MSP Cloud

Integra Telecom Launches Cloud-Based Collaboration, Messaging Services

By Erin Harrison
Executive Editor, Strategic Initiatives

Network provider Integra Telecom Inc. is expanding its offering of cloud services for businesses to include cloud-based collaboration and messaging services.

The company announced at ITEXPO (News - Alert) in Miami that it is expanding its portfolio of hosted communication services to support its business customers, who are looking for ways to improve the productivity of their workforce while reducing IT costs.

“The addition of collaboration and messaging services further extends the range of Integra’s cloud services and is a natural addition to our business-grade voice, Internet and private data networking services,” Joe Harding, senior vice president of product and marketing at Integra Telecom (News - Alert), said in a statement. “Our customers trust us to provide best-in-class competitive services and Microsoft Communication Services are a good fit for that promise.”

The Portland, Ore.-based company is providing network-wide availability of hosted Microsoft (News - Alert) Communication Services, which includes Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft Outlook 2010, Microsoft Lync, Microsoft SharePoint, enhanced encryption and other valuable features.

With their new service, Integra’s customers can use the latest versions of Microsoft business productivity tools, hosted on secure servers for a monthly fee, company officials said. The new services also allow customers to synchronize their smart phones with their Exchange email, calendar and company directory.

Integra officials also emphasized the importance of security to protect core operations while shifting the cost of facilities and maintenance from customers to Integra.

The company said it uses a “Fortune 50” infrastructure, including SAS (News - Alert) 70 Type II audited data centers, built with hardware and multiple connections to Tier-1 Internet providers.

Integra has rolled out a string of new service offerings this year. Earlier this month, Integra launched voice services to include business locations nationwide. Enterprise customers using Integra’s SIP Trunking can connect all of their remote sites in the continental U.S. to enact business-wide cost savings and efficiencies via a centralized IP PBX (News - Alert). Legacy technologies are also supported. Integra’s nationwide voice solution has been deployed on its MPLS-enabled IP VPN product, ensuring a high level of security, voice quality, and scalability, company officials said.

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