Research In Motion Limited has announced a new service called BlackBerry Mobile Voice System 5, which will offer voice-over-WiFi calling from later this year. BlackBerry MVS 5 works with Cisco Unified Communications Manager to provide a business user with the ability to use their regular fixed-line office telephone number and extension from their BlackBerry device. It means businesses can let their staff receive calls on their regular office phone numbers whenever they're connected to a WiFi network.
Calls made through BlackBerry MVS 5 are routed through the company's Private Branch Exchange (PBX) system. Employees also benefit from the convenience of a single work phone number shared between their desk phone and BlackBerry smartphone. Incoming calls can ring simultaneously on the employee’s desk phone and their BlackBerry.
Alan Panezic, RIM's VP of Platform Product Management, said "BlackBerry Mobile Voice System 5 effectively provides a wireless extension of the corporate phone system to allow voice over WiFi calling at work, public hotspots and home. It presents a great opportunity for companies to enhance the productivity of employees who are often away from their desks or working from home, such as workers in construction, hospitality, sales and professional services. This latest release enables businesses to better leverage their investment in the corporate phone system, adapt to the growing demand by employees for more flexible work arrangements, improve workforce productivity and save costs on long-distance and international roaming charges."