* The Mitel Freedom architectural approach provides UC features to the user's choice of mobile devices regardless of location
Two news events to cover today: Mitel has unveiled the “Mitel Freedom” as a cloud-based architecture, while Verizon Business has announced it is bringing a hosted Microsoft-centric Unified Communications and Collaboration solution to the small business market. Mitel also new offers with its architectural model, including a cloud-based UC service, desktop virtualization integration and expanded UC support for mobile devices.
The Mitel Freedom architectural approach provides UC features to the user’s choice of mobile devices regardless of location by creating a single identity and presence status that follows the user, not the device. Users can deploy the solutions on industry-standard servers, Mitel hardware, or in a virtualized or cloud-based environment, all part of a design built to decrease operating costs. Mitel estimates the approach can save businesses up to 45% in corporate mobility costs and reduce the number of required servers by as much as 85%.
Supported by the architecture approach, the company’s “Mitel AnyWare” is a cloud-based UC service that addresses typical business UC and mobility requirements with an all-inclusive monthly per-user subscription fee — eliminating the need for premises-based equipment. Mitel’s also intends to expand its relationship with VMware to include desktop virtualization by combining Mitel’s UC applications with VMware View. Mitel UC Advanced Web and Mobile Portal already provides remote access to corporate communications services; the company is designing a UC Advanced Mobile client for Android (planned for release in the first half of 2011) Mitel also plans to integrate its client into iPad and BlackBerry PlayBook devices.
In other news, Verizon Business and Microsoft are jointly delivering hosted UC&C services with Microsoft Online Services specifically targeting small and midsize businesses. The two companies have had a long-time strategic relationship, and have frequently worked together on products and services targeting the mid-to-large-sized business.
The new version designed for smaller organizations combines Verizon voice, Internet, security, mobility and backup services bundled with Microsoft capabilities that can be packaged together and delivered via the cloud. Verizon estimates that subscribers will save as much as 40% compared with what they would pay to separately purchase the Microsoft applications. Verizon also optionally offers professional services for the complete UC&C solution.
Microsoft applications that can be bundled include Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, Office Live Meeting and Office Communications Online. Verizon will also offer Lync Online as it becomes available in 2011.
Finally, we remind readers who want to know more about cloud networking that they can access more from Jim Metzler’s serial publication on the topic (which we introduced last week) by clicking here.
