Telstra goes global with its cloud-based Unified Communications service

Telstra is playing into its global customers' mobile nature by introducing a cloud-based unified communications (UC) service that it said can enable business customers to communicate and collaborate regardless of their location.

The new UC service will be delivered via Telstra's cloud infrastructure, which now extends to seven locations throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia Pacific. Beginning at the end of August, the service will be available to customers on a monthly, "per worker" basis. Enterprises can assign four worker usage types: essential, office, information or mobile.

Because it's a cloud-based managed service, enterprises could potentially reduce operational and management costs, since they won't have to manage or buy a premises-based PBX or voice system.

"With Telstra Cloud Collaboration, businesses can roll-out extensive collaboration and communications tools to staff throughout the world, scale user profiles and functionality up and down depending on business requirements and ensure employees working remotely have identical resources to those working in the office – all while minimizing traditionally significant upfront investment models," said Nathan Bell, director of marketing, portfolio and pricing for Telstra, in a release.

Building on the global platform it launched in Australia last year with vendor partner Cisco, the service is now available in 25 countries on four continents and is delivered over the service provider's worldwide network extending to more than 2,000 points of presence (PoPs).

In March the service provider said it would use Cisco's global cloud platform to provision cloud and network services in real time to improve speed, security and performance for its customers.

For more:
- see the release

Related articles:
Telstra accelerates into the cloud with Cisco technology
Telstra Global enhances cloud service with Cisco Master Partner certification
Telstra furthers pact with Ericsson, Ciena to get ready for SDN, NFV
Telstra strengthens its optical network ties with Ericsson