15.10.2008 | mrs Vanguard: Cycos unveils full-blooded unified communications solution packed with collaboration and conferencing features

Market leader in unified messaging launches UC software suite

Alsdorf, October 15, 2008 – The latest version of the mrs (multimedia routing software) suite from Cycos AG – the most comprehensive unified communications solution on the single software server market – is available now. New features give mrs Vanguard an impressive reach, from unified messaging through multimedia contact center facilities to real-time applications such as web conferencing and instant messaging. This self-contained unified communications solution can be scaled flexibly to the specific communication needs of each company. And its total cost of ownership will be hard to beat on any count: A conferencing package for 50 users and five channels, for example, costs just around EUR 12,500. In addition, a browser-based thin client enriches the computer-telephony integration (CTI) portfolio. Independent of any specific client platform, cyPHONE Web features a convenient user interface that makes it child's play to handle UC applications over the web. This add-on is also ideally suited to large heterogeneous IT environments and managed service constellations.
A study by British market research organization MZA recently identified Cycos as the leader in the Western European market for unified messaging. And mrs Vanguard certainly does justice to the company's leadership claim, boasting a complete unified communications (UC) solution on a single server. Enhanced real-time collaboration features such as application sharing, voice and web conferencing and instant messaging usefully – and effectively – complement the existing portfolio, which is nothing if not impressive: Modules for computer telephony integration (CTI), presence management, mobility (single number service, text to speech), a multimedia contact center (automatic call distribution, or ACD), interactive voice response (IVR) and unified messaging (text, fax, e-mail and voice mail) are all there. All this powerful functionality will make employees significantly more productive and mobile, as well as improving customer service in the corporate and public sectors alike. The newly added real-time collaboration features in particular will optimize and speed up collaboration within distributed teams both inside and outside the organization. Presence functionality and instant messaging, for example, allow people to exchange information on the fly, even when someone is on the phone, say. Similarly, voice and web conferences let groups of people examine and edit one and the same document even though they may be physically spread around the globe. That intensifies and streamlines the collaborative dialog process while eliminating the need for business travel, which costs time and money and ties up valuable human resources – not to mention the tremendous strain it places on the environment.
More efficient, more intuitive – and an optimized total cost of ownership
mrs Vanguard dovetails seamlessly with groupware (such as IBM Lotus Notes/Domino and Microsoft Exchange/Outlook) and ERP and CRM systems (such as SAP R/3, mySAP CRM and Microsoft Dynamics). In other words, users can access all the communication functions they need, exactly where they need them. Each function simply appears as an extra action button in their familiar working environment, simplifying communication processes and streamlining workflows. One click of the mouse is all it takes for users working in Microsoft Outlook or Lotus Notes, for example, to organize a voice or web conference. Another singularly useful feature is incoming call identification, which can (on request) display the associated customer data on screen as soon as a call comes in.
mrs Vanguard condenses all UC functions into a single software suite – a strategy that eliminates the extra cost of buying or leasing additional communication systems. At the same time, companies can be as flexible as they need to be, beginning with just a single application and gradually building it up into a full-blown UC solution. mrs Vanguard adapts to customers' needs. Its modular design lets each customer decide what applications they need for how many of their people. Both functionality and the number of users can then be scaled up step by step to keep pace with growing communication needs. The only difference is the need to buy additional licenses: As a rule, installing extra hardware is not necessary. That optimizes the total cost of ownership, but also ensures that everyone in the company has access to high-quality UC features. Administrative outlay too is slashed by the single server strategy.
New thin client for web-based application provisioning
mrs Vanguard is the perfect complement to the existing cyPHONE client application, featuring a browser-based thin client that is ideally suited to large, heterogeneous operating system environments and managed service constellations. cyPHONE Web supports browsers such as Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari. This client platform-independent solution gives users a web-based user interface to let them manage and use UC functionality. Since software no longer has to be rolled out on the desktop, central administration again substantially reduces both cost and effort.
"The new mrs Vanguard is more than just a new version," explains Jürgen Diller, CEO of Cycos AG. "The integration of collaboration and conferencing features makes our software suite an excellent choice for corporate users. No other single software suite on the market commands such a broad spectrum of UC functionality. By contrast, other providers often need many different applications to cobble together a UC solution. We also have a proven track record as an expert integrator of heterogeneous ITC landscapes and business processes, as well as operating a unique long-term, cost-optimizing UC strategy. We let companies grow into the world of UC when and how they choose."
Availability and prices
mrs Vanguard is shipping now and can be purchased in Germany from Cycos partners such as T-Systems, Dimension Data, Computacenter and Nextira One. License fees vary according to functionality and the number of users: The more users, the lower the price per license. A license to use the unified messaging and CTI functionality, for example, costs between EUR198 and EUR14, depending on the number of users. A conferencing package for 50 users and five channels costs around EUR12,500. mrs Vanguard will be demonstrated to customers and partners for the first time on October 15, 2008.