IPC Systems, a provider of trading communications solutions, has unveiled a new unified platform that is built on open, service-oriented architecture (SOA) with the aim of streamlining the trading workflow of financial markets participants of all sizes.
The Unigy trading communications and applications system – which is interoperable with existing IPC tools such as the Alliance platform, IQ/MAX turrets and PBX phone systems – is intended to simplify collaboration between traders and the middle- and back-office, support the development of proprietary applications and reduce total cost of ownership, for example through lower energy consumption and smaller rack footprint. IPC's core market is large sell-side firms, but Unigy was designed specifically to be scaled down for use by a wider range of firms including mid-tier brokers and hedge funds. IPC is also offering a suite of hard and soft collaborative devices, a new compact turret and out-of-the-box Unigy-enabled trader applications.
“As the market leader, we made the strategic decision to build an open system that makes it easier for customers to leverage their existing technologies and adhere to their IT and security standards, as well as help future-proof their investment,” said CEO Lance Boxer. “Unigy's SOA-based, open standards platform gives customers the greatest flexibility to integrate the technology into their environment and develop applications that improve trading workflow.”
AmInvestment Bank of Malaysia has agreed to trial Unigy on its Kuala Lumpur trading floor. The implementation will include two new Unigy enabled devices and applications: IQ/MAX Edge, a new turret/dealerboard; and IQ/MAX Sync, an application that facilitates ”software control' of the turret to manage calls, speakers and directories. It will also replace two legacy backroom systems, IPC's Tradenet MX and Alliance, with a single Unigy backroom.