Businesses Can Be More Agile and Productive with Sprint Complete Collaboration

SOURCE:  Sprint

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), March 26, 2012 – Sprint (NYSE: S) today announced the availability of Sprint Complete Collaboration, the most comprehensive hosted and fully managed unified communications (UC) bundle available today for businesses. Mid-sized and large businesses can quickly and easily deploy UC over an all-IP network across the enterprise and to virtually anywhere, enjoying a seamless collaboration experience for employees working in or out of the office, an overall lower total cost of ownership, and a single point of contact for their entire solution.

Sprint Complete Collaboration bundles all elements needed to deploy UC, including: connectivity through SIP Trunking, IP and video telephony, integrated messaging, collaboration tools, user endpoints and enhanced mobile integration. Unlike competitive offers, SIP Trunking is included in the core offer and provides more efficient trunking options through aggregation and bursting, as well as an end-to-end UC platform with a consistent experience across all collaboration tools, operating systems and endpoints.

Powered by a fully integrated Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution (HCS) platform and most current software licensing, Sprint Complete Collaboration is delivered over an all-IP network – helping to ensure the reliability and security demanded by real-time UC and collaboration applications — with Class of Service included at no additional charge. It also is the only hosted UC solution to offer both client and network-based mobile integration for a simplified, richer mobile user experience. Sprint’s network-based mobile integration solution extends PBX features to mobile devices, helping to ensure business continuity and disaster recovery, while reducing costs through LEC elimination and more efficient trunking.

“Sprint Complete Collaboration is a new way of thinking about employee collaboration in an increasingly mobile world. This is the first of several cloud-based services Sprint will launch this year leveraging our award winning all-IP network,” said Mike Fitz, vice president of wireline, Sprint. “Sprint is the first Cisco partner to bring to market a Cisco HCS powered solution that integrates both enhanced mobility and SIP Trunking in a fully managed bundle that enables collaboration for all employees. Coupled with our superior managed services, we make it simple for Sprint customers to harness the industry’s most powerful UC portfolio — one comprehensive solution, one account team and one service/support team.”

“Businesses need a simple approach to allow their employees to collaborate nearly anywhere, in a way that also helps to contain costs and meet the varied needs of different types of employees,” said Zeus Kerravala, principal analyst, ZK Research. “This complete, hosted solution from Sprint is straightforward with a consistent user experience across multiple devices, backed by the security and reliability of Sprint’s all-IP network.”

Customers who choose Sprint Compete Collaboration will also benefit from the many years of experience that Sprint and Cisco have had working together to deliver collaboration solutions to mid-sized and large businesses as well as Sprint’s own employees. Sprint has deployed Cisco’s Unified Communications Managers to its retail store locations nationwide and thousands of Cisco IP phones. Additionally, Sprint is in the process of deploying Cisco Customer Collaboration at its Contact Center locations for front-line customer service agents. The real-world experience of building and supporting large enterprise collaboration solutions will benefit business customers as they look to adopt the Sprint Complete Collaboration to improve business performance.

According to Eric Schoch, general manager for the Cisco Hosted Collaboration business unit, “Cisco is teaming with Sprint to deliver a comprehensive hosted and fully managed unified communications solution by utilizing the Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution platform which provides innovative capabilities from Cisco WebEx enhanced conferencing experiences to Cisco Jabber on mobile phones and tablets. We look forward to combining the power of Cisco and Sprint’s expertise and comprehensive solutions, including Sprint’s rich mobile integration, to businesses and basing the deployment model on customer choice: in the cloud, on premise or both.”

Businesses can choose from three packages that are straightforward and priced-per-user enabling more predictable operating expenses, and are easily scalable to meet changing business needs. In addition to enhanced mobile integration and SIP Trunking, all packages include a soft client with headset, video telephony and support for multiple devices. Available packages include:

• Voice-Centric – an ideal option for employees who need just voice call management and basic UC functions.
• Standard – great office-based employee package that provides all voice features plus enhanced collaboration through IM, presence and desktop sharing.
• Premium – perfect for executives or mobile/remote employees with voice features and collaboration tools, plus mobile presence and support for a wide range of user endpoints.

Additional options such as desk and mobile devices and more robust conferencing services are available. The solution also includes software release upgrades, service level agreements, and a Web-based administration system that is integrated with Sprint’s innovative Compass network management portal.

For more details and to view a video introduction, visit www.sprint.com/completecollaboration.

For more information about converged solutions, visit www.sprint.com/convergence or contact your Sprint account team. To join in the latest discussions and learn more about business solutions available through convergence, visit the Seamless Enterprise at www.seamlessenterprise.com.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 55 million customers at the end of 2011 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in its 2011 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation’s greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

Contact(s):

Sprint
Stephanie Greenwood, 913-315-1612
stephanie.greenwood@sprint.com
or
Walter Fowler, 646-448-8180
Walter.fowler@sprint.com
or
Cisco
Doron Aronson, 408-424-3762
doaronso@cisco.com