Windstream and Mitel Partner on Managed, Cloud-based UCaaS Solution

Windstream and Mitel have teamed up to offer a managed unified communications solution. The companies have entered into an agreement in which MSP Windstream will offer Mitel's MiVoice and MiCollab solutions as a fully managed, cloud-based Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) solution.

The offering will be powered by Mitel's MiCloud for Service Providers, and will provide Windstream customers with a variety of communications features. Highlights include mobile and desktop collaboration, messaging, and a host of applications, which will all be available in a scalable, subscription-based service.

Windstream's UCaaS solution is already in customer trials. The offering bundles the MiVoice and MiCollab solutions with VMware-powered, enterprise-class cloud solutions from Windstream. The combined offering features geo-redundancy and local survivability, and also leverages Windstream's SIP and data solutions to offer a turnkey service to businesses of all sizes.

The UCaaS offering includes 24x7 remote and onsite monitoring and support through Windstream's nationwide network of data centers. The company has been working to expand this network, and also recently announced that design and construction of its new Charlotte, NC, data center is underway. The new UCaaS offering is expected to be generally available this fall.

"Today's business environment is constantly evolving -- and with that, so is the way businesses communicate with their customers," said Tim Whelehan, vice president of business development for Windstream. "By offering industry leading, cloud-based UC solutions such as Mitel's MiCloud for Service Providers, we can provide the technology and expertise that helps these businesses ease into this new environment -- all without the upfront capital costs of a traditional UC solution."

"Mitel's unique single stream of software provides the ease of use and flexibility that service providers like Windstream need to provide powerful solutions to their customers for premise, cloud or hybrid deployments," said Joe Vitalone, Mitel's executive vice president for the Americas. "Windstream is a leading service provider in the U.S. and with this new cloud offering, their business customers will have even greater choice and opportunity to select the services best suited to their needs."