HP joins Nortel to offer SMEs unified networks solution

Nortel Networks is teaming up with Hewlett-Packard, Intel and Microsoft to develop unified networks for small and medium-sized businesses.

The telecoms vendor will provide a range of networking PCI cards to HP for its Intel-based Windows NT servers. HP and Nortel will also open two 'centres of expertise' with engineers from both companies based at Nortel's research facilities to test the developments.

During the second half of this year HP will also start shipping two families of boxes based on its partners' technology. One will be a business communications server, incorporating Nortel's IP capabilities, and the other will be a unified messaging platform, based on Nortel's Call Pilot technology, which combines voice, fax and e-mail messages. The companies are also planning to release further products towards the end of this year.

Nortel will contribute data and wireless components plus applications including private branch exchange (PBX) services and messaging as well as IP telephony.

HP has said it may also target ISPs in the future. The SME offering will have a single management interface which HP claims will cut costs and simplify systems. The package will also include Microsoft Exchange.