Ernst & Young to Roll Out Alcatel IP Communications Solution in Australia

Ernst & Young to Roll Out Alcatel IP Communications Solution in Australia

PARIS, Dec. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA) today announced that Ernst & Young has chosen Alcatel, along with its premium business partner Integ, to implement a new IP-based communications solution in Australia. This will provide the 3,500 Ernst & Young employees with an integrated set of tools for unified messaging and instant conferencing and collaboration, helping improve employee communications effectiveness and productivity.

Ernst & Young plans to implement one of the largest IP telephony rollouts in Australia, which is based on the Alcatel OmniPCX Enterprise with 6,000 handsets and the Alcatel OmniTouch Unified Communications software suite. Integ will provide Ernst & Young with a complete communication solution, including design, project management, deployment, training and ongoing support.

Ernst & Young is embarking on a large-scale project to relocate its offices in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne, and as part of this move re-evaluated its communications options. After comprehensive analysis considering functionality, cost, future capabilities, support and maintenance, Ernst & Young decided that an Alcatel IP-based network along with services from Integ was the most suitable and cost-effective solution. Ernst & Young expects the new Alcatel network and unified communications software suite to pay for itself through the savings made in cabling costs, and productivity gains.

"We have been extremely happy with our existing Alcatel communications infrastructure," said Stephen Arnold, CIO, Ernst & Young, Australia. "After a complete study 18 months ago, we decided that IP Telephony would support us and our needs. In the end, it was our satisfaction with the current Alcatel solution and the support from Integ, coupled with the fact that we wouldn't need to retrain the whole organisation that helped us make this decision."

Rob Carnell, general manager for Alcatel enterprise solutions in Australasia, said: "Ernst & Young is an example of a firm that embraces and leverages technology to benefit staff and productivity. IP is not only about reducing costs. It also increases efficiency and productivity, which is what the OmniTouch Unified Communications and the Alcatel OmniPCX Enterprise will do for Ernst & Young."

The Alcatel OmniTouch Unified Communications suite of applications, which includes unified messaging, conferencing and collaboration, provides users with services to streamline communications and business processes, while bridging silos of business knowledge across any location and device. The result is better employee productivity and increased customer satisfaction, which ultimately improve business results and the bottom line.

"We are always looking for ways to increase the effectiveness of our mobile workforce with communications being a significant part of our business," added Arnold. "The Alcatel OmniTouch Unified Communication applications provide additional effectiveness by combining email, Ernst & Young's favoured communications method, with voicemail and faxes into single digital mailbox."

"Designing an IP telephony solution for a company with a strong emphasis on quality and staff was very exciting for us," said Ian Poole, CEO, Integ. "Ernst and Young's need to cater to a large mobile workforce allowed us to introduce the latest customised applications to deliver the efficiencies, value and tangible business benefits that IP telephony and applications can now offer. Integ was chosen for its innovative approach, proven track record, ability to deliver on time and commitment to providing exceptional training and maintenance support."

Ernst & Young began nationwide implementation -- six capital cities and two smaller Queensland-based offices -- in November 2004.

About Integ Communication Solutions

Integ Communication Solutions is a leading Australian integrator of voice, data and IP communication solutions to government and business. The company employs more than 100 people in six offices across Australia.

With four distinct lines of business; voice, data networking, cabling and applications, Integ offers a skilful edge in designing, integrating and supporting communication networks, structured cabling, data networks and wireless, security, high speed Internet access, contact centres, mobility, messaging and CRM solutions.

Integ is a business unit of UXC Limited, one of Australia's ASX Top 300.

About Ernst & Young


Ernst & Young, a global leader in professional services, is committed to restoring the public's trust in professional services firms and in the quality of financial reporting. Its 100,000 people in 140 countries around the globe pursue the highest levels of integrity, quality, and professionalism to provide clients with solutions based on financial, transactional, and risk-management knowledge in Ernst & Young's core services of Audit, Tax, and Transaction Advisory Services. Ernst & Young practices also provide Law services in some parts of the world where permitted. Revenues from Law services are included in Tax. Further information about Ernst & Young and its approach to a variety of business issues can be found at www.ey.com/perspectives. Ernst & Young refers to all the members of the global Ernst & Young organization.

About Alcatel

Alcatel provides communications solutions to telecommunication carriers, Internet service providers and enterprises for delivery of voice, data and video applications to their customers or employees. Alcatel brings its leading position in fixed and mobile broadband networks, applications and services, to help its partners and customers build a user-centric broadband world. With sales of EURO 12.5 billion in 2003, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries.

For more information, visit Alcatel on the Internet: http://www.alcatel.com/.

Alcatel Press Contacts
Aurelie Boutin/HQ Tel :+ 33 (0)1 40 76 11 79
aurelie.boutin@alcatel.com
Florence Pontieux/HQ Tel :+ 33 (0)1 40 76 12 02
florence.pontieux@alcatel.com

Alcatel Investor Relations
Pascal Bantegnie Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 52 20
pascal.bantegnie@alcatel.com
Peter Campbell Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 13 11
peter.campbell@alcatel.com
Nicolas Leyssieux Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 37 32
nicolas.leyssieux@alcatel.com
Maria Alcon Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 15 17
maria.alcon@alcatel.com
Charlotte Laurent-Ottomane Tel : +1 703 668 3571
charlotte.laurent-ottomane@alcatel.com

PRNewswire -- Dec. 9

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Source: Alcatel

Web site: http://www.alcatel.com/
http://www.ey.com/perspectives


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