Siemens GEC Communications Systems Ltd, the company set up in February from the merger of Siemens AG’s private communications business and GEC Plc’s GPT Communication Systems Ltd and GPT Business Systems Division, has announced the new company’s first product and outlined its strategy for data and voice integration. The company says it was formed as a response to the increasing convergence of information technology and telecommunications, and no doubt the pressure being put on communications companies from computer giants such as Microsoft Corp and Intel Corp. It yesterday unveiled the Hicom 300E, an open communications system that enables companies to converge voice and asynchronous transfer mode data networks into a single communications infrastructure. It uses the large reserves of capacity on existing ATM backbones to transmit the minute data streams of voice connections without, according to Siemens, the need to set up and maintain a separate PABX network. Thus users will save on costs for cabling, installation, routine maintenance and operation. Carol Park, the company’s marketing director, said research demonstrated that organisations could expect a reduction of up to 55% in cost, operating voice services in a converged environment, and the Hicom 300E would enable them to take advantage of this cost reduction. The new feature of the Hicom 300E is the High Speed Access which the company claims offers combined voice and data applications more quickly and with shorter response times. Siemens said the Hicom 300E supports every recognized signaling protocol and it will provide cordless roaming based on the international DECT, Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications standard enabling users to maintain access to the full range of network features displayed on the handset. The new product is currently being manufactured in Germany but from next year it will also be made in Britain. Siemens GEC Communications Systems comes under the management control of Siemens Private Communications Systems Group, employs around 3,000 people and has a turnover of 265m pounds. Customers include IBM Corp, SmithKline Beecham Plc, Ford Motor Co of Europe and the UK department of employment.
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