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Windstream (News - Alert) will offer custom-designed managed unified communications services to Pratt Industries. Pratt, a major privately-held company dealing in totally recycled paper and packaging, will be able to connect and centralize communications at its 72 locations across the country with Windstream’s assistance.

Pratt Industries heavily depends on the phone and fax service for its everyday business operations as there are continuous communications between its different facilities and customers. An old-fashioned PBX (News - Alert) phone system, which needed lots of maintenance and repairs, was previously used by Pratt at each of its facilities. Pratt Industries therefore lost a considerable amount of money due to the huge downtimes. A dependable service, which would keep the customer service lines continuously working, was required by Pratt.

In a release, Juan Merelo, technical services manager at Pratt Industries, said, "In looking for a new communications provider, we wanted a trusted company with proven technology and service that would be able to provide a fully managed solution. We didn't want to have a dedicated phone specialist on staff, and didn't want to have to try to coordinate with multiple vendors. Windstream provides all of the services and support that we need--it's a one-shop deal."

A completely custom-designed managed unified communications service, especially used to fulfill Pratt Industries' exact business requirements, is being offered by Windstream. The Mitel (News - Alert) 3300 IP Communications Platform has been used to build the system, which is enclosed in one of Windstream's enterprise-class data centers. Pratt's several dissimilar locations are now connected by Windstream's Multiprotocol Label Switching or MPLS network.

After the implementation of Windstream's managed unified communications solution, call lucidity has been experienced by Pratt employees. With the downtimes now negligible, the company has also experienced a decline in long distance expenses.

Merelo said, "From the beginning, Windstream has been completely dedicated to Pratt and has treated us as if we are their number one customer. With other companies, there can be a lot of turnover with the representatives you're working with, or you talk to someone different every time you call. With Windstream, we have had the same team see us through the entire process of conversion."