Siemens Enterprise Communications made a major product announcement regarding their OpenScape unified communications solution. What is most notable about the announcement is that it is Siemens first since their acquisition by the Gores Group, and it focuses squarely on their mobile UC capabilities. Siemens can already boast the broadest product reach of any supplier in the mobile UC arena, and that includes much larger suppliers like Cisco and Avaya. Only Siemens has a product line that encompasses IP PBX (HighPath), wireless LAN (HiPath Wireless/Chantry Networks), unified communications (OpenScape), Mobile UC (OpenScape UC Mobile Client), fixed mobile convergence (HighPath MobileConnect), and voice over WLAN (OptiPoint) segments.

Many of us have identified mobility as one of the first major deliverables in UC, and Siemens can offer a line of mobility options that provide single number availability, single voicemail, and operate over wireless LANs, cellular services, or both. Today’s announcement covered enhancements three of their mobility product lines.

• HiPath® Wireless (V5R3): This is a software upgrade for Siemens’ centrally-controlled WLAN switching system. The HighPath Wireless architecture supports both distributed and centralized traffic forwarding; distributed forwarding allows for minimal delay voice while centralized forwarding supports security sensitive applications. Working within that architecture, the new controller software provides a rate shaping capability that allows network managers to allocate WLAN capacity on a per station basis. Along with the 802.11e/Wi-Fi Multimedia quality of service capability, this feature can help ensure sufficient capacity for high quality mobile voice and video services regardless of other network traffic. They have also announced the ability to deliver OpenScape HD video over 802.11n-based network. Earlier this year they announced the first 802.11n access point that could operate over standard 802.11af Power over Ethernet. Finally, the upgrade also allows for rapid (i.e. <1 second) failover allowing voice or video calls to continue in the event of a controller failure.

• HiPath MobileConnect (V2): MobileConnect is Siemens’ dual mode Wi-Fi/cellular FMC solution that allows users to roam seamlessly between Wi-Fi and cellular networks. This latest release provides enhanced roaming and security for remote users. They now support VPN access so users can place secure voice calls through home Wi-Fi networks and public hot spots. Traveling users can roam to other company locations with MobileConnect systems and be able to make and receive calls through them. For international travelers, in-country calls can be routed through the local PBX, a major savings over international cellular roaming.

• The New OpenScape UC Application Mobile Client: From a user perspective, the most interesting part of the announcement is an enhanced mobile UC client. Siemens has one of the few cellular-based mobile UC solutions that can provide presence status to the mobile device. The new mobile client operates on RIM, Symbian and Windows mobile devices, and works with their OpenScape UC Application Enterprise Edition Server. Their voice portal allows mobile users to activate features and change preferences via voice commands.

Siemens has raised the bar in mobile UC, but there is still much to be done. Vendors in the mobile UC space are trying to wrestle their mobility elements into consistent product lines with standard features and interfaces across all platforms. While the OpenScape UC Application Mobile Client supports presence, the MobileConnect product does not. Given the roughly 8 million Blackberry devices being used in enterprises in the US, Blackberry support is clearly important. However, none of the dual-mode Wi-Fi/cellular solutions, MobileConnect included, supports a RIM client.

In any event, Siemens does continue to have one of the stronger product lines in the mobile UC arena. According to Luc Roy, Vice President of Enterprise Mobility for Siemens, their advantage is the ability to offer the customer the full menu of options all under one product umbrella. It has become clear that no single mobility solution will be right for every organization and every user group. The Siemens approach gives the customer the opportunity to test different solutions in different groups and determine what’s the most effective strategy for each.

Mobility has become one of the key drivers for unified communications. What’s more, mobility and UC should not be an either-or proposition. Siemens announcement has moved them one step closer to that goal.