NEC takes on-premises phone systems to the cloud with UNIVERGE BLUE® CONNECT BRIDGE
Irving, Texas - November 17, 2021 - NEC Corporation of America (NEC), a leading provider and integrator of advanced IT, communications, and networking solutions, today announced the launch of UNIVERGE BLUE CONNECT BRIDGE, an innovative solution that builds on NEC's UNIVERGE BLUE CLOUD SERVICES and enables existing on-premises NEC phone systems to leverage the power of cloud-based services and solutions while maintaining their existing NEC infrastructure and protect investments.
Your BRIDGE to the Cloud
The launch of UNIVERGE BLUE CONNECT BRIDGE, available across all NEC UNIVERGE communications platforms, marks the next phase in the global strategic partnership of NEC and Intermedia®, a leading provider of cloud-based Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) and Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS) solutions.
While on-premises systems were built in an era where most work happened in the office, and voice was the primary mode of communication, today's workforce and business environments require a more flexible and mobile workspace. UNIVERGE BLUE CONNECT BRIDGE extends existing NEC phone systems with cloud-based voice via desktop and mobile apps creating a seamless all-in-one highly collaborative communications experience and unlocking new cloud-based applications.
With CONNECT BRIDGE, existing NEC customers can gain access to a variety of new communications capabilities and migrate to the cloud-based functionality at their own pace, while continuing to leverage their existing investment in their on-premises systems. Collaborate in the office, at home, or from anywhere with integrated video conferencing, chat, file sharing, and more with CONNECT BRIDGE - Your BRIDGE to the Cloud.
Key customer advantages
UNIVERGE BLUE CONNECT BRIDGE enables NEC customers to keep their existing phone system and phone numbers, while adding the tools teams need to better communicate and collaborate. In doing so, it extends the capabilities of their current NEC UNIVERGE phone systems and protects their existing investments.
CONNECT BRIDGE is easily deployed with no additional hardware to buy or software to update. When a business is ready to move fully to a cloud-based Unified Communications solution, it can smoothly transfer entirely to the cloud with zero downtime and no interruptions to user experiences.
User-friendly desktop and mobile apps are easy to set up and install - all that is needed is an internet connection. Users spend less time switching between apps and more time getting work done with access to team chat, video conferencing, calling, and file sharing. They stay connected with colleagues from wherever they work and can place, receive, and manage calls from their desktop or mobile device.
"UNIVERGE BLUE CONNECT BRIDGE not only uniquely bridges both on-premises and cloud-based ICT worlds", comments Marc Hebner, Vice President of Enterprise Division of NEC Corporation of Americas. "It also underpins our approach to dynamic delivery of advanced solutions and demonstrates NEC's commitment to customers and Channel Partners to protect investments, maximize the potential of their installations, and boost customer and employee experience in today's hybrid world."
Significant value
The addition of UNIVERGE BLUE CONNECT BRIDGE is a significant expansion to NEC's highly acclaimed UNIVERGE BLUE platform. And there is more excitement around the launch of CONNECT BRIDGE. Here are a few quotes from one of our largest distributors and two of our valued Channel Partners:
"Optus is excited for the launch of NEC's UNIVERGE BLUE CONNECT BRIDGE solution as it represents a unique differentiator to the market and additional opportunity to expand UNIVERGE BLUE CLOUD SERVICES through our existing base of NEC on-premises customers. As one of NEC's largest national Solutions Integrators, we see CONNECT BRIDGE as having a very positive and immediate impact across the thousands of customers we serve."
Mark Duckworth
Founder & Chief Customer Officer - Optus, Inc.
"As a Channel Partner for UNIVERGE BLUE CONNECT BRIDGE, we have been extremely pleased with the ease of implementation and excited about offering it as an option to all our existing NEC on-premises phone system customers. CONNECT BRIDGE has performed as designed and extends communications with desktop and mobile apps to wherever needed. I see CONNECT BRIDGE as a great way for my customers to transition to the cloud at their own pace, protecting their existing phone system investment, adding the cloud-based applications that they need to today to support the new hybrid work environment, and provides them with an easy path to a full cloud solution when ready."
Gordon Maccani
CEO - Digital Telecommunications Corp
"We have been very happy with the NEC's UNIVERGE BLUE CONNECT BRIDGE and it works seamlessly with our NEC UNIVERGE SV9100 PBX. Our remote users really enjoy having the ability to have their calls transferred to them without the caller knowing they are not onsite as well as being able to place calls from their mobile devices and not having to give out their personal phone numbers. I can definitely see a huge opportunity for UCI in offering this to our existing NEC customers."
Tracy Voltz
Founder & CEO - Unified Communications Integrators, LLC
"The Forerunner team is excited for the upcoming release of UNIVERGE BLUE CONNECT BRIDGE. The offering fills a major gap for our premises-based customers by providing them with a clear UC migration path while leveraging their existing investments allowing for a paced migration."
Joe Perc
Director of Sales - Forerunner Technologies, Inc.
Global roll-out of UNIVERGE BLUE CONNECT BRIDGE commences in Japan and the Americas, with EMEA and Australia markets to follow in Q1 2022. More information can be found on: univergeblue.com/connect-bridge.
About NEC Corporation of America
NEC Corporation of America (NEC) is a leading technology integrator providing solutions that improve the way people work and communicate. NEC delivers integrated Solutions for Society that are aligned with our customers' priorities to create new value for people, businesses and society, with a special focus on safety, security and efficiency. We deliver one of the industry's strongest and most innovative portfolios of communications, analytics, security, biometrics and technology solutions that unleash customers' productivity potential. Through these solutions, NEC combines its best-in-class solutions and technology, and leverages a robust partner ecosystem to solve today's most complex business problems. NEC Corporation of America is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NEC Corporation, a global technology leader with a presence in 160 countries and $29 billion in revenues.
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