This issue’s 2004 Product of the Year Awards attracted submissions from more than 250 vendors. This plethora of entries maps out a convergence landscape much-changed from a year ago, and shows a path to the future that’s suddenly clearer in some important respects.

If hype and overprojection were hallmarks of the Internet bubble; under-projection, and careful treading, have so far governed the recession. For the past few years, the industry has ordered its PowerPoint presentations towards ROI and legacy-friendliness. The idea that technology might change the rules entirely was taken off the (public) table; replaced by a born-again faith that — in telecom at least — change is hard and takes a long, long time.

Meanwhile, technology has changed the rules entirely. Despite the conservative tone of their PPTs, vendors have used the recession to good effect: consolidating new technology initiatives, and turning tentative explorations of ‘optional IP’ into core architecture and authoritative product offerings. New market entrants, meanwhile, have had some quiet time to watch the marketplace and lock their offerings to the strongest trends.

Today, lingering economic resistance seems to be encouraging brave moves, rather than retarding them. Our Product of the Year winner’s circle is replete with companies who get it — who have moved ahead fast during this era of market quiescence, and are now set to outpace the recovery.

Intermingled amongst our selections, we've invited various industry luminaries to share their "Visions of Convergence" with you in sidebars throughout this article. You'll know they're visionary, of course, by the prerequisite ocular icon. Enjoy. And congrats to this year's winners.

Toshiba’s Smart CTX Platforms Centralize Multi-Site Madness

Toshiba America Information Systems (www.toshiba.com) has always been smart about balancing aggressive adoption of new technology and solid core product engineering. Two years ago, they became the first major vendor to OEM a software-based PBX (Artisoft’s TeleVantage, marketed as the Toshiba Strata CS Communications Server) subsequently enhancing the product several ways and making it compatible with Toshiba’s award-winning digital desksets.

They’ve also persistently upgraded their now-classic DK line of hybrid PBXs, introducing a new line of integrated, RISC-powered hybrid PBXs (the CTX 100 and 670).

While the exceptionally full-featured CTX series are based around a conventional PCM backplane architecture, they can be optioned to access IP trunks and (using MCK PBX eXtender solutions, which support Toshiba desksets directly at the far end of an IP voice/signaling link) remote IP stations with full feature support. The CTX machines sport an extremely robust Q.SIG multi-premise internetworking facility, as well as Windows-based, IP-linked remote management. Sophisticated ACD software, UC, and other applications are options.

The networking of multiple systems has always caught our eye. When centralized, networked systems function as one integrated network that can be configured to let users call each other across nodes with simple directory numbers. This eliminates the need for awkward access codes and network maps. Calls that don’t get through can be forwarded to any node in the network, including a centralized voicemail system or attendant.

That’s right. One attendant can also serve this entire network. Station users only need to dial “0” to reach the centralized attendant, regardless of the node in which they reside. The attendant can reach any station in the network using its Network Directory Number. Trunks attached to any network node can be programmed to terminate to the centralized attendant.

Unanswered calls are also forwarded to centralized voicemail. The source and calling conditions are identified and the appropriate voice mailbox greeting is played. The voicemail system can control message-waiting indications throughout the network as messages are left and retrieved. A single network can even support multiple centralized voicemail systems, with each station being programmed for the appropriate system.