Cloud services may initially have been heralded as all the rage for large businesses, but Verizon (NYSE: VZ) and Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) believe these services can also have great utility for small to medium businesses (SMBs).
Through a joint collaboration between the software giant and the telco, the two companies will deliver unified communications and collaboration (UC&C) capabilities with Microsoft Online Services.
Available this month to U.S.-based companies, the joint service will enable SMBs to execute a UC&C strategy that combines Verizon voice, Internet, security, mobility and backup services with a host of Microsoft capabilities, all of which can be packaged together and delivered via the cloud.
SMBs that sign up for the UC&C service will be able to get access to four major Microsoft online services, including Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, Office Live Meeting, and Office Communications Online (OCO).
In addition, Verizon will offer professional services to help SMBs assess, design and implement their UC&C solution. Professional services will be a key asset to SMBs, who as told by Carrie Gray, executive director of Solutions Marketing for Verizon Business, have "limited resources to take advantage of these advanced communications capabilities, which are becoming a business essential."
For more:
- see the release
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