Mitel takes stab at changing minds in Ottawa

Mitel is taking Ottawa, Canada, to task to try and get a $7 million parts and service contract for a new digital voice network that's been two years in the making. Ottawa is changing out its traditional telephone and data networks into a single integrated VoIP network that would provide video and Web conferencing, integrated voice messaging and improved call center performance and will today discuss, possibly for the last time, who gets the parts and service contract.

Bell Canada/Cisco originally won the deal as the preferred suppliers but, in early April, Mitel came back and offered $2 million worth of free hardware in exchange for the service contract. The city reconsidered but city staff are now recommending the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee restart VoIP negotiations with Bell Canada/Cisco, leaving Mitel in the cold again.

Mitel's argument is that Cisco, as the current data network, has an unfair advantage in the VoIP bid and is asking the city to cancel the current process. The city's answer is that there's no reason to do that and the matter's closed. For now.

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