IPVG's ICT unit launches new business solutions platform

MANILA, Philippines - IP-Converge, the information and communications technology (ICT) subsidiary of publicly-listed IPVG Corp. is launching IPC Networker – the Philippines’ first secured, unified communications as a service (CaaS) powered by Presence Networks.

The data center and business solutions company signed a partnership agreement with Presence Networks before the end of 2009.

IPC Networker is the latest product in IP-Converge’s growing array of business solutions. This in-the-cloud, unified communications platform extends the geographic reach of the business with secure communications to all office-based and mobile employees as well as customers and partners.

It is also an ideal communications solution for companies intent on cutting costs on travel, mobile phone bills, IDD, and opportunity costs due to time spent travelling or waiting for decisions. IPC Networker also enhances communications with customers for greater customer retention and excellent customer service.

CaaS provides organizations a platform for secure communications between employees, customers and partners without capital expenditures on software, hardware or networks and uses a subscription based model that is highly scalable and fits businesses’ budgets. CaaS is done in the cloud (over the Internet) and therefore gives users mobile, but secure access to an enterprise wide communications platform.

“IPC Networker addresses companies need for faster access to key personnel that are deployed in different geographic areas where information, approvals and decisions are harder to come by in traditional communications settings,” IP-Converge assistant vice president for product development Herns Hermida said.

Hermida added that internal communications are increasingly done through public instant messaging platforms such as Yahoo and MSN Messenger, and public multi-media communication platforms such as Skype or WebEx and are accepted as a quick, easy and efficient business communication tools. However, sensitive and confidential information are sometimes exchanged through these public infrastructure and puts any company at risk of leaking such information to the public.

IPC Networker allows management to become aware of confidentiality violations. All messages whether through voice, instant messaging or emeetings are logged and archived.

Customers will have their own communications platform that they have complete administration control over via their own “private communications cloud.” They can add and delete users and control what users can do. Companies can seamlessly integrate IPC Networker with their existing hardware, and they have multiple deployment options such as a Java-based client with Softphone, BlackBerry client, WindowsMobile Client, Web instant messaging client, MS Outlook client, and soon clients for the iPhone and Symbian OS-based devices.

IPC Networker comes in three editions to suit the requirements and budgets of companies:

IPCNetworkerIM which includes enterprise IM, file transfer/storage, emeetings, newsfeeds, alerts, SMS, e-mail; IPCNetworkerVoice which has the same useful features of IPCNetworkerIM with VoIP Softphone for voice calls over the internet; and IPCNetworkerCollab that will offer the complete suite of features plus full web collaboration such as conferencing, desktop sharing and whiteboarding.

Users can do IM chats, VoIP calls, SMS, secure file transfers, emeetings across different types of clients – all of which are encrypted. Companies can also choose to push content into their users’ clients, such as newsfeeds, stock tickers, financial information, company news and announcements, and even emergency messages. The system can be integrated with existing directory services such as LDAP and Windows Active Directory even with existing PSTN and VoIP gateways.

“IP-Converge can help enterprises that put a premium and high value on security and confidentiality of their communications. Companies should assess their risk of information leakages and their ability to catch these incidents. IPC Networker can be the secure and private platform that they need without the capex. Customers pay a flat ‘per user per month usage fee’ depending on the features you want and we give you the flexibility to add more users – in other words, pay as you grow,” Hermida added.

IP-Converge is a regional Internet data center providing a wide array of managed data services and business solutions at international standards. An ISO 9001:2000 certified company, the foundation of the company’s business is centered on customer satisfaction through high-quality, on time delivery and a personalized, “boutique” approach to clients.

UK-based Presence Networks specializes in real-time business collaboration services which enable users to effectively and securely communicate via a number of cloud applications (IM, emeeting, teleconference, and file sharing) all within a controlled and authenticated environment. Its networker service platform is at the core of solutions that enable the deployment of presence based collaborative communications, in a secure, compliant and accountable fashion.