Symbol Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: SBL) announced the completion of the phase one rollout of its voice over IP technology at BJ's Wholesale Club (NYSE: BJ) locations.
The incorporation of Symbol's NetVision Phones was accompanied with an upgrade of the original Symbol 900 MHz wireless local area network (LAN) to Symbol's Spectrum24, 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.11 standards-based wireless LAN backbone at BJ's stores.
"BJ's has made the strategic decision to communicate on one network. By converging wireless data and voice over IP technologies, we have streamlined our entire communication process, from management down to the customer," says Tom McMahon, vice president, Information Systems, BJ's Wholesale.
Symbol's voice over IP NetVision Phones, based on the ITU H.323 standard, create a unified method of communication at each location with the capability of simultaneously supporting voice and data on the same wireless backbone. All external calls can be fielded by the store's PBX line, and routed directly to the NetVision Phones.
Operating in the Symbol Spectrum24 wireless environment, the NetVision Phones capture voice for real-time communication. This technology quickly increases productivity and saves associates time by providing the flexibility of a portable phone. For example, an external customer request can be routed directly to an associate working in front of the queried products.
"For BJ's Wholesale, this solution serves as an excellent management tool," said Rich Bravman, senior vice-president & general manager, Wireless Systems Division, Symbol Technologies. "Not only are managers capable of instant communication with fellow store associates, they can communicate with customers calling from outside the club as well.
"The installation of both voice over IP and wireless technologies at BJ's marks a big step for Symbol in the retail arena, and also attests to the growing importance of wireless and synchronized communication in this market," Bravman said.
Another important element of the Spectrum24 wireless network is the flexibility it offers BJ's. The system is entirely compatible with original Symbol appliances in use, like the PDT 6840, a Symbol handheld computer used at BJ's for inventory, receiving, and price verification.
If you are attending Networld+Interop, come see a demonstration of the NetVision phone at the Symbol booth (#2929) at N+I. Contact Kristine Wolf or Mark Ferrone to schedule an appointment with Symbol at N+I (phone numbers below).
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