FRANKFURT -- arvato systems, subsidiary of Arvato AG, the media and communication services provider of the German Bertelsmann Group, is streamlining its internal communications to achieve seamless unified communications (UC) between voice, email, conferencing, video and instant messaging. The successful deployment is enabled by the Innovative Communications Alliance between Nortel(1) (TSX: NT)(NYSE: NT) and Microsoft (TSX: MSFT)(NYSE: MSFT) and is one of the first deployments in Germany of a joint, integrated UC architecture with Microsoft OCS2007 and Nortel IP Telephony working together to deliver business benefits for arvato systems employees and clients.

arvato systems workers now have all the advantages of UC including one-click access to communications from any Microsoft application with a seamless user experience using IP phones or laptops. The UC solution also enables arvato systems users to instantly find available colleagues across the enterprise, to communicate and collaborate with them in real-time via existing desk or computer software phones, instant messaging, e-mail, video-conferencing or within web-based team workspaces. The presence feature allows users to see, at a glance, whether a specific person is available or on the phone before making contact, this feature improves productivity and customer service by speeding up information sharing and decision making.

"With our new unified communications capabilities, we gained immediate productivity benefits without needing to train workers on how to use new devices and user interfaces," says Rainer Flottmann, product manager at arvato systems. "The cooperation between Microsoft and Nortel was a major advantage because their hardware and software solutions integrate seamlessly and were easily configured to meet our exact needs and expectations. Now we have a solid first phase system on which we can easily add future internal users and also showcase to our customers such as the Bertelsmann Group and other companies."

Arvato Mobile