Guests at the new US$1 billion resort can gain access to on-demand services using color touch screens on Nortel IP phones in their rooms, according to Alex Pierson, general manager of enterprise communications systems at Nortel.

The IP system also helps Red Rock streamline administration functions at check-in and checkout. IP will also be used in a new meeting and convention center on the site. Station Casinos Inc., which operates Red Rock, has six casinos using Nortel voice technology, but Red Rock is the first to deploy the advanced features in each room.

Red Rock officials were not available for comment.

Nortel also announced at a news conference that Cypress Communications is now using Nortel gear to provide managed communications services to customers in 29 cities.

Frank Grillo, executive vice president of sales at Cypress, said his company uses Nortel IP phones and the Multimedia Communication Server 5200 to serve 120,000 users at 8,500 companies. The system supports audio- and videoconferencing in addition to a range of other IP services. Cypress charges a per-user fee starting at $50 per month.