Amid rumors that it’s selling off major divisions, North America’s largest telecom equipment vendor reportedly is eyeing a plan to introduce new healthcare communications software that’s based on interactive voice response, or “IVR” technology.

 

According to a story by Matt Hamblen of Computerworld, officials at Nortel Networks Corp. also are planning to unveil an online tool that helps businesses calculate the total cost of their networks.

 

Interestingly, Sanjeev Gupta (News - Alert), general manager for Nortel’s enterprise business solutions, reportedly said during an interview that the Toronto-based company is eyeing a portion of the proposed $500 million for healthcare IT tools that’s contained in a widely discussed economic stimulus package.

 

“The new health care software is part of a five-year development effort to build more vertical-market software applications for Nortel’s (News - Alert) communications portfolio of switching, routing and wireless products,” Hamblen reports.

 

Specifically, he said, citing Nortel officials, a pair of IVR-based health care communications applications are expected to launch at a trade show next week, and could start shipping next month.

 

“One package will allow nurses to make quick patient referrals after a hospitalization to discover such thing as whether space is available at follow-up care facilities, and the other will enable automated follow-up calls to patients to remind them to take their drugs or go to therapy,” Hamblen reports.

 

No doubt, Nortel officials hope the developments stem a tide of layoffs and financial stress.

 

As TMCnet reported, less than two weeks after posting a net loss of $2.14 billion, or $4.28 per share, for the three-month period that ended Dec. 31, Nortel reportedly was seeking to break itself up by selling off major divisions.

 

According to the Toronto-based newspaper The Globe and Mail, Nortel has been taking offers from parties interested in their wireless-gear business “as well as a separate division that manufactures office telecom equipment.”

 

“Together, those two divisions posted $6.7-billion in revenue last year, or more than half the company’s sales,” the paper reports.

  

Nortel spokesman Mohammed Nakhooda declined to comment when reached by TMCnet.

 

“Nortel has a policy of not commenting on rumor and speculation,” Nakhooda told TMCnet. “We are still in the process of developing a plan (as previously stated) that will in the best interests for our customers and stakeholders. When the plan is approved by the stakeholders and the court, we will communicate it.”

 

As TMCnet reported, Nortel recently announced that it would lay off about 3,200 workers, as the Toronto-based company – once a stock market darling – plunges deeper into financial problems amid a recession and a trend toward software-based communications.

 

Hamblen said that Nortel has been shipping health care products for roughly one year, “including patient discharge IVR technology that arranges for the automatic delivery of appropriate forms and the scheduling of transportation teams if necessary.”