Mitel and Sun Deliver Industry's “First” Truly Unified Communications Thin Desktop

Mitel, a provider of IP-based voice solutions, and Sun Microsystems, a leader in IT infrastructure, are continuing to deliver on their global OEM agreement which offers enterprises and SMBs a complete unified communications solution with new levels of flexibility and business process improvement for existing and future Mitel and Sun customers worldwide. Mitel and Sun have announced the availability of the Sun Ray Unified IP Client from Mitel in Q208 and several customers that are using or planning to use the unified communications solution that is well-suited for both cost and security-sensitive environments as well as for people that work remotely or are very mobile.

Mitel and Sun have committed teams of resources to further develop the joint unified communications solutions and take them to market. Earlier this month Mitel announced the Q208 availability of the Mitel Communications Suite on the Sun Fire X4150, which introduces the ability to consolidate mission critical voice applications such as messaging, mobility, conferencing and Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 in the data room environment.

With the Sun Ray Unified IP Client, Mitel has taken the ultra thin client Sun Ray technology and created a slim module that snaps securely onto Mitel IP phones to create the industry's first truly unified communications desktop. This allows users to securely "hot desk" into both the Mitel IP phones and the Sun Ray thin client terminals using a personal, authenticated Java Card.

The Sun Ray Unified IP Client provides voice and data services at any workstation on the network, dramatically reducing desktop cost and complexity while preserving the familiar, proven, telephone device. The simultaneous hot desking takes place within five seconds of the Java Card being inserted into the Sun thin client on any terminal within the network, providing the user with access to their desktop profile as well as advanced unified communications capabilities, such as mobility, unified messaging, video streaming, and presence information.

"The Sun Ray Unified IP Client delivers a secure unified computing and communications environment fully integrated into our world renowned Sun Ray solution," said Peter Ewens, Sun's vice president of global OEM. "This combined solution is also among the industry's most energy efficient, providing ongoing capex and opex savings through the elimination of power-hungry desktop PCs and the reduced energy consumption of low power Mitel IP phones."

The Sun solutions Powered by Mitel have been designed to significantly reduce power consumption with a combined nine Watts required to power the Sun Ray Thin Client and Mitel IP phone compared with 80 Watt PC/60 Watt laptop and 10 Watt IP phones. Additional power savings are realized through the reduction of servers provided by the pre-integrated Mitel Communications Suite that incorporates the Mitel Communications Director call control software.

"With first releases around Sun Ray Unified IP Client, NuPoint Messenger IP, and Mitel Communications Suite, Sun and Mitel are introducing a whole new era in voice and data communications," said Stephen Beamish, Mitel's vice president of Business Development and Strategic Alliances. "These Sun, 'Powered by Mitel' solutions make it even easier for businesses to enjoy the many advantages of unified communications to address the emerging needs of distributed, flexible, mobile work environments. These solutions are the first deliverables in a relationship with Sun where the industry can expect more to come in the next several months."