We’ve outlined multiple “as a service” offers available in the United States, but wanted to point out today that trend isn’t limited to North America. For example, Orange Business Services recently launched its “Business Together as a Service” — offering unified communications (UC) via the cloud.
The latest Orange Business Service (OBS) will leverage the dedicated cloud computing infrastructure recently announced with OBS partner SITA, providing network reach and premium security offered by six cloud-ready data centers on five continents. The Business Together as a Service is based on the Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution. The service is already available in France, with further availability in Europe set for later in 2011 and in all other regions in 2012.
BACKGROUND: Cisco’s UCS is 1 year old
Cloud-based service features include: telephony, unified messaging, IM with presence, conferencing (audio, Web and video), support for mobile devices and a contact center option. A customer portal allows companies to select from five preset profiles that can match different employee group needs and change the number of end user accounts. Pricing flexibility is also offered, allowing customers a “pay as they go” approach, so companies only pay for the applications their employees use.
Commenting in a statement in the service, Paul Molinier, vice president of unified communications and collaboration at Orange Business Services, said, “Offering Business Together as a Service adds the flexibility and cost-efficiency benefits of cloud computing to our existing Business Together offer. Employees need productivity tools that make it easier and faster for them to get things done. Business Together as a Service helps employees collaborate together more efficiently using a complete suite of best-in-class and on-demand tools.”
Orange Business Services is part of the France Telecom family; France Telecom is one of the world’s largest telecommunications carriers, with 193 million customers and consolidated 2010 operating revenues of 45.5 billion Euros. OBS boasts more than 2.7 million business clients, 3,700 multinational clients, and 325,000 IP VPN access points in 177 countries, offering fully managed, global unified communications services with end-to-end service-level agreements and customer support.
