Gianpaolo Carraro (Telstra) and Giovanni Mezgec (Microsoft)
Telstra and Microsoft have partnered up to bring enterprise voice services to Office 365 customers, working together on creating new solutions specific to Australian market needs.
The companies have jointly announced that Microsoft’s Skype for Business meetings and voice communications platform is being paired with Telstra’s managed voice services and networks to deliver a “comprehensive productivity and collaboration solution”.
The move is aimed to give Australian businesses the ability to make use of the full range of Office 365’s cloud productivity, collaboration, video conferencing, and meeting capabilities, along with giving users full access to Telstra’s voice services, delivered in the cloud or on the premises.
According to the companies, customers can begin deploying their Office 365 suite with managed services and voice provided by Telstra from 21 September.
For Telstra global applications, global products director, Gianpaolo Carraro, the deal is set to help reposition Australia’s largest telco as it broadens customer engagement.
“Telstra and Microsoft have joined forces to enable modern communications for Australian enterprises – designed for a connected world where employees work anywhere, anytime, and on any device,” Carraro said.
“When you combine this partnership, our core network and mobility capabilities, and our recent acquisitions of Kloud and Readify, we can provide customers with truly unique employee productivity solutions, designed specifically for their requirements.
“This is also a great example of how Telstra is innovating from our core strengths, transforming our products suite from traditional voice to IP services, on our journey from being a telco to a technology company."
The telco snapped up professional and managed services provider, Kloud – also a Microsoft partner – in January.
At the time, Telstra’s executive director of global enterprise and services, Michelle Bendschneider, suggested the acquisition would support the telco’s objectives and enhance its consulting capabilities.
Meanwhile, in July, Telstra forked out more acquisition dough to buy managed services provider, Readify – also a Microsoft partner.
At the time, the company claimed the acquisition would give it an additional platform with which to drive digital transformation for its enterprise customers at home and abroad.
For Microsoft Office 365 Partners general manager, Giovanni Mezgec, the new partnership is building on the technology giant’s efforts to “bring workplace communication into the modern era,” by putting meetings and voice at the heart of Office 365.
“The option to integrate voice services will bring enhanced value to the millions of users enjoying Office 365 cloud services in Australia,” Mezgec added.
"This partnership will enable us to integrate our productivity and communication services with Telstra’s enterprise-grade voice, networking, and managed services, ultimately giving Office 365 customers everything they need to embrace cloud productivity and achieve more."
