State of Indiana Selects CBTS to be Managed Voice Provider

CINCINNATI, April 20, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CBTS, a leading technology solutions provider, has been selected as the exclusive managed voice provider for the State of Indiana in a contract award worth approximately $10 million.

The Indiana Office of Technology (IOT) has awarded CBTS the "IP-based Voice as a Service" (IPVaaS) contract. CBTS becomes the prime contractor responsible for the delivery and operations of IP-based Voice as a Service including desk sets and softphones for stationary and mobile users, and toll-free and long-distance services. 

The goal of the five-year contract will be to streamline and consolidate the State's telecom infrastructure in an effort to provide more effective and efficient telecom services to the supported State agencies and the millions of Hoosiers they serve.  

Implementation started in April and CBTS will be providing service to more than 15 percent of Indiana's 28,000 state workers by the end of the year. Once fully implemented, the agreement will extend voice service to almost 80 percent of Indiana's state workers.

RCR Technology Corporation, a Minority Business Enterprise based in Indianapolis, and Briljent, a woman-owned business based in Fort Wayne, are subcontractors on the deal.

To deliver the service, CBTS will provide Cisco handsets managed through the Cisco-powered Hosted Collaboration Solution behind the State of Indiana's voice system. CBTS will leverage Internet Protocol-based "Voice as a Service" (IPVaaS) technology to give state employees multiple collaboration tools including the ability to view a contacts' availability and instantly communicate using video, instant messaging (IM), voice, voice messaging, and conferencing.

Through the use of an application called Jabber, users can seamlessly escalate from an IM chat to a voice, video or desktop sharing interaction "on the fly" using their device of choice. The contract also gives the State of Indiana reduced rates for toll-free calling every year.

CBTS can provide similar technology solutions to other large entities including local governments, K-12 school districts, and higher education institutions. CBTS has managed voice service for the State of Ohio since 2013. CBTS was also awarded a contract in 2015 to manage the Commonwealth of Kentucky's existing enterprise Avaya voice platform.

Cisco in 2015 named CBTS its "State and Local Government and Education (SLED) Transformational Partner of the Year" as a result of CBTS' partnership with the State of Ohio.

"Our managed voice solution is designed to help clients like the State of Indiana better focus on their primary mission of serving customers and constituents by providing more robust capabilities and options," said Tim Lonsway, regional director for state sales at CBTS.

About CBTS

CBTS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cincinnati Bell CBB. The company combines the data networking capabilities of Cincinnati Bell with next-generation managed services that provide companies with flexible solutions for end-to-end IT deployment. The CBTS business model can help organizations increase productivity and operational efficiency while reducing costs and risks through solutions that focus on business continuance, compliance, security, and technology infrastructure. For more information, visit www.cbts.net.

About Cincinnati Bell Inc.

With headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, Cincinnati Bell Inc. CBB provides integrated communications solutions – including local and long distance voice, data, high-speed Internet and video – that keep residential and business customers in Greater Cincinnati and Dayton connected with each other and with the world. In addition, enterprise customers across the United States rely on CBTS, a wholly-owned subsidiary, for efficient, scalable office communications systems and end-to-end IT solutions. For more information, please visit www.cincinnatibell.com.