CPA2Biz and Apptix Launch Email Service for CPA Firms

NEW YORK, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- CPA2Biz, the leading national provider of Web-based solutions for CPAs, and Apptix, the largest provider of Hosted Unified Communications including Microsoft® Exchange email and collaboration services, have formed an alliance to offer CPA firms a secure, reliable and comprehensive email platform to communicate with their colleagues and clients. As part of the agreement, Apptix joins CPA2Biz's suite of leading online solutions offered through its Trusted Business Advisor platform, further strengthening the breadth and scope of the services offered to CPAs.  

"CPA2Biz Email Solutions offers firms improved email functionality at a competitive price and promotes a more professional appearance to current and prospective clients," said Erik Asgeirsson, chief executive officer of CPA2Biz.

Many of today's smaller CPA firms and sole practitioners utilize services such as AOL®, MSN®, Yahoo!® or Google™ Gmail™ for their email accounts, often because the basic service is provided for free or at a very low cost.  Although these providers are hosted in enterprise class infrastructures, end users have limited functionality and data protection in comparison to the robust capabilities provided by Microsoft Exchange and Outlook.

"CPA firms now have a compelling alternative to hosting their email in-house or using one of the basic email service offerings from one of the many free or low cost providers," said Asgeirsson.

With CPA2Biz Email Solutions, powered by Apptix, CPA firms will be able to access email via Outlook, Entourage and Outlook Web Access; back up and secure email data; use built-in anti-spam and anti-virus protection; manage contact lists; and simplify scheduling with shared calendars. Many of the basic email services in the marketplace lack full integration with Microsoft Office, which is widely used throughout the accounting profession and links the firm's tax, audit, accounting and administrative applications. Hosted Exchange allows firms to efficiently share information between programs.

"As a CPA, I know how essential email has become for doing business and communicating with clients," said David Ehrhardt, CEO of Apptix. "Our solution offers firms more reliable and secure email and collaboration capabilities than a free Webmail service, and eliminates the hassle and expense of maintaining in-house hardware and software."

Additional features include:

• Live 24/7 U.S.-based customer support
• Easy-to-use management portal where users can be added or deleted
• Receive email on mobile devices, including BlackBerry® and Apple iPhone®
• Utilize SharePoint, Secure Instant Messenger and online data backup

Apptix joins Bill.com, Capital Confirmation, Copanion, Intacct, Paychex and XCM Solutions as part of CPA2Biz's Trusted Business Advisor Solutions platform.

To view a white paper on the benefits of Hosted Exchange, please visit www.cpa2biz.com/emailwhitepaper.

To learn more about CPA2Biz Email Solutions, please visit www.cpa2biz.com/email.

About Apptix

Headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, Apptix (OSE: APP) is the leading provider of business-class Hosted Unified Communications, including email, voice, and collaboration services for 300,000 users worldwide. A pioneer in the hosted services space, Apptix and its MailStreet subsidiary offer a variety of cloud-based services including: Microsoft Exchange plus Outlook Voice Access; VoIP; Microsoft SharePoint; Web conferencing and secure Instant Message with Presence via Microsoft Office Communications Server R2; Online Backup by EMC's Mozy; mobile email (including BlackBerry, Palm, Android, Windows Mobile, and iPhone); email archiving, compliance, and encryption; and a Web presence solution that includes domain registration, DNS hosting, and Website hosting. Apptix is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner for Hosting and Application Services. Apptix is recognized as one of Everything Channel's 2010 VAR 500, the CRN 2009 & 2008 Fast Growth 100, Deloitte's 2009 & 2008 North American Technology Fast 500, Software Magazine's 2009 & 2008 Software 500, Washington Business Journal 2009 & 2008 Fastest Growing Companies, as a finalist in the Customer Service and Product Departments categories for the 2009 & 2010 American Business Awards (Stevie Awards), and as a 2009 Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference Awards finalist in the Unified Communications Solutions category. For more information, visit www.apptix.com.

About CPA2Biz, Inc.

CPA2Biz, a subsidiary of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), provides marketing and technology services to the AICPA for its wide array of products and services. CPA2Biz also develops and manages client-focused business solutions programs (e.g. payroll, bill management) that enable CPAs to build stronger relationships with their business clients or employers. For more information, visit www.cpa2biz.com.

SOURCE CPA2Biz, Inc.