VICTORIA, BC - February 21, 2002 - Power Measurement, a leading provider of enterprise energy management systems headquartered in Victoria, British Columbia, has installed a sophisticated network infrastructure that enables the company to deploy voice and data services over an IP network. Power Measurement installed the converged network - based on Cisco AVVID (Architecture for Voice, Video and Integrated Data) - in conjunction with Steeves and Associates, a Vancouver-based integration consulting firm.
To date, Power Measurement has installed approximately 175 Cisco IP phones and implemented the Cisco IP SoftPhone, which enables its distributed global sales team to check voicemail and place calls directly from their PCs. By early summer 2002 approximately 240 staff at the company's primary locations will be using Cisco IP phones, with an estimated 40 to 50 members of its worldwide sales team using the IP SoftPhones.
"Our business is about driving the convergence of computer, communications and power technologies," said Bradford Forth, President and CEO at Power Measurement. "We're putting this vision of technology leadership into practice by leveraging advanced network technologies to improve our communications capabilities.
"IP telephony is not only reducing costs and improving efficiency, it's actually strengthening our corporate culture. By improving our ability to communicate as an organization, we are empowering all members of our global workforce to work more closely and efficiently as a team, regardless of time or distance," added Forth.
John Tarter, Manager of Information Services at Power Measurement explains, "In late 1999, we were expanding quickly and our telephone system was approaching capacity. We soon realized it would be prohibitively expensive to expand our legacy PBX system, so we began looking into other options. That's when Steeves and Cisco presented an IP telephony solution to us that delivered the flexibility, scalability, manageability and long-term savings necessary to support the expansion of our distributed global sales force. In the end, the decision to implement the Cisco AVVID technology was an easy one."
Advanced Technology in Action
IP telephony at Power Measurement is powered by Cisco AVVID - the intelligent enterprise network architecture for today's Internet business solutions. The company's Victoria-based head office and its regional sales office in Detroit, Michigan currently use IP telephony over its corporate virtual private network (VPN) for secure interoffice communications. The company also installed a Cisco AVVID network at its Nashville sales office.
The Cisco IP telephony system is improving company-wide communications and reducing costs by simplifying network management and minimizing long-distance charges. With offices in the U.S., Europe and Asia/Pacific regions, plus a distributed global sales force, Power Measurement can potentially save thousands of dollars every month on long distance calls. The IT staff conserves resources by managing a single converged network, instead of separate voice and data networks. Moves, adds and changes, which were previously time consuming and expensive from an IT perspective, are now as simple as plug and play. Additionally, Power Measurement employees are benefiting from the convenience of unified messaging, which allows them to manage e-mail, voice, and fax messages from their IP phone or e-mail inbox.
"Power Measurement is using advanced Cisco technology to improve efficiency and productivity," said Nitin Kawale, Director, Enterprise Operations, Cisco Systems Canada. "Cisco's industry-leading IP telephony solution provides a scalable, flexible and resilient platform that will also allow Power Measurement to add an exciting range of converged voice and data applications such as call centre management and video conferencing."
"The decision to deploy IP telephony is another example of Power Measurement's forward-thinking management team and operational practices," said David Steeves, President and CEO at Steeves and Associates. "We have worked with Power Measurement for two years and are proud to help them implement leading-edge, cost-cutting Cisco technology to gain competitive advantage."
About Power Measurement
Power Measurement is a leading provider of enterprise energy management systems for energy suppliers and consumers worldwide. Its ION® web-ready software and intelligent electronic devices comprise a complete, real-time information and control network that supports billing for complex energy contracts and helps improve power quality, reduce energy costs and keep operations running enterprise-wide, 24 hours a day. For more information, call Power Measurement toll free at 866-466-7627, or visit the Power Measurement web site at www.pwrm.com.
About Steeves and Associates
Steeves and Associates is a leader in business information technologies. Combining consulting skills with technology expertise, Steeves works with clients to solve business challenges and create new opportunities by using technology as a strategic, integrated and core business function. A Microsoft partner since 1992 and Cisco partner since 1996, Steeves has offices in Burnaby and Victoria, British Columbia, and Calgary, Alberta. For more information, visit www.steeves.net.
About Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. News and information are available at www.cisco.com.
About Cisco Systems Canada
Cisco Systems Canada Co. has offices across Canada dedicated to customer support, sales, and service. In addition, Cisco Systems has a significant research and development centre in Ottawa, Ontario.
For additional information:
- Steeves and Associates
Nancy Pearce
(604) 298-7700
E-mail: Nancy.Pearce@Steeves.NET - Cisco Systems Canada Co.
Willa Black
(416) 306-7732
Pager: 1-800-68-CISCO
E-mail: wblack@cisco.com - Power Measurement
Anthony Tisot
(250) 652-7100
E-mail: anthony.tisot@pwrm.com - Cisco Systems Canada
Gareth Pettigrew
(416) 961-5595 ext. 428
E-mail: gareth@stratamp.com
