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| Littelfuse launches global VoIP with AT&T AT&T Inc. announced today it has won a three-year, $1.8 million networking contract from Littelfuse Inc., one of the nation's leading manufacturers of electrical components and circuit protection products. AT&T will provide a global Internet Protocol Virtual Private Network (IP VPN) to support Littelfuse's day-to-day operations. The network, based on AT&T's industry-leading Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) platform, also provides the data communications backbone for Littelfuse's planned migration from traditional phone services to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology. Littelfuse is replacing its aging legacy voice system with a VoIP network that will ultimately connect a total of 17 facilities in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. Integration of Littelfuse's voice and data systems enables employees to retrieve, forward and archive voice mail through traditional e-mail systems. It also allows Littelfuse to streamline customer service and improve online collaboration within sales and management teams. The new technology offers Littelfuse significant cost savings, including unlimited toll-free calling between branch offices and a system design that can be scaled to precisely fit Littelfuse's growing business. After completing VoIP trials at its manufacturing plant in Piedras Negras, Mexico, Littelfuse announced a full launch into VoIP. The conversion will begin with Littelfuse's global headquarters in Des Plaines, a Chicago suburb. Other U.S. facilities slated for conversion include Birmingham, Mich., and Brownsville and Irving, Texas. In addition to Mexico, global facilities are located in China, England, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, The Philippines, Singapore and South Korea. The VPN creates a secure system across AT&T's data backbone. "With AT&T, we have more than just a supplier, we have a business ally that we know we can rely on to help protect our bottom line, " said Jan LaHayne, CIO for Littelfuse. "That enables us to meet our commitment to our customers and our shareholders to find cost-effective, reliable solutions." write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Networking News :: home page |