Siemens Expands HiPath Service

RESTON, Va. -- The Enterprise Networks division of Siemens Information and Communication Networks Inc., a subsidiary of Siemens AG (NYSE: SI - News), today announced that it will offer a package of managed and lifecycle services for non-Siemens systems. Managed services include help desk assistance, reporting, vendor coordination, vendor management, and remote support of adds, moves, and changes. Lifecycle services include remote and onsite maintenance and diagnostics support. The new, multivendor service offering is available immediately. Initially, Siemens will focus on enterprise communication products from major suppliers of communication systems. Going forward, Siemens plans to include additional products. By servicing multivendor environments, Siemens offers a single point of contact and accountability. Siemens can also combine Service Level Agreements (SLAs) so that multiple communications requirements are enforced within a single agreement. For most enterprises, reducing the number of service vendors and combining SLAs offers the opportunity to reduce total cost of ownership and increase efficiencies. Siemens' expanded services offering addresses the needs of a growing number of companies with communications solutions from multiple vendors. Communications networks are no longer divided into three or four silos, each controlled by an individual voice, data, or applications vendor. The advent of communications over IP (Internet Protocol) has meant that communication networks have become even more complex, horizontal, and heterogeneous. "Retaining multiple vendors for ongoing maintenance and support can be expensive," said Paul Reitmeier, senior vice president of services at the Enterprise Networks division of Siemens ICN. "Our new, multivendor services strategy is targeted squarely at addressing the needs of customers -- some of whom have locations on more than one continent. They want one number to call if there is a problem, and they want their multivendor systems and applications to work together in harmony." Siemens Information and Communications Networks Inc.