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Ascendent Systems

Company: Ascendent Systems, A subsidiary of Research In Motion (RIM), San Jose, California
Company Description: Ascendent Systems is the premier provider of enterprise voice mobility solutions that allow companies to be more responsive to customers and crisis by giving them the power to reach anyone, anywhere, immediately through the Ascendent Voice Mobility Suite. Recently acquired by RIM, Ascendent has solutions deployed in Fortune 500 corporations across many industry verticals.
Nomination Category: Company, Office & Product Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best New Product or Service

Nomination Title: “Tucking your office into your back pocket with Ascendent Systems”

   1. Tell the story about this nominated product or service (up to 500 words). Describe its function, features, benefits, and sales to date. You may include hyperlinks to product photos and data sheets. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.youraddress.com]:

Nowadays, more and more employees are working out of the office, relying on mobile phones and multiple voice-messaging services to stay connected with clients, co-workers, and new business prospects.  In fact, according to analyst firm IDC, the number of mobile workers is expected to reach more than 878 million globally by 2009.  So, it’s more important than ever to stay connected anytime and anyplace to ensure business success.  But a mobile world is not always a more manageable world, as executives are often juggling multiple phone numbers, voicemails and messaging services. 

With the Ascendent Voice Mobility Suite 4.1, mobile workers can simplify their lives with single number reachability and one consolidated voice-messaging solution to make sure they are getting their calls regardless of where they are or what device they are using.  For instance, when a customer calls a sales representative at their desk, the call will simultaneously ring them at their office, their cell phone, their BlackBerry™, or whatever phone a user has in their profile.  This allows the sales representative to answer the call on the device that is the most convenient for them at that particular time.  Not only does this save everyone from playing phone tag, but it remains completely invisible to the customer, who does not know that the rep is answering a call on their BlackBerry while traveling to another appointment.  More likely, the customer will simply appreciate that sales representative’s responsive nature and thus have a positive experience with the company.  This helps companies maintain strong customer service relations while actually lowering corporate telecom costs.     

Released in November 2005, the Ascendent Voice Mobility Suite 4.1 includes other features such as call forwarding, call park, unified voicemail, four-five digit transfer, and conferencing to any device they choose or that is most convenient to them.  A user has full call control on the device they answer the call on and can even transition a call in progress to another device.  For example, a call can be transitioned from a VoIP network to WiFi, or from a PBX deskset to a cell phone, thus eliminating the need to disconnect and re-establish the conversation. 

While Avaya EC500 only works with Avaya PBXs, the Ascendent Voice Mobility Suite 4.1 can work with heterogeneous TDM and IP PBXs, allowing a customer to have more flexibility with the infrastructure choices they make in the future. Ascendent Voice Mobility Suite 4.1 is also able to seamlessly integrate with any communications device regardless of carrier—whether it is a desk phone, cell phone, WiFi, BlackBerry™, or any analog phone.  In contrast, Avaya’s solution only works with digital phones. 

Recently acquired by Research in Motion, the Ascendent Voice Mobility Suite 4.1 delivers the voice equivalent of BlackBerryTM for e-mail by extending the identity and functionality of the corporate deskphone to any other phone. Finally, you can have the entire office tucked into your back pocket.

   2. List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, product reviews, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.youraddress.com]:

Ascendent Systems’ Press Release:

http://www.ascendentsystems.com/news/press_release/2005/11_16_05.aspx

Newsworthy Announcements:

Associated Press:
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2006/03/10/ap2584956.html%5C
Reuters:
http://today.reuters.com/sponsoredby/amex/article.aspx?type=innov
ationNews&storyID=2006-03-10T060616Z_01_N09287621_RT
RUKOC_0_US-RIM.xml

IDG:
http://www.computerworld.com/printthis/2006/0,4814,109434,00.html

Customer Testimonials:

The Deal:
http://www.thedeal.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=TheDeal/TDD
Article/TDPrinterFriendly&c=TDDArticle&ci
d=1145502538092&ArtID=1145502538092

Mobile Enterprise Magazine:
http://www.mobileenterprisemag.com/APCM/templates/new_template.asp
?articleid=2006&zoneid=45

Product Features:

Unstrung Magazine:
http://www.unstrung.com/document.asp?doc_id=91234&WT.svl=news1_2
Phone+ Magazine:
http://www.phoneplusmag.com/hotnews/63h101242496725.html
Red Herring:
http://www.redherring.com/Article.aspx?a=16056&hed=RIM+to+Jazz+Up+
Cell+Phones+&sector=Industries&subsector=Communications

   3. Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the leader(s) of the team that developed this nominated product or service:

Deborah Miller brings over 30 years of high technology experience to Ascendent Systems, a subsidiary of Research In Motion, where she is responsible for driving the strategic, operational and financial goals of the organization. Miller has held senior executive positions at some of the world’s largest technology firms and at several early-stage technology firms.  Miller spent 17 years in sales and marketing at IBM, and also worked at Silicon Graphics, where she held senior positions including Vice President of Worldwide Marketing and Vice President of Distribution Channels as the company grew explosively.  Miller also ran the Americas Server Group at Digital Equipment.