News

Westcon and Siemens Enterprise Communications forge strategic Europe-wide partnership

Burgess Hill, UK, 19 October 2009 -- Siemens Enterprise Communications (SEN Group) announces that Westcon Group, Inc., the leading specialist distributor in networking, security, mobility and convergence, has joined its Go Forward! programme for partners. Westcon is now a SEN Group Value Added distributor, effective from October 2009, offering all of Siemens’ open, IP-based communications solutions to its reseller base, including SEN Group’s OpenScape Office.

This agreement will allow Westcon to expand its existing range of unified communications (UC) and converged communications solutions to solidify its position as a leading UC distributor across Europe. VARs in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Denmark and Benelux will all have access to a converged data, voice and services portfolio that will increase their revenue opportunities with customers, even in challenging trading conditions.

Other key benefits of Westcon joining the Go Forward! programme include:

•    Access to high service standards and greater product choice
•    Access to SEN Group’s “out of the box” digital reseller sales and marketing tools
•    An expanded product portfolio, including all major UC suppliers

David Grant, vice president, Europe, Westcon Convergence, says: “As UC becomes a viable proposition for many European organisations, it is important that we can offer a comprehensive product portfolio to be able to support resellers and help end users address their operational needs. As well as improving productivity, IP-based communications technology is also one way to significantly reduce costs, by running voice and data over one network and cutting telephony bills. This partnership with Siemens will allow us to support our base of resellers with an expanded level of converged communications technologies, to support a rising demand for IP telephony and ultimately unified communications.”

Lars-Ole Hansen, Head of EMEA Indirect Sales, SEN Group says: “We are committed to working with the key partners to deliver the most comprehensive product and service offering, as well as generating stronger revenue opportunities for resellers. Westcon is a respected provider across Europe, and this agreement will allow SEN Group to indirectly better support IT resellers across the continent with increased training, education and an end-to-end communications infrastructure.”

Westcon will offer SEN Group’s Enterasys networking solutions and Siemens SME communications solutions from October 2009, with the wider portfolio of solutions, including flagship IP-based UC platform OpenScape Voice, available from 2010. With Siemens’ input, Westcon and its resellers can offer a complete solution, from planning, designing and surveying a new IP-based communications infrastructure, through to the necessary staff training and support to implement the technology portfolio quickly and efficiently.

For further information about the GoForward! programme please click here:  http://www.enterprise-communications.siemens.com/seba/GoForward/About%20Go%20Forward.aspx