Mitel has introduced new unified communications applications that are available as virtual appliances running in a VMware environment.

Mitel Virtual Solutions leverages VMware vSphere to enable customers to consolidate Mitel's voice and unified communications applications alongside non-voice business applications in the datacenter.

"The Mitel Virtual Solutions portfolio combined with carrier SIP services now allows customers to deploy an entire unified communications solution as a software-only configuration," said Stephen Beamish, vice-president marketing and business development, Mitel. "This provides customers with the choice in selecting a solution that meets the requirements of their business model and technology infrastructure."

Following the availability of Virtual Mitel Communications Director (Virtual MCD) and rounding out the Mitel Virtual Solutions portfolio, the following applications are now VMware Ready certified and available as virtual appliances:

• Virtual Mitel Applications Suite (Virtual MAS) - brings together business-critical unified communications applications such as messaging, conferencing, collaboration, informal contact center, business reporting and analytics, and mobility in a single software package.

• Virtual Unified Communicator® (UC) Advanced (Virtual UC Advanced) - provides users with single-portal access to all collaboration tools including deskphone/softphone integration, presence, instant messaging, visual voice mail, and audio, web, and desktop video conferencing.

• Virtual Mitel Border Gateway (Virtual MBG) - a solution that enables businesses of all sizes to easily enjoy the benefits of UC through a low-cost, secure, "plug and work" solution that extends applications to teleworkers across remote locations.

"As customers continue on the path to IT as a service, they are virtualizing more business-critical applications. For unified communications solutions, they seek flexibility, reliability and scalability while still expecting high levels of performance," said Parag Patel, vice president, Global Strategic Alliances, VMware. "With the VMware and Mitel partnership, customers can virtualize tier-one applications for a cost-effective approach to cloud computing."

Mitel Virtual Solutions are designed to reduce costs by enabling server consolidation, reducing power consumption, and decreasing provisioning, installation and application management overhead. The solutions enable improved productivity and efficiencies in datacenter management and provide a single business continuity and disaster recovery plan.

Additionally, Mitel Virtual Solutions can take advantage of VMware management tools to provide improved application availability and simplify installation and maintenance.