Leighton Contractors Constructs Australian-first Collaborative Infrastructure Dimension Data Deploys Integrated IP Telephony with Microsoft Office System and Live Communications Server for 500 Users at Leighton Contractors

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Leighton Contractors Constructs Australian-first Collaborative Infrastructure Dimension Data Deploys Integrated IP Telephony with Microsoft Office System and Live Communications Server for 500 Users at Leighton Contractors

http://www.dimensiondata.com/NR/rdonlyres/EEFA4B72-3DC2-4F87-A140-541D9BD0E1D6/4851/LeightonContractorsConstructsAustralianfirstCollab.pdf

Sydney, Australia – 11 May 2006 – In an Australian first, construction and engineering firm Leighton Contractors (“Leightons”) has combined the flexibility of IP telephony with Microsoft Office System and Live Communications Server to significantly enhanced communication and productivity for 500 staff in its Sydney Corporate Office and the New South Wales Branch of its Construction Division.

Dimension Data has developed a collaborative infrastructure with the deployment of Microsoft Office System and Live Communications Server (“LCS”) integrated with Cisco CallManager via Genesys Enterprise Telephony Software (“GETS”).

Using Microsoft Office Communicator (“Communicator”) as the unified communications client, Leightons’ users have access to a feature-rich collaborative and real-time communication environment encompassing presence awareness, including telephony information and phone control.

Through the innovative use of this technology, Dimension Data and Leightons have merged network and telephony availability into a single online presence accessible within Microsoft Office 2003 applications, allowing staff to collaborate with colleagues using the most appropriate communications channel, with click-to-call, click-to-email and click-to-IM options. These communication sessions can be initiated from within Microsoft Office System, the Communicator client or Microsoft Outlook.

“The flexibility offered by a collaborative infrastructure was an ideal solution for Leighton Contractors. We have a decentralised and flexible management structure, designed to be very responsive at the local level and tailored to each project we undertake,” said Scott Ferguson, IT Infrastructure and Services Manager, Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd.

“Leightons viewed Cisco IP Telephony and Microsoft Live Communications Server as ideal communication technologies to dovetail into this dynamic and flexible management structure, enhancing collaboration and supporting our local decision-making capability. Dimension Data has proved to be a valuable partner in the project as they have combined high-end capabilities with both Microsoft and Cisco, covering all the technical elements required for a complex integration project of this kind.”

Dimension Data developed the LCS solution as part of a project to deploy a managed operating environment for Leighton Contractors nationally, together with a new core IP Telephony, wireless and security infrastructure, and directory and messaging upgrade.

“The catalyst for Leighton Contractors was our recent move to a new Corporate Office in Sydney. The project-based nature of our work, together with short time frames often required to relocate or establish new operations made a less-rigid communications infrastructure very attractive,” said Mr Ferguson.

“Using an integrated Microsoft and Cisco IP-based collaborative infrastructure, we can make changes to the environment with minimal business disruption; and further deployment has the ability to scale nationally and globally at an extremely low cost. This places Leightons at great competitive advantage in the market, knowing we can set up operations quickly and economically to take advantage of commercial opportunities as they arise.”

Mr Oscar Trimboli, Director, Unified Communications Group, Microsoft Australia, said the project at Leighton Contractors provides an intuitive experience that seamlessly brings all modes of communication -- email, instant messaging, phone, Office Systems Applications - together in a compelling, unified communications experience.

As a services-based organisation, increased staff productivity is a major goal for Leightons in the LCS deployment. One expected benefit is reducing the amount of travel required for staff, and

finding more productive ways to do business remotely – both internally, and also with customers and partners.

“Mobility is another big consideration with a collaborative infrastructure. We have to work with people that aren't sitting at the next desk anymore – they may not even be in the same time zone,” said Jon Farrell, Principal Consultant, Dimension Data.

“Leightons has a highly-mobile workforce and using these technologies, we can extend presence and communication out to the mobile device such as a PDA, allowing rich collaboration and reliable contact methods for workers either out on site or travelling.”

Microsoft Live Communications Server was rolled out to Leightons staff in its Sydney Corporate Headquarters and the New South Wales Branch Office of its Construction Division in April 2006.