ShoreTel, Ruckus team on mobile UC 'starter kit' for SMBs

ShoreTel (Nasdaq: SHOR) is partnering with Ruckus Wireless to deliver a mobile Unified Communications Starter Kit for SMBs and combines Wi-Fi and VoIP products. The service is designed to help businesses leverage the trend that increasingly is seeing employees use their own mobile devices for work.

The two companies are offering advanced UC and wireless networking capabilities that support corporate voice and data requirements in an affordable package. The Ruckus ZoneFlex Smart Wi-Fi system extends ShoreTel's VoIP reach beyond the wired environment--allowing customers to use smartphones, tablets and voice over Wi-Fi phones over the existing enterprise IP voice system, while maintaining voice quality.

In October, ShoreTel updated its mobility platform specifically to address the BYOD trend, one that increasingly was getting the attention of enterprises..

"We see this as a big issue for enterprises, in addition to the efficiency and productivity benefits that mobile devices bring," Steve Blood, VP of research at Gartner said at the time. "Enterprises should look to a solution that supports a broad range of leading smartphones and tablets, as the devices being used at work are not always company owned. Enterprises will prefer a solution that is part of their existing IP PBX and UC system or works with the existing system therefore avoiding upgrades or replacement of their existing infrastructure."

The Rukus and ShoreTel partnership is designed to give organizations a turnkey system and "easily and securely integrate employee smartphones into their existing network framework," the companies said.

A new study says more than a quarter of enterprises will replace desk phones with mobile phones in the next two years and are increasingly supporting a move to a diverse mobile workforce. The survey, from BroadSoft, found that in addition to their adoption of mobile platforms--some 82 percent of respondents report "some" employees are using mobile apps for communications and collaboration---many are prioritizing the expansion of unified communications in their organizations.

"Research reveals that half of enterprise knowledge workers are using smartphones as their primary communications device--a number that continues to grow, particularly as younger generations enter the workforce," said Mark Arman, vice president of business development for ShoreTel. "There have been limited options available to support enterprise mobility for the mid-market sector. Ruckus shares our dedication to ease of use and implementation, and we are pleased to partner to bring about a much-needed affordable Wi-Fi-integrated VoIP solution to market."

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