August 04, 2008 13:36 ET

Westcon Group Launches Industry's First Online, Multi-Vendor Configurator of Open Source IP/PBX Solutions

Innovative Tool Can Dramatically Shorten Quotation and Pre-Sales Process for Resellers of Digium's Asterisk-Based Open Source Solutions

TARRYTOWN, NY--(Marketwire - August 4, 2008) - Westcon Group, Inc., the leading specialty distributor in networking, convergence, security and mobility, announced that it has launched a groundbreaking new configurator for Digium's Asterisk-based open source solutions. The online configurator, which is the first of its kind in distribution, is available to all Westcon Group resellers registered in its CollaborationPoint OpenSource program.

Westcon's configurator, which was developed in conjunction with eXalt Solutions, Inc., uses patented technology that enables resellers to specify and quote multi-vendor solutions with greater ease than ever before. The tool provides resellers with an intelligent, 'wizard' type interface that not only guides resellers through the entire configuration process but also suggests 'add on' products which can increase the overall sales opportunity.

Worldwide revenue from standalone open source software reached $1.8 billion in 2006. This revenue will reach $5.8 billion in 2011, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26% from 2006 to 2011.*

Dan Pirro, Commercial Sales Manager for Westcon Group, Inc., commented: "With well over a dozen of the leading Open Source manufacturers participating, our online configurator is the first of its kind -- it takes the complexity out of solution building so resellers can focus on selling. It also helps the reseller realize net new revenue by suggesting complementary products to accompany a solution, such as a VoIP/SIP firewall or a switching solution; this presents an obvious sales margin advantage to the reseller."

Westcon Group provides one on one training for the configurator each week, as well as live support through its CollaborationPoint OpenSource program. Some of the products available in the configurator include:

--  Digium|Asterisk - Asterisk Business Edition, Asterisk Cards, Cables
--  SwitchVox - IP-PBX
--  Polycom/SpectraLink - Wireless Phones
--  Nokia - Phones
--  CounterPath - Softphones/Open Source Multimedia Videoconferencing,
    FMC/Cellular Gateways
--  MicroSemi/PowerDsine - PoE Midspans
--  Netgear - Switching
--  Nortel - Switching
--  CyberData - Paging
--  InGate - SIP Firewalls
--  Comdasys - SBC, Convergence Gateways, FMC/Cellular Gateways
--  AudioCodes - VoIP/SIP Gateways, SBC
--  Packeteer - QoS for VoIP
--  Radware - Multi-Homing/ WAN Optimization
--  APC - UPS
--  Aheeva - Professional Call Center Application
    

Steve Harvey, Vice President of Sales at Digium, said, "Westcon's configurator has enormous potential for resellers to expand their business in the Open Source market. Through CollaborationPoint OpenSource and the new configuration tool, Westcon has demonstrated tremendous leadership in distributing open source solutions and are significantly lowering the barriers for resellers to compete and succeed."

"The biggest advantage Westcon's configurator delivers is the ability to put all the relevant, third-party products in a single place," said Jeff Ross, Senior Convergence Specialist of Vergence Communications. "When I run a solution through the configurator, I know that all the products will plug and play together properly, and that Westcon will support it. Overall, the time savings the configurator can offer is immeasurable, especially when it comes to quote preparation."

For a video demonstration of Westcon's new configurator, please click here.

*IDC press release, Worldwide Revenue from Standalone Open Source Software Will Grow 26% to Reach $5.8 Billion by 2011, Doc # prUS20711507 , May 31, 2007

About Westcon Group

Westcon Group, Inc. is the leading specialty distributor in networking, security, mobility and convergence for leading technology vendors, including Cisco, Nortel, Avaya and Polycom. Through its Westcon, Comstor and Voda One business practices, Westcon Group sells products and services to resellers, systems integrators and service providers. Westcon Group has particular expertise in the convergence of voice, data and video applications and technologies, including voice-over Internet protocol, or VoIP, security for networking and communications systems, remote access, Internet and e-business, virtual private networks, videoconferencing and wireless connectivity. For more information, visit www.westcongroup.com.

About eXalt Solutions, Inc.

eXalt Solutions, Inc., is a market and technology leader in providing on-demand, Web-based services for solutions sales enabling suppliers of complex technical products and their channel partners to sell more product more profitably. The eXalt Powered Solutions Sales Platform ™ incorporates a suite of modules tailored to the intricacies of the complex technical product sales/support process including Product Selection and Configuration, System Configuration, Design and Visualization, BOM Collaboration, Quote/Proposal Management and Product Support. More information about the company, its products and services is available at www.exaltsolutions.com.