NEC makes UC play

NEC has announced a new range of unified communication products specifically aimed at the SMB and enterprise sectors.

In the SMB space, the vendor has launched the SV1800 communications server, SV8000 desktop suite and a range of customisable desktop IP phones. The Univerge 360 platform offers enterprise customers a complete set of servers, desktop applications, middleware and services.

Head of commercial product management and strategy, Steven Stenton, said NEC had been working on a strategy to provide a complete UC portfolio for a number of years.

"We've got an extremely large install base in the market, with about 30 per cent market share in SMB and about 20 per cent in enterprise," he said.

One of the key aspects for NEC was to work with channel partners to ensure they have the appropriate skills and training to sell UC, he said.

"We've been pushing increasingly into a co-sale type of model, where we work with our channel partners on customers that have complex requirements," he said.

"It makes good sense for the channel to go out there and attack the competitor base. There are only going to be a handful of players left standing when this market shakes out," he said.

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