Toshiba Named PAETEC Agent, CPE Partner

In another of a long list of recent CPE-service bundling agreements, Toshiba America Information Systems Inc.’s Telecommunication Systems Division  and PAETEC Holding Corp. announced interoperability between Toshiba’s Strata CIX family of IP business communication systems and PAETEC’s SIP trunking services. In addition, the companies announced Toshiba has become a National Master Sales Agent for PAETEC, making SIP trunking services available across the country through Toshiba’s national network of Authorized Dealers.

“This agreement marks PAETEC’s first national sales channel partnership with a VoIP CPE manufacturer, and it gives hundreds of Authorized Toshiba Dealers access to PAETEC’s national support structure,” said Jeff Howe, PAETEC vice president and general manager for national channel sales. “With PAETEC, Toshiba’s dealers can offer a cost-effective, reliable voice communications solution that utilizes the power and flexibility of SIP Trunking. Our network services can help Toshiba dealers further solidify their relationships with end-user customers.”Unlike legacy network solutions that require a VoIP gateway to connect the IP network and TDM trunks, the Strata CIX system with an MIPU card creates a native conection to the PAETEC network. The same MIPU interface also supports IP stations, remote users, soft phones, Wi-Fi telephones, and Strata Net multisystem networking.PAETEC gives voice signals priority over data; when no voice signals are present all available bandwidth can be used for data.“As enterprise SIP Solutions evolve, agreements between service providers and equipment manufacturers will increasingly become prevalent,” said Rebecca Swensen, research analyst, VoIP Services at IDC. “The PAETEC and Toshiba strategic partnership is unique. This relationship facilitates simplicity, flexibility and the ability to customize solutions to fit customer needs. This will simplify the process of migrating enterprise customers to SIP solutions.”The combination of Toshiba equipment and PAETEC SIP trunking is available now across the country. PAETEC’s service footprint will extend to 82 of the top 100 U.S. MSAs in 2008. PAETEC currently operates 39 softswitches nationwide.“In bringing PAETEC services to our Authorized Toshiba Dealers and enterprise customers, we can now offer nationwide SIP trunking services, which is a major benefit for both our national account and SMB customers,” said Brian Metherell, vice president and general manager, Toshiba AIS, TSD. “We also can offer all our customers a one-stop shop for SIP trunking and related services regardless of their location nationwide.”Sanjay Hiranandani, PAETEC senior vice president, Engineering, said the nationwide interoperability of Toshiba’s equipment and PAETEC’s SIP trunking mitigates the need for large enterprises to create patchwork network solutions to address different parts of the country. Related ArticlesBundle Up! VoIP CPE/Services Ease SMB SalesCPE & Service Bundling Catches OnTalkSwitch, SureWest Create Service BundleMicrosoft Taps NGT, Cbeyond as SIP Providers