Pictured above: Solwise Managing Director Martin Stephenson

An innovative Midlands telecoms company is bucking the trend of the downturn with a business expansion programme based on its in-house-developed digital telephone systems.

Solwise Telephony supplies internet-based telephone systems to businesses across the UK, as well as for conferences and special events. Solwise also supplies discounted telephone lines and calls through BT Wholesale, and specialist business broadband. 

Now, its flagship product - the Sipswitch IP telephone system which the company has spent five years developing - is leading the company's growth. Its products and services are now used by some 600 clients including the BBC, banks, and recruitment agencies. 

Martin Stephenson, managing director of Hinckley-based Solwise Telephony said the key to their growth, against the current trend, was innovation and offering the customers a unique product.

"Our Sipswitch IP telephone system provides customers with guaranteed call quality, easy installation, high levels of control and no minimum contract terms. We are one of the only companies in the UK offering telephone and broadband systems on contracts as short as seven days for special events and conferences," he said.

The company's systems have been used at many high profile conferences and events, including the Brit Awards, the Glastonbury festival and the V Festival. They enable efficient, high quality and secure broadband-based telephone systems to be installed quickly for short term contracts.

Martin Stephenson added, "As well as special events we supply to many companies throughout the country who want high quality, fully controlled telephone systems within a private network. Typically we supply to business with between five and 50 employees, very often multi-site or employing home workers, who can all be brought together in a single network.

"The beauty of the system is that because it is internet based there are no big switchboards or control boxes to worry about, and it is very quick and easy to install"

Solwise was established in 1999 as a supplier of discounted line rental and calls. It has since developed its business through technological innovation to include state-of-the-art digital telephone systems and business broadband.