Symbol Forms Partnerships with Mitel, Unisys

Holtsville, NY-based Symbol Technologies and Kanata, ON-based Mitel are forming a marketing and technology agreement to deliver a new converged voice and data solution that combines Mitel's H.323-compliant voice gateway with Symbol's Spectrum24 wireless local-area network (LAN) and NetVision voice-over-IP (VoIP) mobile phones.

The combined technology solution resulting from this agreement offers an end-to-end, standards-based enterprise networks for voice and data extending traditional, wired networks with WLAN network and telephony capabilities. By connecting the wired system to the wireless, companies can now beef-up their existing network infrastructure investments in either system while maximizing the benefits of both.

This converged wired and wireless network uses Mitel's H.323 gateway at the hub. Incoming voice calls from the PSTN are routed through a company's private branch exchange (PBX), and then on to this gateway. From there, information is routed within the wired phone system or onto Symbol's Spectrum24 WLAN system, which can forward the information to network appliances such as mobile phones, handheld or desktop PCs, or other data devices. Conversely, information generated on these WLAN devices can be distributed out of the system to the PSTN. This allows users within the LAN to share information outside the network.

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In a related story, Blue Bell, PA-based Unisys Corp. formed an alliance with Symbol Technologies to provide Windows NT-based data collection solutions integrated with Symbol's wireless mobile computing technology. The solutions delivered through the alliance will help businesses reduce costs and improve real-time decision making by replacing paper-based, manual processes with hardware and software that can withstand the rigors of field use.

The new alliance pairs the Unisys Aquanta ES series of Windows NT servers with Symbol's data collection and data management technology based on bar code laser scanning, mobile computing and WLAN technology. Businesses such as retail stores, government agencies, transportation and logistics, manufacturing and distributing, utilities, and healthcare can use the combined technology of Unisys and Symbol to a range of products and services.