Wednesday, February 28, 2007

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IP-Based Hospitality Improves The Guest Experience As Vendors Turn to Third Parties

PR Web Feb 28, 2007 Parsippany, NJ. Recent analysis of hospitality solutions by database publisher TelecomTactics shows that a focus on the “guest experience,” particularly in high-end hotels, has brought about a significant transformation in hospitality solution offerings from leading telecommunications vendors. 

Telecom vendors that once offered basic add-on hospitality software packages now bundle comprehensive, more complex solutions that include leading-edge technology from third-party partners. 

“To meet the needs of the hospitality industry, vendors recognize the value in partnering with other technology providers to offer best of breed solutions and remain competitive,” says Sandra Gustavsen, senior analyst at TelecomTactics.
Among the major providers:

• Avaya has numerous third-party partners, including SDC Solutions Inc. for its IntelliDESK® soft console with a programmable keyboard that allows operators to access hospitality features and to log transactions as well as FCS Computer Systems that offers additional applications for the front desk.
• Cisco partners with Percipia Networks Inc. to integrate the Parallax suite of hospitality applications for Cisco's CallManager or CallManager Express systems, adding popular hotel features and advanced applications for enhanced guest services and efficient hotel operation.
• Nortel and developer partner XTEND Communications Corporation have completed compatibility testing on the XpressDesk™ hospitality console, a Windows-based GUI that provides hotel operators with guest information, guest directory, paging, staff scheduling, Property Management System integration, group and convention features, fax management and more. Alternative consoles from other developer partners also are available.

Comparing competitive hospitality solutions has become much more challenging with the addition of multiple third party elements. “As an objective and comprehensive source of information, TelecomTactics can help hoteliers, manufacturers and VARs evaluate and compare the features and functionality of today’s hospitality offers,” adds Linda Rafferty, technical analyst at TelecomTactics.

Learn about the latest hospitality solutions from leading telecom vendors, including Alcatel-Lucent, Avaya, Cisco, Mitel, NEC, Nortel and Siemens, in newly formatted TelecomTactics hospitality reports. Reports include target market, guest telephone capacity, guest telephone features, front desk features and basic applications such as call center, voice mail and networking. Advanced applications are also outlined, including support for High Speed Internet Access, conferencing (audio, multimedia and video), speech recognition, unified messaging and wireless solutions for guests and hotel staff. Visit http://www.telecomweb.com/databases/telecomtactics/  and the newly-renovated TelecomTactics Hospitality Module for full details.

About TelecomTactics

The TelecomTactics database and newsletter publication covers the business telephony industry and provides up-to-date information on available enterprise telephony systems and their features. The interactive Web-based sales tool features detailed feature/function-based comparisons of enterprise communications equipment and applications in a side-by-side report format. Product categories covered include IP PBX, PBX, Key systems, IP Gateways and Telephones, Voice and Unified Messaging, Contact Centers and ACD, Unified Communications Clients, In-building Wireless and Hospitality. http://www.telecomweb.com/databases/telecomtactics/

About TelecomWeb

TelecomWeb encompasses global market-intelligence InfoTrack reports; daily e-letter TelecomWeb news break; TelecomWeb wireless, TelecomWeb broadband and TelecomWeb policy content packages; tariff consultancy Tarifica; and the Web-based business-telephony-product database TelecomTactics. To learn more about TelecomWeb, please visit www.TelecomWeb.com.

Contacts:

Sandra M. Gustavsen, senior analyst/TelecomTactics, 856/424-1100 x11, sgustavsen@telecomweb.com

Sharon Valencik, research & marketing director, 800/610-3109, telecom@telecomweb.com