National Childminding Association adopts IP communications

London, 7th August, 2006 – Mitel®, the trusted provider of IP communications solutions, today announced that the National Childminding Association (NCMA) has deployed a Mitel IP solution. The first phase of the company-wide roll out has been completed at its Bromley headquarters with plans to expand the IP network to 30 UK regional offices. The use of converged IP telephony and applications will improve communications throughout NCMA’s dispersed 500-strong workforce and provide the public with improved customer service.

The NCMA promotes home-based childcare, speaks on behalf of registered childminders and nannies in England and Wales and provides home based childcarers with access to services, training, information and support. Seamless communications are therefore essential to the successful delivery of NCMA’s services.  The project’s objectives are to create a single point of contact for the public, centralise the reception function and provide a comprehensive call menu to help enquiries to be dealt with quickly and efficiently.

The NCMA worked closely with Telinet, a provider of business telecommunications and Mitel Platinum Solution Provider, to select and implement a new communications system. Telinet recommended the Mitel 3300 IP Communications Platform (ICP) which enabled the NCM to retain their existing PBX and migrate to IP at their own pace.

Paul Budgeon, IT manager at The National Childminding Association, said: “Currently there are 100 employees using IP communications and the organisation is already reaping the benefits.  Making calls accounts for a high proportion of our time, so we are excited about the huge cost savings achievable from IP telephony.  Another important driver was our desire to provide advanced voicemail for our mobile employees to access messages wherever they are.  By moving to Mitel we are increasing the sophistication of our communications, reducing costs and providing a future-proof infrastructure that we can build on. I was very impressed with the level of service from Telinet and would recommend them to anyone looking at a new communications system.”

NCMA’s move to IP communications was prompted by organisational change, which saw two offices merge into a single site.  The IT team chose a converged IP infrastructure in a bid to reduce networking and improve internal communication between sites, while reducing administration time and providing opportunities for new functionality, such as remote access to voicemail.

Matthew Lambert, sales director of Telinet, said: “We have now been working with NCMA for 12 months and we have rolled out IP technology to several sites all interconnected back to the head office. We are delighted that through our partnership with NCMA, both parties have been able to benefit from using technology where it is appropriate and has real commercial business benefits. At Telinet, we strongly believe in the long term value of partnerships and if we can continue to demonstrate value added service to NCMA and professional consultation, this will be a long term relationship."

Graham Bevington, managing director of Mitel EMEA, said: “Having a widely dispersed workforce with multiple sites means that moving to IP communications makes perfect sense for NCMA.  The IP infrastructure has increased call volume capacity which is vital for the NCMA and improved business processes such as the streamlining of calls to relevant departments. In the long term customer service will also be enhanced by giving customers one number to call.”

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About Mitel
Mitel is a leading provider of integrated communications solutions and services for business customers. Mitel's voice-centric IP-based communications solutions consist of a combination of telephony hardware and software that integrate voice, video and data communications with business applications and processes. These solutions enable our customers to realize significant cost benefits and to conduct their business more efficiently and effectively by enabling enhanced communications, information sharing and collaboration within a business and with customers, partners and suppliers. Mitel is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with offices, partners and resellers worldwide. For more information, visit www.mitel.com

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About National Childminding Association
The National Childminding Association of England and Wales (NCMA), a membership organisation and national charity, promotes quality home-based childcare for the benefit of children, families and communities. It already speaks on behalf of the 75,000 registered childminders in England and Wales and, now with membership for nannies and other home-based childcarers, increasingly for home-based childcare in England and Wales. NCMA has been supporting the development of quality home-based childcare and promoting its benefits since 1977. For more information about NCMA and its work, visit www.ncma.org.uk or call 0845 880 0044.

About Telinet
Telinet (www.telinet.co.uk) has been in business for over twelve years and is based in the heart of London, providing communications solutions for customers across a variety of sectors. Telinet works as part of a customer's team, providing the best solution, whatever the requirements. Telinet has accreditation from Avaya and has Platinum Service Provider status with Mitel, Telstra and Oak.

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