Adtran Enters Unified Communications Sector

The maker of multifunctional networking devices just launched a suite of unified communications offerings aimed at enterprises of all sizes -- with or without PBX systems.

Huntsville, Alabama-based ADTRAN Inc., developer of multi-functional networking devices, today announced its first foray into the increasingly heady world of unified communications.

Rather than taking a tentative, toe-in-the-water approach ADTRAN is unveiling a suite of four related products, targeted at customers of varying sizes, with and without existing PBXs.

Chris Thompson, ADTRAN's senior product manager for voice products, enumerated them for Enterprise VoIPplanet in a pre-announcement briefing:

"Heading the list is the NetVanta Unified Communications Server. It's specifically designed to work with third-party PBX systems, whether traditional TDM or IP. So it is an adjunct to an existing system," Thompson said.

"Next is the The Business Communications System, which is a combination of the NetVanta 7100 or 7060 systems [see our coverage here and here] and the UC Server just mentioned." This solution is designed to serve 100 or fewer users, and comes pre-licensed for up to 100 users, Thompson explained.