The fire service has rolled out company-wide IP telephony and BSMHFT has implemented a next generation unified communications platform supporting voice, data, remote access and video.
Both organisations hope the deals will lead to enhanced service capabilities and reduced costs.
West Midlands Fire Service needed to upgrade to an IP telephony system while still using its existing data network. It wanted to improve staff mobility and response capabilities for 2,500 workers across 40 different sites. According to the company, the fire service wanted a system that would maintain openness for the addition of further applications at a later date.
“Following a successful pilot of the OpenScape Voice, we decided that it was the right platform for our new HQ and ultimately serving the entire Brigade with IP Telephony. Being SIP and of an open, standards based architecture complemented our overall strategy,” said Sean Kelly, ICT manager, West Midland Fire Service.
BSMHFT is one of the largest mental health NHS Trusts in the UK and wanted to reduce staff reliance on pages and radios for communications. Staff now use the existing wireless network integrated with Siemens fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) technology, HiPath Mobile Connect, to automatically switch between their telecom operator’s cellular network and the trust’s VoIP network.
Richard Rennalls, telecommunications manager, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, said: “BSMHFT is looking to create a next generation communications platform. Siemens were the only supplier able to offer a true, open, session initiation protocol (SIP) solution now, with a complete enterprise feature set. At the same time a high level of integration with our existing iSDX network is key. In particular we see Wi-Fi and applications such as DAKS (Digital Alarm and Communications Server) and FMC being key to potential cost and efficiency savings.”
