Sprint has developed a process, known as Mobile Integration, for incorporating enterprise FMC service into their core network. While this product has been around for a while, they have now gained significant new functionality and expanded the market for the technology through a partnership with Tango Networks.

Mobile Integration is a network-based FMC service working in conjunction with a PBX, and has the capability to place simultaneous calls on users' mobile and desktop phones. Regardless of which call is answered, the entire communication is treated as a (free) on-network mobile call. The system does require an MPLS network, supplemented by an Avaya or Cisco interface, to connect the PBX to Sprint. The basic charge, however, is only $4.95 per month plus PBX and MPLS network charges, and the ability to reduce cellular minutes using the PBX-desk set connection easily makes up for these costs.

Tango has provided Sprint with the ability to increase the variety of systems a PBX can support. Sprint has also incorporated a central office device of Tango’s known as Abrazo C. When used in conjunction with an Abrazo E device at the customer’s location, it provides simultaneous ringing, routes calls, and (most significantly) adds presence and location information about the mobile device. The new product is known as Tango-Enabled Mobile Integration and represents a significant technological step forward. For more, see Michael Finneran on the No Jitter weblog.