Crow Friedman Group Saves $100,000 Annually With Toshiba's Strata CIX IP Business Telephone System

IRVINE, CA, Nov 27, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Toshiba America Information Systems Inc., Telecommunication Systems Division (Toshiba) -- www.telecom.toshiba.com, helped the Crow Friedman Group, a professional insurance and liability company, save more than $100,000 annually and improve productivity with Toshiba's Strata(R) CIX(TM) Voice over IP business telephone system. Founded in 1996, Memphis, Tenn.-based Crow Friedman Group's staff has more than 322 years of combined insurance experience representing more than 1,800 professional firms in Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia.

Ruth Hardimon, assistant vice president and operations manager for Crow Friedman, identified the need for a business telephone system that would meet the company's goal of improving customer service.

Objectives for the system included: -- Networking of all four locations, delivering centralized applications including voice mail, automated attendant and remote administration; -- Mobility for its sales force with softphones on their laptops and mobile devices; -- Ability to see the status of station extensions across the network for all users, regardless of location; -- Ability for one receptionist to handle incoming calls for all locations, with easy transfer capabilities; -- Unified Communications so users can receive voice messages and faxes in their email boxes; -- Easy routing of calls to the right person with direct-extension dialing; and -- Ability to support hundreds of inbound and outbound calls every week.

Mark Tygesson, a communications consultant based in Memphis, Tenn., recommended Toshiba for its quality, reliability, capabilities and reputation. Tygesson also recommended CommWorld of Memphis, an Authorized Toshiba Dealer since 1996.

Solution: Toshiba's Strata CIX Delivers High Reliability Installed by CommWorld of Memphis, Crow Friedman's Toshiba business telephone systems support the company's four offices in Memphis and Nashville, Tenn.; Birmingham, Ala.; and Atlanta. The systems consist of: -- Memphis Office: One rack-mounted Strata CIX670 business telephone system with Strata MAS supporting Call Manager and centralized voice mail; -- Birmingham Office: IP desk telephones and SoftIPT(R) softphones that are connected to the Memphis office's Strata CIX; -- Atlanta Office: Strata CIX200 business telephone system; -- Nashville Office: Strata CIX100 business telephone system; -- Network eManager(R) for centralized remote management of all systems; and -- All four locations networked together over IP via Toshiba's Strata Net and PRI. Together, there are a total of more than 100 ports. The offices share centralized voice mail and have a mix of IP5000 digital desk telephones, IP desk telephones and SoftIPT softphones. All users have Strata Call Manager for call handling.

Valerie Beaver, vice president of operations and coordinator of CommWorld of Memphis, handled the sale, customer service, and coordinated with Tygesson to ensure that all of Crow Friedman's objectives were met.

Result #1: Dependable Mobility With SoftIPT Softphones Crow Friedman's sales team can now take their business telephones with them wherever they go in the form of Toshiba's SoftIPT softphones on their laptops or smartphones. Utilizing Internet access, they have all the same features and functionality of their desk telephones while they are on the road, including the ability to make calls, answer calls, transfer calls, access voice mail and hold conference calls.

Result #2: Presence Functionality Improves Internal Efficiency With Crow Friedman's staff spread between the four locations as well as its road warrior sales team, it was difficult to know who was available for a call. Now with Presence on the Toshiba telephones, it's easy for employees to see who is on the phone or is available for a call. Being able to see the status of an extension at a glance helps improve internal efficiency.

Result #3: Virtually Unbeatable Reliability A long-time Toshiba business products user, including copiers, Crow Friedman's team knew firsthand that Toshiba delivers virtually unbeatable quality and reliability, so when it was time for a new business telephone system, Toshiba was the first choice. The Strata CIX systems empower Crow Friedman's employees to communicate more effectively with customers, vendors and each other.

Bottom Line: Toshiba Strata CIX Systems Deliver Reliability, Mobility and Improve Internal Efficiency -- and Save $100,000 Annually Toshiba's Strata CIX telephone systems have met Crow Friedman's communications objectives, including: -- Networking of all four locations, delivering centralized applications including voice mail, automated attendant and remote system administration; -- Mobility for the sales force with softphones on their laptops and mobile devices; -- Presence capabilities for easy viewing of extension status across the network; -- Unified Messaging for improved productivity; -- Reduced costs of $100,000 annually by allowing one receptionist to handle incoming calls for all four locations; and -- The ability to grow and migrate to new communication technologies in the future.

"Together, Toshiba and CommWorld of Memphis delivered on our key objectives of a reliable and affordable business telephone system with mobility, centralized applications, and Presence capabilities.

With Toshiba and CommWorld of Memphis, we have a winning combination," said Hardimon.

For an Authorized Toshiba Dealer, visit: www.telecom.toshiba.com To subscribe to the Toshiba Telecom Blog, visit http://blog.telecom.toshiba.com/.

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About Toshiba America Information Systems Inc.

Telecommunication Systems Division Toshiba America Information Systems Inc.

Telecommunication Systems Division is one of the three business units of Toshiba America Information Systems Inc. (TAIS) and offers business communication solutions for SMB enterprises and enterprises with multi-site or regional locations. Toshiba's VIPedge cloud service supports up to 60 users, and the IPedge and Strata CIX systems support from 8 to 1,000 users and offer Voice over IP, voice mail and unified messaging, conferencing and collaboration, unified communications applications, networking, mobility and more. Together with Toshiba's notebooks, tablet PCs, copiers, and surveillance video cameras/recorders, Toshiba's Telecommunication Systems Division helps enterprises maximize business efficiency in communications and mobility. For more information, visit www.Telecom.Toshiba.com.

Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., TAIS is an independent operating company owned by Toshiba America Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation, a world-leading diversified manufacturer, solutions provider and marketer of advanced electronic and electrical products and systems. Toshiba was founded in 1875 and today operates a global network of more than 550 consolidated companies, with 202,000 employees worldwide and annual sales surpassing 6.1 trillion yen (US$74 billion). Visit Toshiba's Web site at www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm.

Copyright 2012 Toshiba America Information Systems Inc. All rights reserved. All product, service and company names are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.

Information including, without limitation, product prices, specifications, availability, content of services, and contact information is subject to change without notice.

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw attachid=2163728 Toshiba PR Contact: Teri Sawyer T&Co.

714-536-8407 Email Contact SOURCE: Toshiba America Information Systems Inc., Telecommunication Systems Division http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/emailprcntct id=4DEA2A84141AE4B8

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