Sprint has certified the latest version of the Ascendent Voice Mobility Suite (VMS) to enable fixed mobile convergence in the enterprise. Ascendent VMS v4.5 can now integrate with BlackBerry Mobile Voice System (MVS) Services on BlackBerry Enterprise Server, allowing BlackBerry smartphone users to have menu-driven desk phone features and providing corporate IT and telecom departments with better control of their mobile usage and costs.

Ascendent VMS enables mobile workers to have one enterprise phone number, consolidated voicemail and easy access to desk phone features on any mobile device. When Ascendent VMS is integrated with BlackBerry MVS, an even more optimized and intuitive experience is enabled as desk phone features are built into the visual menus of the BlackBerry phone application. With a simple click, users can transfer a call, dial the extension of a colleague or seamlessly move a call between their desk phone and their BlackBerry smartphone.

With BlackBerry MVS, IT and telecom administrators can also now allow mobile workers to use their BlackBerry smartphones as a securely authenticated mobile desk phone and gain more control over how mobile phones are used. Administrators have the ability to control and set ’voice’ policies so that incoming and outbound calls made from a BlackBerry smartphone are routed through the corporate PBX. Users can be automatically authenticated to help ensure that only authorized users are making calls through the corporate phone system and that mobile calls can be logged. This feature is important for organizations that require calls to be logged for audit and compliance purposes.

"With the help of our strategic partner, Ascendent Systems, Sprint has made it easier for businesses to extend the workplace to virtually anywhere work needs to get done by extending the capabilities of the desk phone and voicemail to mobile workers, which simplifies the user experience and enables greater productivity for the organization," said Darlene Braunschweig, Vice President of Converged Network Solutions at Sprint. "We continue to build upon Sprint’s leadership in providing enhanced in-building and campus-wide network consulting, integration and fixed mobile convergence solutions. As mobile workforces grow rapidly, this type of solution can help control costs and provide enhanced usability and security which is at the forefront of customers’ minds."

"As more organizations look to ’cut the cord,’ they will be looking for a solution that seamlessly leverages their existing telephony infrastructure while providing the capabilities and controls afforded by the BlackBerry platform and Ascendent VMS," said Theron Dodson, Director of Sales and Marketing for Ascendent Systems. "Sprint and Ascendent Systems have enjoyed a longstanding partnership and we’re pleased to be working together to bring this next-generation solution to customers."

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