Today, at the annual CeBit trade show in Hannover, Germany, Siemens Enterprise Communications announced an architectural transformation, branding changes, and new video capabilities for its unified communications portfolio. OpenScape, a brand previously associated with Siemens' UC and collaboration application, now becomes the brand associated with all of the company's software applications (including voice) for the large and medium enterprise market.
Today, at the annual CeBit trade show in Hannover, Germany, Siemens Enterprise Communications announced an architectural transformation, branding changes, and new video capabilities for its unified communications portfolio. OpenScape, a brand previously associated with Siemens' UC and collaboration application, now becomes the brand associated with all of the company's software applications (including voice) for the large and medium enterprise market.The architectural transformation is without doubt the most significant change. Siemens has disaggregated the core SIP and administrative services of the earlier OpenScape UC application from the client capabilities. These core services (yes, think SOA-based architecture), including improved QoS, presence, licensing, session detail reporting among others, are now defined as OpenScape Unified Communications Server (UCS).
OpenScape client applications can now take advantage of these common services and not have to replicate them as has been the case in more traditional telephony architectures, not just from Siemens but from other vendors as well.
The initial applications that will use the OpenScape UCS Server common services are OpenScape UC (the disaggregated collaboration and conferencing client capabilities), OpenScape Voice and OpenScape Video. OpenScape UC gets an upgrade to version 3.0 as well as a client refresh.
OpenScape Voice is a rebranding of Siemens' SIP-based HiPath 8000 application. Siemens explains that it will no longer be positioning HiPath 8000 as a standalone product. Customers will buy HiPath 8000 as the OpenScape Voice application on the OpenScape Unified Communications Server.
OpenScape Video integrates high definition video, desktop PC video, voice and presence into the OpenScape UCS communication environment. Siemens points out that their video codec is unique because it allows all video participants to receive the best possible image for their available bandwidth. (Some products reduce the resolution of a video call if just one participant is using standard instead of high definition.)
The key here is that all of the applications running on the OpenScape UC Server share a common set of services, allowing them to work together more seamlessly. One can easily see the benefits of this, especially with a service like presence. It means that escalation from IM to voice to video interactions becomes nearly transparent.
Over time, Siemens plans to migrate more of its applications to share the OpenScape UC Server assets, including contact center and mobility.
