Pratt Industries commissions Windstream to provide customized managed Unified Communications services, will utilize its scalable communications system Mitel 3300 ICP with applications including unified messaging, auto-attendant, ACD, wireless gateway

Kendall Sinclair

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas , June 12, 2012 (press release) – Windstream, a leading provider of advanced network communications, today announced that Pratt Industries, Inc., has chosen it to provide customized managed Unified Communications services. As the fifth largest box manufacturer in the United States and the world's largest privately held 100 percent recycled paper and packaging company, Pratt will now rely on Windstream to connect and centralize communications among their 72 locations nationwide.

For Pratt Industries, phone and fax service is essential to its day-to-day business operations because of the ongoing communication between locations, and with Pratt's customers. However, prior to partnering with Windstream, each of Pratt's facilities was using outdated PBX phone systems that required a great deal of maintenance and repairs, resulting in a significant amount of downtime--costing the company money due to lost productivity. Pratt needed a solution that would be more reliable to keep its customer service lines up and running at all times.

"In looking for a new communications provider, we wanted a trusted company with proven technology and service that would be able to provide a fully managed solution," said Juan Merelo, Technical Services Manager, Pratt Industries. "We didn't want to have a dedicated phone specialist on staff, and didn't want to have to try to coordinate with multiple vendors. Windstream provides all of the services and support that we need--it's a one-shop deal."

To meet Pratt Industries' specific business needs, Windstream is providing a customized, totally managed Unified Communications service that was designed and developed especially for Pratt. The system is built upon the Mitel 3300 IP Communications Platform (ICP)--which is housed in one of Windstream's enterprise-class data centers--and utilizes Windstream's Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) network to connect Pratt's geographically and functionally diverse locations. The Mitel 3300 ICP is a highly scalable communications system that provides enterprise IP PBX capability plus a range of embedded applications including standard unified messaging, auto-attendant, ACD, and wireless gateway. It supports over 500 telephony features and a powerful suite of applications including multimedia collaboration, customer relationship management, and unified messaging.

With Windstream's managed Unified Communications solution, employees at Pratt have noticed enhanced call clarity, and have benefited from the additional features available with VoIP. Merelo says that the company's downtime has also been reduced to nearly zero, and that long distance fees have been reduced significantly.

"From the beginning, Windstream has been completely dedicated to Pratt and has treated us as if we are their number one customer," said Merelo. "With other companies, there can be a lot of turnover with the representatives you're working with, or you talk to someone different every time you call. With Windstream, we have had the same team see us through the entire process of conversion."

Windstream offers a full suite of advanced network communications and technology solutions, including voice and data services such as VoIP, SIP trunking, MPLS, and dedicated high-speed Internet. Windstream also offers managed services, cloud computing, disaster recovery, and networking services designed to help businesses increase productivity and improve operational costs. For more information, visit www.windstreambusiness.com .


About Windstream

Windstream Corp. is a leading provider of advanced network communications, including cloud computing and managed services, to businesses nationwide. The company also offers broadband, phone and digital TV services to consumers primarily in rural areas. Windstream has more than $6 billion in annual revenues and is listed on the S&P 500 index. For more information, visit www.windstream.com .

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