Nokia and Avaya Tie Up With Thailand's AIS to Offer Industry-First Enterprise Fixed Mobile Convergence Solution for Greater Enterprise Productivity and Mobility
SINGAPORE, Feb. 12 -- Nokia today announced a collaboration with two market leaders -- Advanced Info Service (AIS), Thailand's leading mobile communications network operator, and Avaya, the leader in business communications applications, systems and services -- to introduce the first phase of an Enterprise Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) Solution that will greatly enhance mobile office productivity and competitiveness.
The Enterprise Fixed Mobile Convergence Solution, available on mobile devices operating on the S60 (formerly known as Series 60) platform and Symbian operating system, enables mobile workers to access the features and functions of office desk phones through an easy-to-use on-screen interface. Mobile workers can then be reached at a single business phone number regardless of their work location, thus allowing people to be easily reached and dramatically enhance their productivity.
Nokia, Avaya and AIS have also announced that they are jointly providing the service to their enterprise customers. This includes PTT Exploration and Production Plc (PTTEP), a leading petroleum exploration and production company based in Thailand. PTTEP is the first company to use the Enterprise FMC solution for its mobile workers.
Commenting on the cooperation, Mr. Somchai Lertsuthiwong, Vice President, Wireless Service Business, Advanced Info Service Plc., said, "Based on our 2006 vision, the Enterprise Fixed Mobile Convergence Solution is a part of our policy to create and offer innovative industry convergence services for subscribers' maximum benefit and satisfaction. This can be device convergence, technology convergence or service and application convergence. Being the country's leading mobile network operator, we are committed to offering the best and most reliable network services, as well as being the first to bring new services and technology solutions to our subscribers. This is the first cooperation between three industry leaders -- AIS in GSM network business, Nokia in the mobile device business and Avaya in the communications applications and solutions business, in offering an intuitive enterprise solution that helps increase enterprise communications efficiency using mobile and landline networks. With this solution, AIS' enterprise customers will find it more convenient to communicate anywhere and anytime. AIS and our partners are committed to bringing new solutions to our customers."
Mr. Bob McDougall, Managing Director, Customers and Market Operations, Nokia (Thailand) Ltd., said: "This cooperation will enable Thai enterprises to be transformed into a mobile office, enabling them to easily connect people and increase productivity and profitability with this intuitive solution. Nokia's wide range of user-friendly products with the Symbian operating system and S60 platform is already available and ready to help enterprises increase competitiveness and enjoy true mobility in the dynamic business world. At the same time, Nokia can achieve our business goals of maintaining our market and technology leadership as well as enhancing our brand preference among enterprise users."
Mr. Sutas Kongdumrongkiat, Country Director, Thailand and Indochina, Avaya Asia Pacific Inc., said: "This is a milestone for us as it is the first industry implementation of the Enterprise Fixed Mobile Convergence Solution following the launch of our collaboration with Nokia in June last year in Thailand. We are very pleased that AIS is leading the region with this. Also, the fact that we have Thailand's petroleum giant PTTEP on board as the first enterprise to adopt the solution bears testimony that businesses buy into Avaya's vision of enhancing worker effectiveness by integrating mobile communications with the reliability and features of our enterprise IP Telephony services."
Under the collaboration, Avaya provides Enterprise Fixed Mobile Convergence Applications to enterprise customers while AIS provides mobile network service to support fixed mobile convergence (FMC) calls. Nokia offers a wide range of products to arm large-scale enterprises comprising a large mobile workforce with high performance and user-friendly mobile communications devices.
The applications integrate mobile phones into an enterprise's business operations, providing centralized intelligence and control of policies between enterprise fixed and mobile voice communications.
Through one business telephone number, workers can receive calls either on their desktop or on their mobile phone through the AIS network, switching transparently between them as needed. Mobile workers also have easy access to business telephony features such as abbreviated extension dialing, multi-party conferencing, call transfer, voicemail forwarding, and group call features.
At present, Nokia mobile communications devices operating on S60 platform and Symbian operating system, including products within the enterprise solution category, can support FMC calls. The S60 platform is the world's most widely adopted smartphone platform, with millions of devices already in use.
In the first phase, the Enterprise Fixed Mobile Convergence Solution is available through landline and GSM network connections. There are various Nokia devices running on S60 platform and Symbian operating system which are already available and can support the solution. In the second phase, which is expected to be implemented later this year, mobile enterprise users can also be connected through wireless LAN. In this phase, the solution will also be available on Nokia's Enterprise Solution products, which will be launched later in Thai market, including the E60, E61 and E70. At present, Nokia and Avaya are working together to make the solution available on new Nokia devices operating on Series 80 platform.
About AIS
Advanced Info Service Public Company Limited (AIS), a subsidiary of Shin Corporation PCL., is the established leader in Thailand's wireless communications industry after more than 15 years of services with its subscribers based more than 16 millions and market share more than 50%.
To date, AIS service network covers 795 districts (amphur) throughout Thailand, plus international roaming across in six continents. Additionally, indoor coverage has been greatly expanded in both Bangkok and the provinces. AIS has continuously enhanced and expanded its network in order to respond to the market and technological advances, whilst keeping abreast of consumers' growing demands and needs. It continues to integrate the latest in advanced technology and deliver more than just voice communication, with GPRS and EDGE technology.
AIS strongly believe that wireless communications bring changes to the way Thai people live their life, regardless of who they are and what they do. With endless communications possibilities, the quality of life is better. Visit our web site at http://www.ais.co.th/
About Nokia
A market leader in the cellular industry in Asia Pacific, Nokia provides innovative, industry leading and market-relevant technology and products to around 20 diverse markets in the region.
Nokia is a world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia connects people to each other and the information that matters to them with easy-to-use and innovative products like mobile phones, devices and solutions for imaging, games, media and businesses. Nokia provides equipment, solutions and services for network operators and corporations.
You may visit the Nokia Asia-Pacific website at www.nokia-asia.com/ or the Nokia Group website at http://www.nokia.com/
About Avaya
Avaya Inc. designs, builds and manages communications networks for more than one million businesses worldwide, including over 90 percent of the FORTUNE 500(R). Focused on businesses large to small, Avaya is a world leader in secure and reliable Internet Protocol telephony systems and communications software applications and services.
Driving the convergence of voice and data communications with business applications - and distinguished by comprehensive worldwide services - Avaya helps customers leverage existing and new networks to achieve superior business results. For more information visit the Avaya Web site: http://www.avaya.com/
Source: Avaya
CONTACT: Chinnaree Tanmanee of Advanced Info Service Plc., 0-229-9584; or Jiraporn Boonnark of Nokia, Thailand, Ltd., 0-2673-8888; or Nalinee Chanmaroeng of Avaya Asia Pacific Inc., 0-2655-4400; or Jonathan Varman of Avaya Media Relations, U.S., +1-973-994-2896; or Waralee Bunnag, 0-2205-6627, or Dujduan Hetrakul, 0-2205-6684, both of Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide Ltd.
Web site: http://www.avaya.com/
http://www.ais.co.th/
http://www.nokia-asia.com
