Windstream widens UC service web through ShoreTel distribution agreement

Acquisitions are only one part of Windstream's (Nasdaq: WIN) plan to build its business service portfolio, so the provider's plan to extend a distribution agreement with ShoreTel for its Unified Communications Solution (UCS) is evidence that the telco is keen on working with partners to deliver new services to customers.

The service provider will now be able to offer ShoreTel's solution set, including its Unified Communications, ShoreTel Contact Center and ShoreTel Mobility products.

Following a six-month trial in six markets, including Atlanta, Greenville, S.C., Orlando, Kansas City, Mo., St. Louis, Mo., and Tulsa, Windstream will now offer ShoreTel's solutions to SMBs and large business customers that reside in its 29-state footprint.

What will likely appeal to Windstream's existing business customer base is that the service can integrate with traditional IP-PBX systems, including those from Cisco (Nasdaq: CSCO), Avaya, Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU), and UC systems such as Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) OCS.

Windstream's agreement with ShoreTel will also complement the ongoing expansion of its existing VoIP and data bundle and its hosted VoIP and data bundle, which it extended to over 100 additional markets last year.

While Windstream is developing a number of new business products both on its own and through its acquisition of the former NuVox and soon to be completed acquisition of PAETEC (Nasdaq: PAET), the relationship with ShoreTel is all about time to market.

By partnering with ShoreTel, Windstream can instantly expand their voice services portfolio with new applications like the Mobility solution that extends enterprise communication system to a mobile device and create further stickiness to help ward off growing threats from other regional CLECs and cable operators offering business services.  

For more:
- see the release

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