Telstra introduces virtualised unified communications
- 26 October, 2010 14:37
In its second cloud-centred move in as many weeks, Telstra has announced the expansion of its cloud portfolio to include virtualised unified communications from Mitel.
Based on VMware's vSphere 4 virtualisation platform, the Mitel solutions will be sold through Telstra, and can be hosted either in the telco's private cloud, the customer’s data centre, or a hosted data center of choice. Telstra has certified its SIP trunking connectivity will be compatible with the new virtual solutions, enabling additional IP voice features including call control, unified communications applications and public network connectivity.
Mitel claims the offerings will reduce maintenance costs and power consumption by virtualising unified communications, while also decreasing overheads associated with provisioning, installation, and application management.
The announcement comes a week after Telstra announced a partnership with services company, Accenture, to deliver application virtualisation to large enterprises on the back of its secretive 'Silver Lining' cloud platform. At the time, Telstra highlighted unified communications as a possible option for virtualisation.
The new Mitel solutions would likely cross both medium and large enterprises, alongside the telco's T-Suite cloud platform which comprises Microsoft Business Productivity Suite and the upcoming Office 365 Web-based productivity platform.
IMB Building Society has already begun to roll out the Mitel virtual solutions on Telstra infrastructure as a result of its move to invest in a VMware virtualised platform.
“The more applications we can run on this infrastructure, the better the result for our business," IMB IT infrastructure services manager, Alby Salido, said in a statement.
Telstra and Mitel have jointly offered VoIP solutions since the latter company entered the Australian market in 2002.
In September, global chief executive of Mitel, Don Smith, announced his departure from the company after nine years.
Additional reporting by James Hutchinson.