SINGAPORE, Sept. 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Parallels, the platform provider for cloud service delivery, announced the successful deployment of Microsoft Lync via Parallels Automation at iiNet Limited, the leading challenger in Australia's telecommunications market. The new offering will finally make enterprise-grade voice, telephony and video calling services affordable for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) nationwide.
For more than 20 years, iiNet has been providing Australian SMEs with innovative connectivity solutions to suit the changing dynamics of this market. With almost 40 percent of SME* employees now working away from the office, there is an urgent need to make available business-class collaboration solutions at economical prices.
iiNet Microsoft Lync lets businesses make lifelike voice and video calls over their broadband connection, share their desktop with others and instant message in a familiar Microsoft environment. What's more, they can access all these features and make free local and national landline calls from a personalised number directly from their desk phone. They can also enjoy advanced features like voicemail to email, call forwarding and automated receptionist.
"We're excited to announce this is the first time an Australian ISP has combined Lync with a ground-breaking voice solution to help our small business customers cut costs and transform the way they work," said Greg Bader, Chief Business Officer at iiNet.
"What we offer with Lync is a great step up, a professional communications tool that's designed to work well with your desk phone as well as on your desktop. Additionally, it's backed by our reliable broadband network and award-winning support team with priority business lines," said Bader.
iiNet's latest offering builds on its popular Hosted Microsoft Exchange email service, equipping SMEs with fully integrated corporate tools to communicate and collaborate where they want, when they want and how they want.
Parallels Automation is the platform of choice for iiNet as it serves over tens of thousands of SMEs in Australia. Parallels' automation platform was previously used for iiNet's Hosted Microsoft Exchange offering to handle the provisioning and customer control panel, resulting in a seamless process with 15,000 Hosted Exchange customers added over the past 15 months.
"We're pleased to partner with Parallels Automation, a global leader in hosting and cloud services enablement solutions," added Bader.
According to the most recent Parallels SMB Cloud Insights™, the global market for Communications and Collaboration solutions is projected to triple in the next three years, from US$6.5 billion in 2013 to US$20 billion by 2016. Customers are seeing significant benefits by combining unified communications services like Microsoft Lync with their other cloud-based collaboration and communications solutions such as Hosted Exchange.
"The most recent report by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) validates our observation that SMEs are ready and willing to integrate technology into their business process provided the solutions are affordable, easy to use and don't take much effort to maintain," said Pavel Ershov, Vice President for Service Provider, Parallels Asia Pacific and Japan. "Over the years, we have invested in helping partners like iiNet to build systems that will enable them to go to market faster with integrated solutions tailored to the specific needs of their customers."
Parallels Automation is the only platform to automate and simplify cloud service delivery for the largest telcos, hosters and IT distributors. It accelerates creation and delivery of unique cloud services bundles through multiple sales channels, streamlines service provider operations, and delights channel partners and customers with a unified service experience. It is supported by the largest ecosystem of over 250 ISVs and Parallels fourteen years of industry experience, giving hosting companies like iiNet a solid foundation to build their cloud-based product and service offering.
iiNet Microsoft Lync is available in three plans starting from just $1.95 per month per user, no contract required. For more information, visit www.lync.iinet.net.au
*"Home is where the work is -- the digital worker" study, ACMA, October 2013
About iiNet
iiNet is Australia's second largest DSL Internet Service Provider and the leading challenger in the telecommunications market. Publicly listed on the ASX 200, this billion-dollar company has been recognised as a global leader in customer service, winning the Large Business award at the 2013 International Service Excellence Awards. We employ more than 2500 inquisitive staff across three countries -- 80 per cent of whom are employed to directly service over 900,000 customers. We maintain our own broadband network and support over 1.7 million broadband, telephony and Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) services nationwide.
We're committed to making it simple for all Australians to connect across both our own network and on the NBN.
Our vision is to lead the market with services that harness the potential of the Internet and then differentiate with award-winning customer service.
About Parallels
Parallels® provides the platform for service providers to sell and deliver great cloud services to businesses worldwide and cross-platform solutions. Parallels began operations in 2000 and has developed into a fast-growing software company with more than 900 employees across offices in North America, Europe, Africa, Australia and Asia.
For more information, please visit http://sp.parallels.com/ , follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ParallelsCloud, and Like Us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ParallelsCloud
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Media Contacts
Maimon Abdul Rahman
Parallels Asia Pacific
Tel: +65-6645-3290
Email: marahman@parallels.com
Gene Yeo
Bite Singapore
Tel: +65-6323-7377
Email: ParallelsSG@biteglobal.com