Al Madina goes VoIP and awards 3 phase contract to Mitel

Al Madina group is one of the kingdom's oldest establishments and is associated with the foundation of the Saudi Kingdom itself. Our group is a national printing media player with a regional focus on the Western portion of the country. We are currently undertaking an ambitious modernisation programme not only to automate all aspects of our archive operations but also to maintain our competitive edge in real time communication. Said Hisham Zahid, Al Madina Est. Deputy Managing Director.

Through its alliance with HP, Mitel Networks will provide Al Madina with a converged countrywide voice and data solution over three phases. 'The solution will allow the Newspaper and its related periodicals to maintain its traditional lead in the kingdom. We will seamlessly network the various locations and deliver information and telephony features that will enhance the journalistic function and operational efficiency. In context with the other elements in all core divisions, the modernisation plan is an ambitious one and is aimed for completion by Q3 of 2006', added Mr. Zahid.

Comprising of some 250 IP ports and associated IP devices, AL Madina will be one of the first in the Middle East to implement a total LAN based fully featured telephony solution providing broadband internet access via the telephone handset on the desk.

Through intensive consultation and assessment Vs other solutions from competitors, Mitel Networks and HP have designed the solutions to meet the diverse demanding requirements of the reader, journalist, operator and the manager. 'We are excited that Al Madina has selected our converged solution which further endorses Mitel's /HP leadership position within the publishing sector, Ahmed Bawazeer, HP, Country Manager. We won the project simply because Mitel and HP offered the best-converged solution on the market today. 'The solution is cost effective, highly reliable, secure and offering a high degree of flexibility with end user applications. Besides, Mitel and HP the project also includes other world leaders in their fields of Media integration, News sourcing and processing technologies'. Mr. Bawazer added.

'Al Madina will soon be able to realise the ROI benefits using Mitel and HP converged platforms. The combination of HP/Mitel via Pro-curve reflects a world leadership in open industry standards, allows the Newspaper scalable growth, offers them a wider choice of IP devices and interoperability with Adaptive EDGE Architecture that can cater for future needs' said Hisham Amili, Mitel, GM-GCC.

'I am confident the most trusted names in the IT business are now supplying the solution as specified with the intention to exceed the expectation. We have no doubt that AL Madina will feel the shared value, security, interoperability, ease opf use, and efficiency of the combined solution of Mitel and HP and will push the standards in the Media sector not only in Saudi but across the region' Mr. Amili concluded.