CTIA Wireless 2008

Verizon Business Upgrades PBX Mobile Extension with Ascendant Software

| Apr 3, 2008 | Enterprise Mobility - U.S. | Show Update

| Analyst: Kitty Weldon

Current Perspective: Positive/Neutral Vendor Importance: Moderate Market Impact: Low/Moderate

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Event Summary

April 1, 2008 -- Verizon Business announced its new PBX Mobile Extension solution, featuring a software version of the RIM/Ascendant Voice Mobility Suite (VMS). The previous version required a dedicated server to run the application. The VMS extends basic PBX functionality to any cell phone, including call transfer, four-digit dialing, a single corporate voice identity to outside parties, and a single mailbox, as well as advanced features such as broadcast notification, enhanced conferencing, voice continuity in the case of outages, and the ability to save money with international PBX rates.

Analytical Summary

• Current Perspective: Slightly positive on Verizon Business’ software-based mobility extension solution, as it replaces the premises hardware version launched last spring, thus offering enhanced cost containment and ease of management. However, while we agree that having a separate server for PBX extension added unnecessary complexity, and the RIM/Ascendant platform is a powerful solution, it is not clear that the software version offers much distinctly new functionality, making it a bit of a stretch to describe it as a new offering.

• Vendor Importance: Moderate to Verizon Business, as its forays into FMC are healthy signs that demonstrate the continued blending of its wireline services with the assets and strengths of sister organization Verizon Wireless, and they point to Verizon’s recognition of wireless as a key growth area for its enterprise initiatives. It is important for Verizon Business to offer an array of FMC solutions to appeal to its installed base of enterprise customers, including both premises and hosted options, to make gains in this emerging space where there is no clear-cut leader.

• Market Impact: Low to moderate on the enterprise mobility market, as replacing a hardware solution with a software solution with essentially the same functionality is not likely to change adoption greatly. The hardware version of RIM/Ascendant’s Voice Mobility Suite (on which Verizon Business based its previous FMC offer) is being phased out altogether. Therefore, RIM/Ascendant’s other carrier partners and its own direct sales force will all have the same software solution to offer the market.

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