Wannon Water selects unified communications network from Microsoft and Nortel

Corporate IT Update, May 28, 2008

CORPORATE IT UPDATE-(C)1995-2008 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

A unified communications network from software company Microsoft and communications solutions provider Nortel (NYSE:NT) (TSX:NT) has been selected by Wannon Water, a water corporation in Australia, to improve staff productivity and customer service and reduce its carbon footprint further.

The companies said the new network will integrate the Wannon Water's existing Nortel communications network with Microsoft Live Communications Server 2005 and Microsoft Office Communication Server 2007, creating a company-wide unified communication network across 200 square kilometres of rural Victoria.

The new network will enable Wannon Water employees to see who is available and online at any of the company's 21 field offices, direct incoming and internal calls accurately and help to avoid unnecessary travel.

According to Nortel, the solution includes its Communication Server 1000 integrated natively with Microsoft Live Communications Server and Office Communications Server. It also includes over 150 Nortel 2002 and Nortel 2004 IP handsets and Nortel Business Communication Manager IP PBXs at Wannon Water's smaller regional offices.

The new functionality is being introduced to Wannon Water's main departments, beginning with the knowledge and technology department, where it has been tested for the past month, and is expected to help improve productivity and staff mobility, reduce communications costs and mobile phone usage, introduce remote training and support and improve compliance with customer service levels.

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