OREANDA-NEWS. Hitachi, Ltd. announced its plans to reorganize the IP telephony-related products business within the Hitachi Group, with aim of strengthening the products, centered on private branch exchanges (PBXs). Specifically, design, development and manufacturing functions for Hitachi IP telephony-related products will be transferred to Hitachi Information & Telecommunication Engineering, Ltd. ("Hitachi Information & Telecommunication Engineering") by the end of March 2014.

Furthermore, sales functions targeting Hitachi partner companies will be transferred to Hitachi Systems, Ltd. ("Hitachi Systems"). At the same time, Hitachi Communication Networks, Ltd. ("Hitachi Communication Networks"), which sells, installs and provides maintenance services for IP telephony-related products will become a subsidiary of Hitachi Systems, Ltd. to consolidate sales functions. Hitachi will continue to provide solutions utilizing IP telephony-related products, particularly for large-scale systems.

Hitachi Information & Telecommunication Engineering performs a core role as an engineering operating company in the platform business of Hitachi's Information & Telecommunication Systems Business. It is mainly engaged in the design and development of servers, storage products, and communications networking devices as well as provides related solutions. Through this business transfer, design and development capabilities will be enhanced by achieving a dynamic development structure through the centralization and sharing of development resources for IP telephony-related products. This should in turn enhance product competitiveness.

Hitachi Systems is a core company of Hitachi's Information & Telecommunication Systems Business. It provides one-stop services covering the entire IT lifecycle, extending from system consulting to integration, installation, operation and maintenance. In addition to selling IP telephony-related products, the company has an extensive track record in service fields related to network services and other areas. The transfer of sales functions and consolidation of Hitachi Communication Networks announced today is intended to enhance the system for providing one-stop services related to IP telephony, and at the same time to promote the provision of new services that combine related services of each company.

Hitachi is targeting further growth through global expansion of its Social Innovation Business. To this end, Hitachi is strengthening the Information & Telecommunication Systems business as a core operation of the Social Innovation Business. In particular, Hitachi is working on a Group-wide basis to create structures for providing platforms and solutions that can quickly respond to changes in the market environment and diversifying needs. Hitachi aims to increase competitiveness in IP telephony-related products and expand related solutions businesses in the Information & Telecommunication Systems Business through the restructuring announced today.