[BBAdmin]

Don't think anyone has posted this yet - here comes the quote:

Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM) today announced it has acquired Ascendent Systems, a leading provider of solutions that simplify voice mobility implementations in the enterprise. Ascendent, a member of the BlackBerry(R) ISV Alliance Program, makes the Ascendent(R) Voice Mobility Suite, a standards-based software solution that augments existing PBX (Private Branch Exchange) and IP-PBX (Internet Protocol Private Branch Exchange) systems and supports heterogeneous telephony environments to "push" voice calls and extend corporate desk phone functionality to mobile users on their wireless handset or any wireline phone. Ascendent will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of RIM. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"The Ascendent Voice Mobility Suite is a perfect complement to the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution. This deal allows us to further extend and enhance the use of wireless communications in the enterprise by offering a voice mobility solution that helps customers align their mobile voice and data strategies," said Jim Balsillie, Chairman and Co-CEO at RIM.

"We developed a solution that extends the identity, security and manageability of the corporate desk phone to the wireless phone. It allows enterprises to be more responsive to their customers, encourages collaboration and increases sales opportunities by providing a mobile user with many essential PBX functions as if the user was at their desk," said Debbie Miller, CEO, Ascendent Systems.

Ascendent Voice Mobility Suite is a feature rich solution that provides single number reach, consolidation and access to a single voice mail box, and extends desk phone functionality such as PBX dial tone, call transfer and hold, 4 or 5 digit dialing and conference calling capabilities to mobile users. It provides a consistent experience across a mix of telephony systems and simplifies the migration to newer IP-PBX systems. The solution is also SIP-enabled for VoIP and supports BlackBerry WLAN deployments. Ascendent's solution has been especially well-received by enterprises with heterogeneous telephony environments and customers that also deploy BlackBerry.

[Stinsonddog]

So where are they going with this co?

[BBAdmin]

It's basically tight integration with existing fixed line PBX systems - using your BlackBerry to dial extention numbers and things like that.......I think!!

[NorCalAl]

So here's the logic:

the BB is the defacto corporate standard for secure, data mobility. Ascendent brings corporate secure voice mobility to any device (including BB's), any phone (landline, VoIP, WiFi, Cell). It pushes voice calls from your corporate phone extension to any device, anywhere. It can simultaneously ring up to 3 phones, and when you answer the call, you have all the features you have from your office phone: hold, transfer, conferencing, etc. If you don't answer, the call goes to your corporate voicemail system.

You can also call back into the Corp. phone system and get dialtone to 4 digit dial to other extensions, etc.They have cool conferencing features: "GetMe" conferences, where you can schedule a conf call, and at the selected day and time, the Ascendent system calls each participant and brings them into the conference.

The upside for highly mobile workers is that they now have one number, one voicemail. People trying to reach you only need to know that one number, and Ascendent finds you at any phone, anywhere.

They also have full audio conferencing, notification and business continuity features. Corporate IT should see this as RIM becomes the corporate voice and data mobility platform. Integrates with all major PBX and IP-PBX phone systems. Also, any phone will work with the system, and you use the dialpad to navigate the features of the system: *1 to add another party to the call, etc.

It's extends realtime productivity by enabling voice and data to reach you, instantly. Also, add Instant messaging to your devices, and presence (state change) to control how, if, when calls are even offered to you.

This extended functionality positions RIM to compete against Avaya, Nortel and Cisco on the Corp. phone side, and Microsoft on the data side.

Very cool stuff.