Mitel Expands Cloud-Based Unified Communications Services in U.S.

By Erin Harrison
Executive Editor, Cloud Computing

Unified Communications provider Mitel (News - Alert), which offers cloud-based UC services, has been certified as a Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.

In the United States, a CLEC is considered a telephone company that competes with the already established local telephone business by providing its own network and switching.

Mitel’s service provider division, Mitel NetSolutions, has also made updates to its AnyWare hosted cloud-based communications service, including mobile integration aimed to help small enterprises leverage the benefits of a mobile workforce, according to Jon Brinton, president of Mitel NetSolutions.

“Businesses nationwide can access a cloud-based deployment of Mitel’s UCC applications that delivers a powerful, pay-as-you-grow, communications productivity suite,” Brinton said in a company statement. “Whether customers require a cutting-edge SIP trunking solutions, PRIs and other more traditional communications service provider offerings, Mitel NetSolutions’ is uniquely able to deliver a comprehensive range of products designed to meet the needs of its customers, regardless of where they may be geographically located in the U.S.”

With Mitel’s expansion, Mitel NetSolutions can serve as a single-point communications provider for small businesses in the U.S. regardless of how their offices are distributed. Company officials said the business benefits of Mitel’s offering include reductions in customer equipment costs, while also designed to provide greater reliability, redundancy, and disaster recovery capabilities.

Mitel AnyWare gives customers access to cloud-based UC and mobility features, in effect removing the need for premise-based call control equipment and aims to lower their total cost of ownership for small businesses.

According to Mitel, additions to Mitel AnyWare include interexchange multiple user types and usage profiles with expanded Mitel telephony portfolio products and mobile wireless integration, which provides users the ability to integrate their office phone and their mobile device to provide a single number.

In December 2011, Mitel released its latest version of the Mitel Contact Center Solutions designed to offer social media monitoring and help agents deliver enhanced customer experience from anywhere using any device, from mobile devices to their analog phones at home.