Fraser Milner Casgrain Videophone Pilot Program Improves Lawyers’ Productivity: IBM Program Expanded Nationwide

Fraser Milner Casgrain Videophone Pilot Program Improves Lawyers’ Productivity: IBM Program Expanded Nationwide

Canadian law firm Fraser Milner Casgrain has improved its lawyers’ telephone productivity by 33% with a new Cisco IP-based videophone system from IBM (NYSE: IBM).

IBM is providing design and installation services for the new videophones in FMC’s offices in Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver, allowing lawyers to see real-time video of the person they’re speaking with. Since installation began this spring, the firm has found that lawyers using the new system spend a third less time on the telephone, allowing them to work more effectively on their clients’ cases.

An initial voice-over-IP telephone system was installed in June 2004 and a variety of new features have been subsequently added. With the pilot program successfully completed, FMC is considering videophones for all of its 530 lawyers across Canada.

“Videophones have connected our offices across Canada in greater ways than we had anticipated,” said John Esvelt, FMC’s director of technology. “Not only are our people getting the information they need more quickly, but they’re also collaborating more effectively with colleagues in other locations.”

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