Resellers converged at Nimans’ Manchester headquarters as part of a series of nationwide roadshows to highlight the system’s many valuable unified communication capabilities such as presence and mobility for the sub-50 market, all combined in a single server.
Dealers witnessed product demonstrations where its live call recording capabilities and conference calling for up to 40 users, were some of the many features highlighted.
Nimans’ Head of System Sales, Ian Brindle paid tribute to the ‘thought process’ and investment made by Siemens in launching the product. He told the audience: “In my 20 years in this business I have never seen a manufacturer put as much resource and investment in bringing a product to market. There’s a lot of commitment behind it, not just from Siemens but also Nimans. We are all really excited by its potential and the interest is already very high. Its ‘presence’ capabilities really stand out.”
He added: “As with any new product there is an investment from all parties concerned. By selling this product you will get a handsome return on your investment.”
Siemens’ Channel Marketing Manager, Dave Dyer, said the HiPath OpenOffice ME provides a genuine reason for using IP telephony in the SME market. He explained that over 50% of small businesses still use digital or analogue connections, and added: “I am genuinely excited by this unified communications solution as it is much more than just an IP product.”
Dealers were also able to view a new range of OpenStage phones which are available in digital, IP and SIP formats, as Dave concluded: “One of the key things of OpenOffice ME is its simplicity. Everything you need comes in the box.”
Dealers also heard there is a ‘try before you buy’ option where all features are live for 30 days when the system is first switched on, providing the end user with the ideal opportunity to test its many capabilities.
One Oldham-based dealer gave OpenOffice ME a resounding thumbs-up. “Today builds awareness. Before I arrived I wasn’t aware of this particular product’s many capabilities,” he pointed out. “I am here to keep abreast of what is available on the market and the appeal to our customer base. This product fits in the market we work in, which is probably the smaller end of the SME sector. I think its versatility is particularly attractive. There’s simplicity for us in terms of maintaining the product which will pass through to the end user and their ability to handle the product. First impressions are very good. I think this Siemens product represents the way the technology is moving and is the next stage forward. There’s more understanding of IP in the market now and this is an easy way for our customers to adopt and get the benefits from it. We will definitely be supporting and getting behind this product.”