3Com Corporation: IBM System i IP Telephony

An IBM Built on Express Portfolio^TM solution

3Com Corporation is a leading provider of secure, converged voice and data networking solutions for enterprise organizations of all sizes. With a mission to provide organizations worldwide with high-quality, low-cost networking infrastructure solutions that enable convergence of applications and emerging technologies into the network,

3Com offers a broad line of innovative products backed by world class sales, service and support, which excel at delivering business value for its customers.

Since being founded in 1979, 3Com has maintained a steadfast commitment to open, industry-standard interfaces so that all their products can interoperate. That means their customers can implement new technologies faster, allowing them to get the best possible value from their technology investments, both now and in the future.

Solution overview

IBM® System i™ IP Telephony lets enterprises implement the newest, standards-based VoIP technology while leveraging their current infrastructure investment. IP Telephony on System i offers a rich set of productivity-enhancing applications like integrated voicemail/e-mail, find me/follow me, advanced audio and video conferencing, IP-based automatic call distribution and integration with existing ERM and CRP applications.

Centralized administration, configuration and management capabilities can lower installation and ongoing operating costs, optimizing IT implementation activities.

In addition, IP telephony on System i solutions support business continuity with a distributed, survivable architecture, ensuring full-function telephony at any site—even during a wide area network failure.

IBM Built On Express components:
IBM System i5 520 Express Edition

Proven client success

The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles, California, had issues caused by an inflexible PBX telephony system. Maintaining several PBX systems at four separate campuses was too costly.

FIDM also had separate voice and data networks, resulting in a complex infrastructure that had no viable solution for telecommuters. Further, it lacked the ability to integrate with other communication applications, such as e-mail and fax.

The strategic solution was to implement IP telephony including the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) on the System i5. The System i5 addresses FIDM business communication needs, while the SIP capability provides technical adaptability, enabling multicast sessions that include Internet telephony and both voice and video conferences.

IBM Business Partner