A market leader in cloud unified communications since 2011, Orange Business Services is extending its solution to support all companies regardless of their IT environment. Orange Business Services has developed a Microsoft Lync-based unified communications and cloud collaboration solution named Business Together as a Service Microsoft. It has been designed for companies with 500 to 5,000 employees and will be available in Europe by June 2015.

With 37% of corporate working time dedicated to communication exchanges, unified communication and collaboration platforms play a major role in improving overall corporate performance. Orange Business Services has been a leader and pioneer in cloud unified communications for the last three years with its Business Together as a Service solution. This new version based on the Lync platform and, when available, on Skype for Business, meets the needs of all companies, regardless of their technology preference.

The best collaboration tools anytime

Designed to support new ways of working, Business Together as a Service Microsoft provides a unified interface with the same look and feel as popular consumer tools. User-friendly and integrated to the desktop, it includes all the features required by next-generation communications: presence management, telephony, unified messaging, instant messaging, and conferencing services (audio, web and video).

The solution is available on all types of devices (PC, smartphones, tablets) and enables communication with external parties, such as customers, suppliers and partners.

A customised cloud solution managed by Orange Business Services

Orange Business Services has developed a user-friendly administration portal to create and delete user accounts, manage their profiles and allocate phone numbers with a few clicks. Four preconfigured profiles are available depending on users' needs. Companies are invoiced on a pay-as-you-go basis (monthly fee per user and profile) and don't need to make any additional infrastructure investments.

Orange Business Services has integrated this solution with other applications, such as its IP telephony solution Business Talk IP to provide the highest quality audio communications, drawing on its expertise as a leading operator.

Orange Business Services both operates and integrates the solution for customers. The Lync platform is hosted and secured in its next-generation data center in Val de Reuil, Normandy, France. Orange Business Services provides access to Business Together as a Service Microsoft through its IP VPN, which offers high levels of security and performance.

Unequalled expertise in Lync

Organisations can benefit from Orange Business Services' unequalled expertise and experience in Lync deployment. It was the first operator to integrate Lync into a managed private cloud, and is now the world leader of Lync corporate integrations with 700,000 users deployed to date.

Microsoft's Communications Partner 2014, Orange Business Services has been a Microsoft Gold Partner for 15 years, with a focus on end-to-end collaboration and IP telephony solutions. Orange Business Services is fully certified for the support and maintenance of the Lync telephony platform.