Alcatel-Lucent OpenTouch™ suite, now generally available, brings collaborative conversations to any device across the enterprise

Alcatel-Lucent OpenTouch™ suite, now generally available, brings collaborative conversations to any device across the enterprise

At a glance:
• First wave of OpenTouch suite now globally available
• Three new packages deliver multi-party, multi-device, multi-media platforms across premise and hosted solutions
• OpenTouch leverages market-leading OmniPCX™ Enterprise, Genesys™ SIP solutions and Alcatel-Lucent carrier technologies

Alcatel-Lucent announces the availability of the first wave of its new OpenTouch™ enterprise communications solutions. The OpenTouch suite is built on Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise’s converged communications architecture that leverages the market-leading OmniPCX™ Enterprise, Genesys™ SIP solutions and Alcatel-Lucent carrier technologies. The OpenTouch architecture uses a SIP-based conversation layer, which is between the applications layer and server layer, to deliver multi-party, multi-device, multi-media collaborative conversations on any network and on any end-point.

OpenTouch delivers an innovative approach to communications that includes native conferencing capabilities, the ability to support mixed media, and enables users to move freely between any device all within the same conversation. For example, a conversation can begin via instant messaging, voice or text, and be escalated to a video call or team collaboration session. The system lets any user easily add or remove multiple participants as well as make other media connections or links available to participants.

With OpenTouch suite, enterprise IT staff benefit from unified management capabilities available through the new Alcatel-Lucent OmniVista 8770 Network Management System. This eliminates the multiple management systems currently needed to run unified communications and collaboration applications. As a result, users, applications, devices and networks can be managed from a single point, thus making new communication solution rollouts faster and easier.

OpenTouch is available in three packages:
• The Alcatel-Lucent OpenTouch Business Edition (appliance server based) is an all-in-one communication server for the mid-market. It provides advanced telephony features with embedded unified communications capabilities such as unified messaging, instant messaging/presence, video, multimedia conferencing services, and mobility. All pre-integrated on a single industry standard appliance server, including OmniVista 8770.

• The Alcatel-Lucent OpenTouch Business Edition Hosted is provided on a blade server platform, ideal for data center environments where the solution server sits in a blade system and can be deployed as a managed and/or hosted service. It delivers the same features and capabilities as the OpenTouch Business Edition premise version and features extended management functionalities.

• The Alcatel-Lucent OpenTouch Multimedia Services is a software add-on to complement existing Alcatel-Lucent OmniPCX Enterprise communications servers. It enables customers to benefit from new conversation capabilities, while protecting their existing investments and provides a smooth migration path.

In addition, the OpenTouch suite supports the award-winning Alcatel-Lucent OmniTouch My IC Phone, a smart deskphone that enhances the user experience by offering smartphone capabilities, including applications, on the employee’s desk. My IC Phone runs on multiple communications platforms, including OpenTouch, OmniPCX Office R.8.1 and OmniPCX Enterprise R.10 for Hospitality.

Rob Arnold, senior industry analyst, Frost & Sullivan

“Today’s employees need more options when it comes to connecting and communicating.  With its solutions like OpenTouch, Alcatel-Lucent is expanding when, how, and from where users collaborate. Flexibility and agility are keys to success in today’s multi-channel workplace and customer environment. Advanced solutions offering user-centric communications and providing IT staff the deployment options – cloud, CPE, hybrid – to closely match their network needs will lead the way in this change.”

Eric Penisson, General Manager of the Enterprise Communications solutions for Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise

“Technology innovation continues to drive significant change in enterprise communications tools and techniques. OpenTouch enables enterprises and employees to take advantage of smart devices, video, and mobility with the ability to switch across channels and devices while maintaining one conversation,” said. “With OpenTouch, we are the first to deliver to users an intuitive, seamless experience across all their devices and modes of communication.”