Frost & Sullivan Recognizes Data Connection for Customer Value Enhancement in the Conferencing and Collaboration Market
Frost & Sullivan Recognizes Data Connection for Customer Value Enhancement in the Conferencing and Collaboration Market
Boston, MA: July 15, 2004. Frost & Sullivan presented Data Connection, one of the leading providers of web conferencing technology, with the 2004 Customer Value Enhancement Award at last night's Excellence in Customer Value Enhancement Awards Banquet, for the company's outstanding contribution to the conferencing and collaboration market.
The award honors Data Connection's commitment to establishing long-term relationships with each of its clients and its success at providing an attractive and easy-to-use web conferencing platform, which gives high performance and integrates easily with the client's products.
With over 22 years of experience, Data Connection is a diverse company with strong performance in all its core technologies. It has a wide range of communications technology products, notably the MeetingServer web conferencing solution aimed primarily at Service Providers, but also sold through OEM relationships, and directly to very large enterprises.
"The MeetingServer platform presents Service Providers with a high-quality platform that can be re-branded and integrated with their own product offerings," says Frost & Sullivan research analyst Jim Regan. "It is highly flexible and capable of meeting changing customer demands."
MeetingServer provides a comprehensive range of web conferencing features including application sharing, full desktop sharing, whiteboarding, text chat, high-performance presentations, polling and voting functions and a full-screen display mode. Data Connection continues to invest in developing features in response to customer requirements, with the recently-released Version 3 adding click-to-call, Web video, conference recording, and an integrated roster for both Web and audio participants.
The company's dedication to its customers is also evident in its flexible pricing strategies. Most clients enjoy the traditional up-front software license for a given number of ports. While maximizing profit margins, this would allow clients to price their version according to the demands of individual end users. Licenses can be tailored according to the feature set required by the client. The company has also demonstrated its willingness to construct a royalty-based model if it fits customer needs.
As the trend of convergence continues, more audio and video conferencing providers want to have their own web conferencing solution rather than a reselling partnership. "By licensing MeetingServer, Service Providers can avoid the ongoing costs of reselling a third-party branded web conferencing service," notes Regan. "Deployment of MeetingServer is likely to allow Service Providers to gain a better position in the conferencing market."
Data Connection's customer retention rate is testimony to its efficient customer service and active maintenance relationship with its clients. With support teams staffed by original product development engineers, the company can provide extensive integration and training services, as well as 24x7 support.
For its ability to maximize the value of its offerings, and expand its customer base, as well as for its valuable partnerships with conferencing service providers, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Data Connection by awarding it the 2004 Customer Value Enhancement Award for Conferencing and Collaboration.
Held in Boston, the Frost & Sullivan banquet honored world-class companies for outstanding performance and achievements in industrial technologies. An annual event, the banquet recognizes the quality and merit of distinguished individuals and companies.
About Data Connection
Data Connection Limited (DCL) is the leading independent developer and supplier of Conferencing, Messaging, Directory and Network Protocol software. Customers include BT, Cisco, Lucent, SBC and Verizon. Its MetaSwitch division supplies the VP3500 Series Class 5 Softswitch to a wide range of telecoms service providers.
Data Connection is headquartered in London UK, with US offices in Reston, VA, Alameda CA and Dallas TX. It was founded in 1981 and is privately held. During each of the past 22 years, its profits have exceeded 20% of revenue. Last year sales exceeded $40 million, of which over 90% were outside the UK, mostly in the US.
For more information on Data Connection, see www.dataconnection.com.
For more information on MeetingServer, see www.meetingserver.com.
About Frost & Sullivan
Founded in 1961, Frost & Sullivan is recognized as a global leader in growth consulting. Frost & Sullivan Awards are presented to companies that demonstrate excellence in their industry, commending the diligence, commitment, and innovative business strategies required to advance in the global marketplace. Frost & Sullivan rigorously analyzes specific criteria to determine award recipients in a vast variety of market industries and landscapes. For further information, visit www.frost.com.