Looking to support the changing business functionality requirements trends in office environments, iAreaNet is adding a host of new video, voice, data, social media and mobility features to its cloud-based, “desktop-in-the-cloud” business communications suite, iAreaOffice, which is set to unveil a platform upgrade to version 5.0.
“iAreaOffice Freedom, as version 5 will be known, is not just a solution for business communications, although it certainly excels at that role,” explained iAreaNet CEO James DeCrescenzo. “This update also solidifies iAreaOffice as a business empowerment tool, designed to give our channel partners an unparalleled opportunity to meet even the toughest requirements of today’s enterprises and SMBs. Companies are looking to efficiently stay competitive, bolster innovation and effectively accommodate the realities of the always on, always-mobile, borderless aspects of today’s work reality. iAreaOffice 5.0 is an incredible tool for achieving all of those goals.”
iAreaOffice Freedom will officially launch on Sept. 15, with full availability nationwide via the company’s channel partners planned by October 1. The company hinted that there would be more to the Freedom release than new features: “We’ve worked hard to build cutting-edge functionality into the new version, and that’s exciting as it is. But when we officially launch on Sept. 15, our partners and customers are going to also benefit from a surprise or two, which will have to do with business model innovation,” said DeCrescenzo. “Stay tuned for details on this aspect of 5.0, but let’s just say that the product name of ‘Freedom’ will prove to be very apropos.”
New features that will be incorporated into the new version include upgrades to iAreaPhone, iAreaMessenger; iAreaDesktop; iAreaMobile; iAreaCloud; iAreaApps; iAreaConferencing and iAreaSocial.
“For VARs and agents, a solution like iAreaOffice can be a critical addition to their portfolio because it gives them a perfect converged offering that allows them to bridge the worlds of IT and telecom,” said Andrew Campbell, managing director at iAreaNet. “With iAreaOffice Freedom, we’re also giving them the opportunity to provide SMBs and enterprises alike with the most complete office suite available, and it happens to have a cloud-based delivery model for reducing costs and overhead. We could not be more excited for this launch, and for the new opportunities that partners will be able to uncover for it.”
A few of the coming upgrades include:
- The voice functionality will now include full video call support via desk phones and soft phones when calling any user
- Voice API has been developed as an open API for users to integrate additional functionality, such as click-to-dial, into any application or Web page
- In addition to the existing HTML phone, a soft phone for PCs and Macs will be available
- Added support for video mail
- SMS capability for unified access numbers has been added, so that faxes, voicemail, calls and texts can all be delivered via e-mail
- Support for Google Android tablet
- Enhanced video capability for iPad and Microsoft Surface
- Major updates to universal printing and multi-monitor support
- An all-new version of the iAreaOffice app for Google Android, Apple and Microsoft
- Improved desktop and conferencing support for mobile devices
- A new iAreaPhone app that allows customers to use mobile phones as extensions of the PBX
- The ability to self-manage servers and applications
- The capability to choose from a range of data centers (either iAreaNet’s or third-party) to run and mange any app or server.
- A completely virtualized infrastructure that can run on Citrix, VMWare and Zen, allowing an expansion into utility computing platforms, such as IBM smart cloud, PCM utility computing and Internap
- Apps on Demand: the ability for customers to deliver single-use applications for projects or temporary needs, integrated with iAreaNet Desktop
- The ability to build tablet applications
- Support for Apple devices
- Improved desktop sharing and video quality, including the ability to share iAreaDesktop with any other IAreaNet user with a click of a button
- iAreaOffice Wall offers a Facebook-like functionality designed for employees to easily find other workers within the company
- An upgraded iAreaOffice e-mail signature that includes the employee’s social media and full company information, mobile-ready
- A social media hub that allows a company to harness the power of social media via a simple, branded company page. Users can connect with customers through click-to-dial, e-mail, maps, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, blogs and more to easily create a mix of social media sources, in consolidated view
