Siemens launches cloud-based UC with Propensity

Sydney-based systems integrator, Propensity International, is looking for partners to take on its Siemens hosted unified communications (UC) service.

Siemens Enterprise Communications Group’s (SEN Group) OpenScape product provides a full suite of UC offerings such as voice/video calls and SMS, entirely through the cloud.

According to Propensity managing director, Paul Davidson, the solution is the best of its kind in Australia and has no local competitors at its level.

The partnership came about after Siemens approached Propensity earlier this year.

“This is the big dog on the block technology and this is the first time in Asia-Pacific that it has been offered. We’re only one of about three companies worldwide doing this,” he claimed. “We’re acting as a wholesaler for the product. We have a hosting capability now – we host Microsoft – and we’re extending that offering with this product.”

Siemens’ existing channel partners get automatic access to the product through Propensity. Davidson was also on the hunt for players with specific industry knowledge.

“We see a pretty big opportunity for companies that have specialised knowledge in wide area networks [WAN] and managing intelligent LANs for customers,” he said.

“The upside to the dealers is there’s good margin on the product and it’s long-tail business. As a hosted offering, it gives the dealers an opportunity to sign up customers for a contractual period and to become a strategic partner.

“My experience is you normally get a few key people who really understand these new technologies until they become mainstream. About 20-30 is the number we’re looking for.”

Propensity will run a national roadshow aimed at introducing the solution to Siemens and other external channel partners in late January 2010.