Nortel to drive data applications beyond VoIP

Nortel Networks has launched Preferred Software Membership, a programme giving its customers the option to upgrade their software to the latest version at a fixed rate for one to three years.

Global marketing manager Clent Richardson launched the programme at Global Connect in Los Angeles, the annual user conference of the International Nortel Networks Users Association.

Nortel explained that the programme is a step towards delivering simplified, SIP-based, converged communications.

Customers participating in the programme can upgrade to current software on their Nortel Networks enterprise multimedia platforms, and get future software releases at a fixed rate for a period ranging from one to three years.

The company claimed that users can benefit from software upgrades to extend their SIP-based functionality to include collaborative applications like instant messaging, file exchange and video calling.

Richardson added that the programme allows users easily to estimate the costs of their software, as well as providing access to the latest features in Nortel's software without having to buy any new applications. "It's a little bit like a safety net from Nortel," he said.

Brian Riggs, a senior analyst with Current Analysis, suggested that Preferred Software Membership is mainly a marketing and sales programme.

"Most users are not really considering using these advanced data services," he said. "By pointing out that you can use these networks for applications beyond VoIP, Nortel hopes to get the message out that it is a leader in this field."

The programme will be made available through resellers.

Nortel wants to push data services beyond VoIP, such as video conferencing and instant messaging, and have users upgrade to the latest version of its software that supports those features.

The upgrade programme is limited to enterprises using version 3.0 of Nortel's CS1000, the most current release.

Although the company has offered free upgrades to this version in the past, the majority of users still have older releases deployed, limiting the group that is able to use the programme.