Innovative communications alliance

Innovative Communications Alliance (ICA) in computer telecommunications is an alliance between Nortel and Microsoft joined together to create a shared vision for future communication strategies.

Nortel and Microsoft are working together to create solutions that join together hardware and software solutions to integrate today's voice, video and date communications systems.

The Innovative Communications Alliance (ICA) is the name of a strategic agreement formed in July 2006 between the Canadian telecommunication equipment supplier Nortel and the software publisher Microsoft to develop, integrate, market and support new products jointly for businesses and telecommunications operators, primarily in the area of unified communications.

Unified Communications

The agreement contents
The agreement between Nortel and Microsoft was introduced by the CEOs of the two companies at a press conference in July 2006.
* Microsoft and Nortel have agreed to form joint teams that will unite their efforts in order to develop new products for companies as well as operators of mobile and fixed networks.
* The two companies will initially focus on designing products in the field of unified communications for customers of Microsoft and Nortel who seek to integrate software suits (office, calendar, mail, etc.). Into business communications solutions (secure instant messaging, presence, voice and video telephony, web conferencing). The unified communications services are new. Also the two companies are seeking through this alliance to accelerate the process of adopting a unified communications services within companies: evangelize, educate and train the market.
* The agreement commits the two companies in terms of technology, marketing and business, and it foresees the joint development of products and solutions, systems integration, as well as marketing strategies.
* The agreement provides for the exchange of licenses Crusaders (intellectual property issues). Nortel brings its know-how which will be reported in the Microsoft environment, particularly in the area of contact centers, IP telephony, mobility features advanced data networks.
* The two companies will invest resources in terms of marketing, business development and deployment. The joint teams will be created to collaborate in the development, and integration of products. In particular, these teams will undertake the integration and testing prior to marketing solutions to our customers and partners.
* The agreement provides for trade policy initiatives: training program and bonuses for sales forces, significant resources for the promotion, business development and the provision of customers.
* In particular, the two companies are planning to establish 20 demonstration centers in the world and more than one hundred in the future, where companies can test the upcoming features, interoperability between products, integration with applications.
* Services and Integration: Nortel has been certified a "Microsoft's Elite Gold Certified Partner", this qualification is held by less than 3% of Microsoft partners. The Canadian manufacturer has developed for this 11 specific modules in its service offerings that span the entire life cycle of a project: design, deployment, support & development. Nortel based on its own internal resources (2,200 experts in VoIP, 10,000 engineers and technicians from its Global Services division) and on a broad ecosystem of partners.
* Microsoft and Nortel deploy each other's technologies in their respective corporate networks.

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