Sprint starts launching cloud-based services with help from Cisco
Sprint has teamed with Cisco to develop a hosted and fully managed unified communications solution, which includes enhanced mobile integration and collaboration tools.
Boasted to be the "most comprehensive" UC system for mid-sized and large businesses today, the Sprint Complete Collaboration is delivered over an all-IP network.
The platform certainly is comprehensive considering how many features have been taken into account here, including IP and video telephony, integrated messaging, collaboration tools, user endpoints and enhanced mobile integration.
SIP trunking, in particular, has been singled out as a differentiator from similar services from Sprint and Cisco's competitors as the Complete Collaboration solution is touted to provide more efficient trunking options through aggregation and bursting.
Overall, the benefits promoted with this solution are similar to what you see from most cloud-based services: a more agile platform that costs less to run and involves only a single point of contact for the entire solution.
Enterprise customers have three packages to choose from if they want to go with this UC setup, varying based on the size and needs of their particular business. Options range from a basic, voice-centric configuration to going as far to support mobile users with a wider range of endpoints.
But beyond just the release of a new product, this is really a major milestone for Sprint.
Mike Fitz, vice president of the wireline unit at Sprint, clarified in a release that this is "the first of several cloud-based services Sprint will launch this year leveraging our award winning all-IP network."
Sprint is the first Cisco partner to bring to market a Cisco HCS powered solution that integrates both enhanced mobility and SIP Trunking in a fully managed bundle that enables collaboration for all employees. Coupled with our superior managed services, we make it simple for Sprint customers to harness the industry's most powerful UC portfolio -- one comprehensive solution, one account team and one service/support team.
So far, Sprint has already installed Cisco's Unified Communications Managers and IP phones within its retail stores locations nationwide and thousands of Cisco IP phones.
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