Regular readers know I'm a Siemens fan and I watch them very closely. Siemens has also been ver generous in sharing information and access to key leaders within different facets of their business. A couple of weeks ago, I got to spend an hour on the phone with Luc Roy, VP of Product Planning for Siemens Mobile Enterprise.

Siemens is working feverishly in several different areas, one being mobility. Luc shared with me some detailed insights into Siemen's approach to Fixed Mobile Convenience that's being announced today. Let me start by sharing some background introductory material from Siemens. I'll comment more at the end.
 

Introduction
The Siemens HiPath MobileConnect appliance is a key component of a comprehensive solution that enables enterprises to implement lower-cost, highly effective mobile communications within campus environment and beyond. Using this solution, enterprise employees can freely communicate using a single mobile device, phone number, address book, and voice mailbox anywhere on campus or off. Companies that leverage the HiPath MobileConnect appliance improve employee “reachability” and productivity and achieve other important benefits, including reduced telecommunications costs, streamlined management, and lower operations expenses.

Today’s Enterprise Communication Landscape
Siemens developed the HiPath MobileConnect appliance and the comprehensive solution of which it is a part in response to a range of corporate challenges. In today’s business world, mobility is on the increase, with more workers spending more time on the road and away from their desks. Forrester suggests that nearly 41 percent of U.S. workers are mobile and out of their offices more than 20 percent of their work day. But even though they may be on the road or working from home, employees still need to communicate with customers, business partners, and co-workers.

Cell phones and wireless devices such as laptops that leverage wireless LANs (WLANs) provide an answer. However, WLANs do not provide the range and performance necessary to stay in touch everywhere in a corporate wireless environment. And mobile phone service is expensive. Indeed, by Q2 2006 the average cell phone bill for business users reached $80 per month and the highest-spending mobile workers averaged more than $450 per month on wireless services, according to research firm Telephia. Thus, it should come as no surprise that companies are spending an increasing percentage of their annual IT budget on mobile telephony. While enterprise voice communications accounts for 10 to 25 percent of a typical annual IT budget, mobile costs can run as high as 30 to 40 percent, according to the Yankee Group. In addition, corporations must also factor in administration costs, security risks, and productivity loses into telecommunication expense budgets.

The Total Cost of Mobility (TCM)
For the enterprise IT department, the rising cost of mobile telephony is just the tip of the iceberg. Mobile workers are depending on new mobile technologies and more capable mobile devices to perform their jobs. However, the complexity and dynamic nature of mobile telephony billing and long distance plans makes it difficult for company’s to reduce mobility spending.

Most companies do not have the staff, resources, expertise, or reporting capabilities necessary to consistently track, monitor, and analyze employee mobile usage. In many cases, companies simply manage costs by tracking the largest spenders within the organization or simply identify employees with the most significant monthly usage pattern shifts. Furthermore, it can be a burden to manage the growing number of mobile devices. These devices and associated services must be managed as corporate assets with efficient processes in place for selection, approval, ordering, configuration, updates, and distribution. By not managing mobile device usage and creating mobility policies, many enterprises pay far more for enterprise mobility than they should be.

In addition, there is the security risk associated with sending information from a mobile device. Secure transmission of sensitive company information and e-mail using laptops, smart phones, or personal digital assistants is not only vital for protecting the corporation, it is necessary for regulatory compliance. However, lapses in security can result in leaked customer or patient information and bring severe federal fines as well as damage to the corporate reputation. Inappropriate use of mobile devices can spell financial public relations disaster for companies with sensitive customer and patient relationships. Security risks must also be managed by establishing effective procurement, inventory control, and access procedures.

Fragmented Communications Environment
Cost, security, and administration issues are not the only issues enterprises face. Today’s business workers have more options for communicating than ever before: paper mail, fax, voice (fixed and mobile), e-mail, conferencing (voice and video), and instant messaging (IM). Unfortunately, the diverse range of communications and messaging modes may actually degrade workers’ responsiveness at the very time they are being asked to improve their “reachability” and their response time. Employees are spending too much time managing their daily information flow, performing tasks such as updating multiple contact lists, listening to multiple voicemail systems, and reading multiple e-mail, IMs, and text messages. This can distract from important, mission critical business, significantly impacting employee productivity and effectiveness, and the value of the communications network.

The Solution: Open Mobility
As an answer to the challenges faced by today’s enterprises, Siemens offers a powerful mobility solution based on Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) technology. This technology converges corporate IP PBX and high-speed wireless LAN data services onto a single network and provides a solution for the fragmentation discussed in the previous section, offering a communications environment that is flexible, all pervasive, and unified. Such a solution allows employees to stay in touch easily and cost-effectively using a single device and phone number, whether they’re in their main workspace or another campus location, at home, or on the road.

Open Mobility enables people to communicate using one device with one number at home, in the office, and on the go.



How the Siemens Solution Works
The key enabling product for the Siemens Mobility Solution is the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-based HiPath MobileConnect application server. This high performance platform provides mobile employees with key PBX-like features such as a unified voice mailbox, directory, and a single number service. In addition, the appliance enables dual-mode handsets to send and receive voice calls within the enterprise. Dual-mode devices, which work with both IP PBXs and public cellular networks, operate with the HiPath MobileConnect appliance to connect callers to best available network. Calls are automatically transferred between networks to maintain high service levels while optimizing costs.

The HiPath MobileConnect appliance resides within the corporate LAN and connects to the IP PBX. Because it is standards based, the appliance enables simple, future-proof integration with existing telecommunications equipment. It also ensures that the system will be compatible with a wide variety of emerging dual-mode devices. The platform supports up to 1,500 dual mode users and up to 500 simultaneous voice sessions with transcoding and inline DTMF detection.


 

Outbound Calling
1	When an enterprise dual-mode device connects to the enterprise WLAN, it registers with the HiPath MobileConnect appliance using SIP, which requires authentication to ensure that only permitted dual-mode devices are allowed to connect to the service.
2	Once authenticated, the device registers with the HiPath MobileConnect appliance, which in turn registers with the SIP PBX (or SIP gateway) that the user is available. The HiPath MobileConnect appliance stores the IP address of the client device to establish connections in the future.
3	If the user is outside the office, outbound calls to Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) or any other mobile network recipient are established via the standard public cellular network. When using the single number feature, Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) is used to identify the user with the one phone number (PBX number).
4	When the worker is inside the enterprise, calls placed from the dual-mode device are passed outward to the HiPath MobileConnect appliance, and then to the SIP PBX, which uses a media gateway to forward the call to the PSTN.

Based on the employee’s location, outbound calls can use the low-cost enterprise voice network or the public mobile network.



 

Inbound Calling
1	When an enterprise dual-mode device connects to the enterprise WLAN, it registers with the HiPath MobileConnect appliance, which requires authentication to ensure that only permitted devices are allowed to connect to the appliance. Once authenticated, the device registers with the HiPath MobileConnect appliance, which in turn tells the SIP PBX or SIP gateway that the user is available. The HiPath MobileConnect appliance stores the device’s IP address to establish future connections.
2	All incoming calls are received at the SIP PBX, which knows the status of the intended recipient. For example, the SIP PBX knows when a user’s device is “busy” and will forward other incoming calls to the user’s voice mailbox.
3	Inbound calls for dual mode devices are “registered” with the SIP PBX and forwarded to the client device at the known IP address. When a dual-mode device is registered on the WLAN, but is not busy, then the PBX makes an SIP connection to the device to establish a call.
4	Inbound calls to devices that are not registered on the WLAN are forwarded to the Public Mobile Network to make a connection. If the device is not available, i.e. off-network or busy, then the call returns to the SIP PBX, where it is forwarded to the subscriber's voice mailbox.
5	The SIP PBX can simultaneously ring (“parallel-ring”) the registered dual mode device and the standard office desk phone.

Inbound calls can go to the mobile device, the desk phone, or to both places at the same time.



A Comprehensive Integrated Solution
The Siemens HiPath MobileConnect appliance is a key component of Siemens’ Open Mobility solution, a complete portfolio of products designed for delivery of enterprise mobile communications. This comprehensive solution enables enterprises to integrate multiple voice and multimedia solutions onto a single wireless network that offers the converged voice and data features, quality, security, and reliability necessary to un-tether workers from their desktops and provide a path toward true mobility. HiPath products are highly scalable, enabling easy integration with multiple Siemens Open Mobility Solutions on a single infrastructure. Products include:
 

• HiPath 8000 softswitch - a unique, native SIP platform designed for data-center deployment. The products support from 300 to 100,000 users and can be deployed as both an overlay network with smooth migration of existing users, or as a complete replacement for traditional TDM-based PBX systems. For optimal cost efficiency, media server and management systems can be integrated onto the same computing platform.
• HiPath Wireless product family - a third generation WLAN solution that includes centralized WLAN controllers, access points, and management software. HiPath Wireless products support high-performance VoWLAN and include standards-based features.

The Benefits of the Siemens Open Mobility Solution
Many enterprises today envision a day when they can provide workers with a single dual-mode device and a single inbound number that works for voice and data in the office, at home and while mobile on the public wireless network. With the Siemens Open Mobility Solution, that vision can be achieved. Using the Siemens solution, communications becomes much simpler and effective for workers inside the enterprise, and for those trying to reach them.

Users can reduce their number of devices and instead use a single device for all of their communications needs no matter where they are or what they are doing. This can result in significant productivity benefits since workers no longer require multiple specialized devices or need to manage multiple contact lists or voice mailboxes. Instead everything is accessible from a single device using a consistent user interface. Employees are much easier to reach due to the fact that callers only have to dial a single phone number to reach them, resulting in improved customer satisfaction. Customers, partners, and coworkers can reach them more rapidly and with less wait time for an impromptu conference or on-the-spot decision.

For most companies a clear motivation for deploying a mobility solution is cost savings. A Siemens Open Mobility Solution can reduce the cost of mobile phone service by as much as 40 percent due to the elimination of mobile-to-mobile calls within the enterprise. Also, remote workers that use the corporate PBX to access the PSTN can take advantage of their low-cost long distance calling plans instead of paying for more expensive cellular minutes.
In addition, the Siemens Open Mobility Solution:
 

• Extends valuable corporate PBX telephony features such as call forwarding, messaging, and conferencing, onto dual mode devices
• Provides valuable network redundancy between the VoWLAN and Public Mobile Network. Users can enjoy uninterrupted voice coverage in the office as well as areas such as stairwells and storerooms
• High Availability backup to the enterprise PBX

The Vision for Enterprise Mobility
The Siemens HiPath MobileConnect appliance is an important element of Siemens’ larger vision for open enterprise mobility. Siemens objective is for a single enterprise mobility system which provides ubiquitous coverage and consistent user experience across all mobile applications. To achieve this Siemens has three key goals:
 

1. Making Mobility Easy - Network operations are the single biggest contributor to total cost of ownership (TCO). For enterprise mobility to be ubiquitous it must be easy to manage on a large scale, easy to deploy and easy to operate and support. Today’s solutions are difficult even for trials or single application deployments, but Siemens makes mobility easy even for multi-app, enterprise wide deployments. This means a single, expandable architecture, a high performing, reliable and adaptable network that users will appreciate, and the lowest TCO and highest return on capital investment of any other solution. This foundation of ease of ownership is what enables the economical expansion of mobility solutions into new domains. The HiPath MobileConnect appliance is a core component that bridges diverse enterprise communications infrastructure to ensure this vision.
2. Making Mobility Worthwhile - In addition to making mobility easy, it must be made worthwhile for the productivity and profitability of the enterprise, and this is where Siemens strengths come through, particularly in our ability to deliver valuable business applications, as well as our strength and leadership in delivering specialize solutions across many vertical markets. Mobility is ultimately an application enabler, and Siemens is integrating vertical business applications into this single, easy mobility architecture by leveraging capabilities across all business divisions, starting with Medical and Industry solutions, as well as other vertical segments such as education and hospitality.
3. Making Mobility Universal - Finally, Siemens is using its industry leading presence in broad-based wireless solutions and real time enterprise communications to add horizontal mobility applications such as voice to the wireless system. Dual-mode mobile communications is a crucial step toward building a unified, seamless basis for anytime-anywhere communications. Siemens is best suited to deliver a single, multi-application mobility network that is operationally and financially easy to justify, deploy, and operate.

Conclusion
Siemens is the only global company with a complete solution for enterprise mobility. At the core of this lineup is the award winning HiPath SIP compliant PBX’s suitable for enterprises of any size. On top of this infrastructure goes the HiPath Wireless WLAN solution, which includes innovative technologies for VoWLAN optimization. The latest piece of the solution is the new Siemens HighPath MobileConnect appliance, a powerful, intelligent platform for merging diverse communications into one easily manageable and cost-effective network. Together these systems form an enterprise wide open mobility solution able increase employee productivity, improve customer satisfaction, and reduce telecommunications bills well into the future. More information about Siemens strategy of Open Communications is available at www.siemens.com/open.
 

That's the Siemens' background pitch. Frankly, I think it absolutely kicks butt in several key areas. When I talked with Luc about this a couple of weeks ago, I had a few thoughts as we were talking. Siemens' commitment to open architecture continually demonstrates their thought leadership along their numerous business lines. They're very open about being open. They're committed and outspoken about it in every announcement and release. That's a leadership stance not well-spoken by other market leaders. Their commitment to an open communications strategy serves them well.

This solution focuses on enabling enterprises to communicate and collaborate with any device on any network, in any IT environment. That speaks volumes to Siemens' view on the Total Cost of Mobility. For too many enterprises, mobility is necessary, but the total cost isn't really analyzed. The ROI on mobility is, for many organizations, probably far higher that the return. Siemens wants to help change that.

Fixed Mobile Convenience is an important paradigm. We read and hear talk of fixed mobile convergence, but for many, the cost of convergence runs well beyond dollars. The complexity of convergence can be horrendous inconvenience and inefficiency. Fully integrating intelligent multi-mode devices, whether they're notebooks. tablets, PDAs or smartphones can be a challenge.In some cases, you can accomplish convergence, but as they say in the movies - that's gonna leave a mark. Siemens goal is tied to a LifeWorks approach that will seamlessly connect the cellular network to your enterprise using a vendor agnostic commitment to open standards for SIP enabled VoIP and delivering voice over any voice-ready wireless LAN technology (VoWLAN).

LifeWorks is a Siemens term I used in the paragraph above. Luc and I talked about this in detila and I expect to see Siemens use if more and more. They're focusing on making things we use in the enterpreise work for our life.

This HiPath MobileConnect solution promises the open mobile enterprise of the next generation across the entire portfolio of services - in building, across the campus, on the go, roaming in hotspots, and at the home or remote branch office. It's an enterprise-centric solution to true one number, one mailbox seamless roaming across all networks.

I've placed two files here on the Realtime Unified Communications Community for reader's convenience in grabbing information.
 

• HiPath MobileConnect Press Deck (PowerPoint file)
• HiPath MobileConnect Data Sheet (PDF file)

I'd also like to pass some kudos to Siemens' PR team at Connect Public Relations. They not only engage proactively and efficiently, they go the extra mile. This is the second Siemens briefing I've done lately, where they've provided information relevant to the call so that I could be well prepared. But they haven't stopped there. They follow up by shipping a USB thumb drive with all the final documentation, photos and graphics, data sheets and references. I'm a Siemens fan, but the Connect PR team makes it easy to share the exciting things Siemens is delivering, and I appreciate that, Every now and again I like to point out a PR team that I think really gets it and does a great job of promoting their client in the new world of Web 2.0.

In short, if you're looking for an enterprise class solution to solve a wide variety of communications needs, Siemens delivers in a lot of different areas. They're well worth checking out.