It seems like every company is getting in on the cloud—and that rich communication suite and unified communications solutions are piggybacking on that technology. Yet another cloud services provider announced this week the addition of increased UC functionality within its cloud-based file sharing system that applies to mobile devices.
PanTerra (News - Alert) Networks provides file sharing through a cloud service, SmartBox, and it will now seek to provide business users with real-time collaboration and UC tools that work with its basic cloud package directly on mobile phones through 3G, 4G, and Wi-Fi.
The announcement addresses the combination of two PanTerra products, SmartBox and its Mobile Unified Cloud Communications application. Targeting small and midsize businesses, the new SmartBox-UCC for mobile will create a more consolidated solution for users that need both file sharing and communications capabilities in one application. Arthur Chang (News - Alert), CEO of PanTerra Networks, spoke to eWeek about the need for the capabilities that the new, integrated product offers.
"Today's workplace depends on sharing content and communications," Chang said. "With the number of freelancers, consultants, and home-based workers [increasing], being able to share and collaborate is not a nice-to-have but a need-to-have."
The SmartBox-UCC product will also go beyond simply offering employees ways to keep in touch through their mobile devices. In addition to audio and video conferencing, secure instant messaging, and Web meeting collaborative tools, PanTerra will provide multi-phase authentication and encryption of data between users’ smartphones, tablets, desktops, laptops, and SIP-based phones. Chang also commented on the need for security in such packages.
"When using cloud-based storage, the power to directly protect your data is shared between you and your cloud service provider. Choosing a vendor with strong security measures and a dedicated security team in place to complement your internal security measures will provide maximum protection for your business," Chang said. "Cyber-security is a whole new ball game, and remains today one of the weakest links in the system."
This past June, TMC (News - Alert) awarded PanTerra with the 2014 Unified Communications Product of the Year award for its SmartBox product. The company was given the award based on the product's reliability and high quality of service. It was noted as having enterprise-grade security features that can protect business users both inside and outside the office. Rich Tehrani (News - Alert), CEO of TMC, noted that PanTerra's work on the product was "groundbreaking" and that the TMC judges who determined the award recipient were impressed by its ingenuity and excellence.
Edited by Alisen Downey