough economic times, SMBs are reconsidering their planned IT, telecom spending and investment on new projects. The projects that will reduce costs and provide clearly identifiable ROI are getting the green light - Voice-over-IP (VoIP) projects fall into this category. So, IT adoption and practices which helps in reducing operational and other costs, and improve employee productivity will still go a big way in the future as well.

CIOL:  What is Nortel’s offering to Indian SMBs?

SS: Nortel's Small Medium Business portfolio provides flexible and reliable communication solutions targeting 5-500+ users. Designed specifically for SMBs, Nortel's solutions are best suited for investments made whilst growing and adapting with changing business needs.

At Nortel, we have seen a considerable demand this year in the procurement of IP Telephony system both in the Enterprise as well as the SMB segment. In the SMB space though we have seen upgrades of regular TDM systems to IP-enabled HYBRID systems. Foreseeing this, we had launched our ipLDK range of PBXs (Primarily a cost effective TDM system) from our LG-Nortel Portfolio with numerous IP enhancements.

CIOL: Any new specific from Nortel’s stables for SMBs?

SS: Over the turn of this year, Nortel is planning to release two products specific to addressing the SMB IP Telephony market: BCM450 and the SCS500. Both the products are price effective HYBRID and UC solutions specifically for the SMB customers.

The BCM 450 would offer Analog/Digital and IP technologies coupled with applications that can be used in contact center, hospitality, retail and banking firms. Where as, SCS500 would take UC to the SMB customers. You no longer need to be a software MNC or a Fortune 500 company to implement UC anymore.