Cogent has become a direct channel partner for NEC Unified Communications in a deal which sees it buying direct from the vendor.

Ray Noonan, Cogent chief executive, says Cogent has a long-standing relationship with NEC and the new deal will enable it to offer clients ‘a more cost-effective way' to deliver exceptional voice, unified communications and display system solutions.

“NEC has an excellent and very reliable product, and alongside Cogent's exceptional 24/7 service, we expect to see continued growth in the unified communications market with NEC,” Noonan says.

Cogent offers managed services using NEC to a range of sectors, including local government, utiltiies, contact centres, tertiary education and airports and says it has skills across NEC's unified communications and display systems.

The private New Zealand company offers voice, data and networking capabilities focused on unified communications and collaboration services, utilising a range of vendors, and has offices throughout New Zealand.

Late last year the company teamed up with Auckland-based startup FaceMe to add its videoconferencing for businesses solutions, incorporating FaceMe technology across its meeting rooms, contact centre and global conferencing platforms, to Cogent's managed services portfolio.

Cogent also signed a distribution agreement with Liquid Voice last year – the first Kiwi distribution deal for the call recording and management solutions vendor.

In March 2016 the company acquired professional service company Network Pro for an undisclosed sum.