Vodafone offers Microsoft Online Services with voice and data
Posted on February 28th, 2009 | Filed under: Software
A most recent announcement from Vodafone reveals the introduction of varied services offered by Microsoft for its business customers. Microsoft will offer comprehensive communications and collaboration solution composed of Microsoft online services with voice and data.
The new communication service integrates Microsoft Exchange Online for email and calendar, Microsoft Office Communication for sending instant messages, Microsoft SharePoint for collaboration and Microsoft Office Live Meeting for videoconferencing and web-conferencing.
“The demands on our customers are changing dramatically in today’s complex business and economic environment,” states Tom Craig, Global Business Services Director, Vodafone Group. “By combining Vodafone’s fixed and mobile communication services with Microsoft Online Services we can provide all the elements of a fully hosted communications solution, delivering the real benefits of agility, flexibility, productivity and choice that our customers are demanding.”
In addition to fixed and mobile communication services, customer equipment, handsets and various other IT services will be provided by Microsoft on a subscription basis. While the customer support service will be handled by Vodafone, Microsoft will host Microsoft Online services in its datacenters.
“Today’s announcement is a significant step forward in our partnership with Vodafone,” added Martha Béjar, corporate vice president of the Communications Sector at Microsoft. “Through our work with Vodafone, we’re aiming to provide solutions for a growing number of businesses that are looking for new ways to control costs and do more with less, without impacting the productivity of their people, their most valuable asset.”
Users can take complete advantage of the services, as it will reduce the routine management and maintenance tasks. This will also allow IT staff to concentrate more on business objectives. The fast, easy and effective service will let customers to enjoy host of services with one bill and one provider.
Microsoft online services are available in US and will be available in other markets in the first half of 2009. The offer will be launched first in Germany and Spain sometime later this year and then in other additional markets.
