LG-Ericsson New Kid on the Communications Block

By Charlene O'Hanlon

Communications products vendor LG-Ericsson and data networking ODM Accton Technology Group have teamed up to develop a stable of scalable end-to-end voice and data solutions aimed at the SMB and enterprise spaces.

The joint venture brings together LG-Ericsson, formerly Edgecore Networks and a provider of telecommunications equipment, and Accton, formerly SMC and an original device manufacturer for numerous Tier 1 networking vendors. The two companies initiated the joint venture in February, which will use the name LG-Ericsson USA.

The companys lineup of voice products starts in the small office with a TDM hybrid and moves to a pure IP product that goes as high as 30,000 users,” said Tony Stamandinoli, VP of Marketing at LG-Ericsson USA.

On the data side, the company will offer infrastructure products that address the quality of service that IP-based communications demands. However, he noted, companies that have robust networks that can handle an IP communications system dont need to replace their existing infrastructure to use the LG-Ericsson systems.

Most telecom products are proprietary with exception of SIP-based systems. In digital hybrid systems, its a rip and replace situation,” he said. However, the data side is a lot easier because data switches do the same thing.”

For the channel, what separates the new company from its competitors is the fact that it provides both voice and data infrastructures, Stamandinoli said.

A lot of vendors already are in the voice space, but if you take away the top two or three at the high end of the enterprise, youre left with few companies that can do both voice and data,” he said. For channel partners, this is one vendor that has a complete solution.”

LG-Ericsson is putting the final touches on a channel program that Stamandinoli said will have levels of MDFs and rebates based on volume and include features popular with the channel including marketing support and cobranding.

Our goal is to get our channel program up and running by the end of month,” he said, adding that the ideal partner is the traditional guy who focuses on voice to small businesses as well as current data partners that also do voice but never had voice product before.”