MICROSOFT, Vodafone team up to offer new solutions

LEADING players in the information and communication technology sector, Microsoft and Vodafone have announced an agreement under which Vodafone will offer businesses a single communications and collaboration solution composed of fixed and mobile voice and data, customer equipment and handsets, and Microsoft Online Services.

Hosted by Microsoft and available through Vodafone, the offering will be available in the continent later this year.
“The demands on our customers are changing dramatically in today’s complex business and economic environment,” said 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.”

Vodafone will support the customer directly, while Microsoft will host Microsoft Online Services in its datacenters.

“The announcement is a significant step forward in our partnership with Vodafone,” said Martha Béjar, corporate vice president of the Communications Sector at Microsoft.

“Through our work with Vodafone, we are 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.”

Among software in the offering is Microsoft Exchange Online for e-mail and calendars through the PC, phone and browser , Microsoft SharePoint Online for portals, collaboration, search and customized team sites, Microsoft Office Communications Online for instant messaging and presence and Microsoft Office Live Meeting for webconferencing and videoconferencing.

Microsoft and Vodafone intend to continue to grow the partnership through future collaboration and development that will yield business solutions and capabilities that integrate Vodafone Voice Services and Virtual PBX, which will ultimately provide a fully converged fixed and mobile communications solution for businesses.