Convergence and contact centre solutions provider GlobalConnect Australia has opened a new multi-level laboratory staging facility in Sydney to enable it to test customized IP-based telephony infrastructure.

The facility will enable the company to verify customer SLAs by testing its IP applications in customized business scenarios, and will allow it to assess the strength of its quality control and risk management procedures such as fault restoration, support, preventative maintenance, remote alarming and advanced port replacement.

Third-party applications required by the customer can be tested with the equipment in the laboratory prior to customer shipment.

GlobalConnect Australia managing director, Pushkar Taneja, said the facility will speed-up customer implementations and reduce support costs.

"The laboratory staging facility will provide a faster and smoother implementation at the customer site, while reducing the amount of disruption and technical resources required by customers at the point of implementation," Taneja said.

"By testing the technology in our facility in a staged process, we can program the solution, license the equipment and ensure it meets contracted customer specifics ensuring a better customer experience from day one."

The laboratory staging facility includes power and ventilation backup and provisions for ISDN and PSTN test services, and is being managed by GlobalConnect Australia's convergence manager Glen Elton and a team of engineers.

IP telephony is working its way into all types of enterprises, with the products and deployment plans varying as widely as the companies using the technology.