The System i Integrated Collaboration solution will feature unified communications capabilities to help customers increase productivity, lower costs and streamline operations. Because it runs on a single System i, the companies say it is easier and less expensive to manage than competitive Windows-based, multi-server offerings.
The new Integrated Collaboration solution builds on the System i IP Telephony solution IBM and 3Com delivered in November 2006. It uses open standards such as SIP to create a platform for innovation by enabling the 3Com VCX system to be more easily integrated with collaboration and business applications running on the System i.
IBM and 3Com say they have seen substantial interest from the community of System i solution-providers and business partners who want to exploit this integration. IBM and 3Com expect to work with over 100 Independent Solution Vendors (ISVs) to integrate their applications with the new solution.
These ISVs will be able to leverage 3Com’s Open Network™ (3Com|ON) Program and Software Development Kit (SDK) to tightly integrate their business applications with 3Com IP telephony and IBM collaboration applications.