Verizon Business Customers to Trial Cloud-Based Unified Communications and Collaboration 'as a Service'

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., June 30 /PRNewswire/ -- To help organizations accelerate the adoption of unified communications and improve performance, Verizon Business will be the first U.S.-based global service provider to deliver Cisco unified communications and collaboration applications in the cloud "as-a-service."

The company next month will begin field trials of the new Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution, introduced Wednesday (June 30) at the Cisco Live! networking event in Las Vegas.  The two-month trial will enable participants to see how cloud-based UC&C capabilities can be quickly and cost-effectively used by multiple employees across an enterprise.  Since the applications reside in the network, or cloud, organizations can activate employee subscriptions to some or all of the available services, as needed, and pay for the services, once commercialized, on a per-user basis.  There is also no need to purchase additional computer hardware and software.

Among the participants in the trial are a multinational auto manufacturer, a women's fashion retailer and a state government agency.  They will employ Verizon Business solutions based on Cisco UC&C capabilities in the cloud, using the technology foundations of Cisco Unified Service Delivery.

"Our customers are eager to put cloud-based unified communications to the test," said Anthony Recine, vice president of networking and communications solutions for Verizon Business.  "Verizon Business' field trial of Cisco's Hosted Collaboration Solution builds on a proven track record the two companies have established in developing and delivering innovative solutions to market.  It is the latest initiative of Verizon Business' continuing effort to lead the industry toward delivering 'everything-as-a-service' to our customers worldwide."

Converged IT and IT Services Via a Cloud Model

Verizon Business is evolving to an everything-as-a-service (EaaS) model in which cloud-based, converged solutions are delivered with built-in security via managed and professional services over the company's global IP network.   Verizon is assembling the key components of that unique and powerful approach to serving enterprises, and this field trial of Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution is another step in that evolution.  The EaaS platform – with Verizon's global IP network and data centers as its foundation – will enable enterprises to do business better by getting what they need, when they need it, where they need it.  Visit the Verizon IT Solutions & Hosting website for more information.

Verizon Business is a recognized leader in developing and delivering hosted  unified communications solutions and was most recently recognized as a leader in the "IDC MarketScape: U.S. Telephony-Based Hosted Unified Communications, 2010 Vendor Analysis" (Doc #222897 / May 2010).  The company was also positioned in the Leaders Quadrant in the "Magic Quadrant for Communications Outsourcing and Professional Services, Worldwide"(1) and as a visionary in the "Unified Communications as a Service, North America Magic Quadrant." (2)

Verizon Business has also achieved Cisco's highest level of certification as a Master Unified Communications (UC) specialist, based on fulfilling the training requirements and program prerequisites to sell, deploy and support highly sophisticated applications-based Cisco Unified Communications solutions.  

The Magic Quadrant is a graphical representation of a marketplace at and for a specific time period. It depicts Gartner's analysis of how certain vendors measure against criteria for that marketplace, as defined by Gartner. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in the Magic Quadrant, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors placed in the "Leaders" quadrant. The Magic Quadrant is intended solely as a research tool, and is not meant to be a specific guide to action. Gartner disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

About Verizon Business

Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ), is a global leader in communications and IT solutions. We combine professional expertise with one of the world's most connected IP networks to deliver award-winning communications, IT, information security and network solutions.  We securely connect today's extended enterprises of widespread and mobile customers, partners, suppliers and employees – enabling them to increase productivity and efficiency and help preserve the environment.  Many of the world's largest businesses and governments – including 96 percent of the Fortune 1000 and thousands of government agencies and educational institutions – rely on our professional and managed services and network technologies to accelerate their business. Find out more at www.verizonbusiness.com.

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(1) The "Magic Quadrant for Communications Outsourcing and Professional Services, Worldwide," by Eric Goodness is copyrighted March 3, 2010, by Gartner Inc. and is reused with permission.

(2) The "Magic Quadrant for Unified Communications as a Service, North America," by Daniel O'Connell, Bern Elliot is copyrighted December 9, 2010.  

SOURCE Verizon Business