| Next Meeting February 9th! |
Closed session summary notes and any actions from the 29th  |
| Aastra Update and Strategy |
| Partner Updates... Damovo telent |
| One Box 5 and Mobility Options |
| Meercat SMS for the Enterprise |
| Next Meeting February 9th! |
| Closed session summary notes and any actions from the 29th |
| Aastra Update and Strategy |
| Partner Updates... Damovo telent |
| One Box 5 and Mobility Options |
| Meercat SMS for the Enterprise |
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| Main Summary Points |
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The Manchester meeting gave the group an opportunity to get a current update from Aastra and partners and a view for 2012 and beyond. Immediate focus was on next release of MX-One and core apps as well as the position of clients on MD110/ MX-One TSW. We did unfortunately miss out on a more complete Solidus update due to the illness of the representative from Aastra. Aastra, Damovo, telent, Weston Group and NCS attended along with guest presenters from AVST and Meercat. Underlying message from the closed session continues to be aimed at the UK specific marketing/support efforts of Aastra, which to many is considered inadequate to support the strong technology platform Aastra offer in the enterprise client base. More focus on local enterprise market is essential to make progress in 2012 (more details are contained in the closed session notes). Succesful project upgrades reported on some large clients and 300,000 ports upgraded to version 4.1. Platform is stable, a more detailed look at the Sunderland University project was very well presented which showed the importance of well planned project. It also re-enforced the need to spend time to fully prepare the DNA to CMG migration for both the operator functions and the administration of the system (some issues are highlighted from the users surrounding the DNA to CMG migration which have been flagged up to Aastra). Other areas covered ....
Full list of enhancements on Aastra slides provided. 4.2 implementations will be Q1 2012 (currently local market field trials with a target of launch at the end of Q4 2011). Update on Solidus 7 and Solidus 8 ( H1 2012) outline was only lightly covered in the presentation but slides have more details. This is something we want to see improved as Solidus is not getting the focus it should have. One Box 5 available now and mobile client functionality highlighted, Simon Turner from AVST also presented on the capabilities of One Box to provide a rich range of features from UC/UM incorporating your mobile user available on V5. Further details are available from AVST if required. Our guest presentation came from Meercat who provide enterprise SMS messaging solutions. Interesting to see that SMS is not dead and can have some useful applications in the education and health sectors to name just two. Meercat are always willing to work with clients for bespoke solutions and contact details are on the slides. |
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Partner Activity We had two partners present at the session Damovo and telent. Other partners had nothing to add from their updates in February. We have given them the options to update the web portal with information when available. The user group did raise the subject of partner competencies as a number of users reported a number of problems in getting projects fully deployed to their expectations. It suggests there may be some issues around competencies surrounding some applications like One Box and other more application centric solution delivery/support. Concern directed to whether the partners competences are being supported/monitored effectively by the Aastra partner support methodologies. Andrew Hickey (AH) from Damovo Damovo addressed concerns raised on reduction in personnel and changes being undertaken in the UK organisation. AH explained that Damovo have been in the process of making organisational changes necessary to meet the changing demands of today's communcation solutions and the changing requirements to support and manage them effectively. There is a change in service to shape the business which has meant less traditional field staff and more remote diagnostic experts. Damovo clear over 80% of problem reports using the remote system tools and expertise, they continue to invest in expert skills development and professional certification. Damovo existing clients on TSW and earlier releases are by no means forgotten as Damovo retain the most extensive and comprehensive field and first /second line support for those organisations. Underpinned by large labs for diagnostic testingand extensive certified spares and maintenance stock holding. Damovo are recruiting, and the latest changes will be increasing the size of the Damovo UK organisation - not reducing it. Damovo additionally highlighted they are fully committed to an active apprentice recrutment scheme and have continued with this highly successful program over the last 3 years to bring through the skilled engineers of the future. Damovo have been recognised as one of the top 100 UK companies with apprentice schemes. Damovo also reminded the group that they are customers like those in the group who actually use the technology they sell and support, that includes:
The investment by Damovo is in their view an important 'real differentiator' and something that gives them an ability to support their end users effectively in all aspects of their communications. Damovo point out they have the most extensive test labs and support systems in place to undertake field trials and integration testing with Aastra and other leading vendor products in order to support clients needs. Yes it may cost more but that is a price worth paying in order to provide the quality and scope of support services needed by clients. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Paul Johnson (PJ) from telent telent message communicated by PJ was more generic to the organisation highlighting the broad range of technology areas they are involved and the large scale projects especially related to the emergency services and traffic control systems. The main focus of telent is on support for:
They have a significant base of MD110 / MX-One users and have recently been working with Ericsson via HP (prime contractor) to win the managed voice service for Barnet, Enfield and Haringey which will consit of a hosted virtulized MX-One core system on a HP server platform. telent support organisation are also in the process of change with a new sales director Jason Spring having been appointed. Jason could not attend due to personal circumstances but will hopefully be able to attend the next meeting.
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Aastra Marketing Information UK specific and Enterprise Focused. Aastra indicate they have continued to invest in relations with the major Analysts with regard to MX-One. It is the main enterprise platform of the organisation and significant R&D spend continues. A number of exhibitions attended by Aastra in the UK. Closed session raised a number of issues to Aastra regarding their UK efforts to market the brand in the enterprise space. These are explained in the closed session notes.
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