Toshiba's Releases IPedge Virtual Server Communications and Contact Center Solution

Toshiba America Information Systems' Telecommunication Systems Division today released its IPedge Virtual Server turnkey solution, which delivers the capabilities of Toshiba's IPedge business telephone system plus optional advanced contact center capabilities in a single server running a VMware virtual environment.

IPedge Virtual Server is a single-server deployment that combines core call processing and call distribution into one system with unified system management.

The all-in-one IPedge Virtual Server includes the following:

• Complete business telephone features -- Caller ID, call hold/transfer, speed dialing, conference calling, automatic redial, and more.
• Voicemail with unified messaging -- Automatic call answering, a single inbox to manage email and voicemail, user-configurable mailbox options, and message management from virtually anywhere.
• Unified communications -- Presence and instant messaging, including federation with Microsoft Lync Servers and outside organizations using Toshiba UCedge software. Plus click-to-call, CRM integration, call management from multiple device types, including Apple and Android smartphones and tablets, and Windows PCs and Mac OS X computers.
• Meet-me audio and video conferencing with Web collaboration -- Desktop and video sharing, Web browser interface, and integration with Outlook Calendar.
• Mobility -- Follow Me call routing, simultaneous ringing of desk and mobile phones, and Apple and Android smartphones as phone system extensions using Call Thru or Call Back features.
• Hybrid networking -- Federation and feature transparency across a company-wide network of IPedge and Strata CIX premises-based systems and VIPedge cloud-based business telephone solution.
• Administration -- Embedded Enterprise Manager for Web-based personal user, single system and enterprise-wide administration of all applications.

Toshiba's IPedge Virtual Server has an option for a built-in contact center with the following features:

• Advanced call routing -- Directs calls based on caller ID, agent skills, account numbers, time or date, triggers from ACD, user-entered data, and more.
• Multiple call distribution methods -- Allocates inbound calls among call-handling agents using linear, round-robin, longest idle, balanced call count, preferred agent, skills-based, or agent priority routing methods.
• Multiple group agent login -- Enables agents to answer calls for multiple groups, to provide important call coverage between groups and tiered service levels.
• Intelligent announcements -- Plays pre-recorded messages, informs callers of their place in queue or estimated time to answer, and offers alternatives, such as going to voicemail or scheduling a callback.
• Interactive Voice Response -- Gathers and validates caller input, triggers responses, alerts agents when the queue gets overloaded with calls, and provides many creative application opportunities.
• PC integration -- Enables call management from a PC and synchronizes with the company's operations, CRM or contact software.
• Call Center reports -- Enables supervisors to analyze agent performance, call center group activity and system status as well as display data on a wallboard and forecast future staffing requirements.
• Network ACD -- Enables multi-site contact centers to work together as one integrated call routing system with agents distributed across the network.
• Multimedia Web Callback and Chat -- Enables online customers to request a callback from the company's website, with automatic redial when an agent becomes available; sales groups can assist users via online chat while placing orders from a Web page.

Toshiba's IPedge Virtual Server integrates ACD administration into the IPedge Enterprise Manager Administration software for automatic setup and management via one administrator login account. Administration is fully Web-based, allowing the administrator to configure and manage ACD features, locally or remotely, from a Web browser. Licensing is simplified with a single license file that is activated once for IPedge, ACD, and reporting.

"Toshiba's new IPedge Virtual Server delivers the capabilities of Toshiba's IPedge business telephone system plus advanced contact center capabilities, all in one server," said Brian Metherell, vice president and general manager of Toshiba America Information Systems' Telecommunication Systems Division, in a statement. "An integrated communications and contact center solution makes it simpler than ever for businesses to run efficient and effective customer service."

IPedge Virtual Server is available in three versions: with ACD integrated and licensed; with ACD pre-installed and ready to activate; or an IPedge-only version without ACD.

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