As many businesses halt to a standstill during the COVID-19 lockdown, these are uncertain times. Companies are being challenged to find ways of continuing their daily business operations and resume some sense of normality while working remotely from the home environment. Still, without internet connectivity and a way to communicate with colleagues and departments within a company, this becomes an impossible task. Here is where Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) can help.

As part of the IBM (News - Alert) Public Cloud Ecosystem, Ribbon Communications Inc. has been instrumental in delivering global communications software and network solutions for enterprises, service providers, and vital infrastructure sectors for many years. Ribbon recently merged with ECI Telecom Group, a provider of network solutions to service providers, utilities, and data and cloud center providers worldwide and have just announced delivery of free cloud-based Unified Communications (News - Alert) and Collaboration (UC&C) technology to support remote workers that are utilizing the IBM public cloud.

“We recognize that many organizations need immediate help moving staff to virtual work environments to maintain business continuity,” said Jeff Immel, Strategic Partners, IBM Cloud, and Cognitive Software. “With Ribbon’s collaboration technology on IBM public cloud, our global clients can minimize disruptions to their customers and keep employees productive from anywhere, while benefiting from the industry’s most open and secure public cloud for business.”

This offering is available to new IBM cloud subscribers, allowing for IBM enterprise clients to quickly and efficiently use Ribbon’s carrier-grade Kandy Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) solution from the IBM public cloud, which enables subscribers to work virtually from anywhere. In addition, as part of the free trial, which runs through to June 30, 2020, Smart Office allows employees to collaborate and communicate effectively without having to physically be in the office or even in the same location by utilizing high definition video conferencing, screen sharing, and incorporates a chat system. IBM enterprise clients can make use of Ribbon’s Smart Office Collaboration space which includes:

• PBX (News - Alert) services
• Desktop and mobile clients
• Outlook integration
• Standards-based endpoints
• UCD & hunt groups
• Conferencing & collaboration

“It’s a privilege to work with our long-time partner IBM to help businesses continue to operate as close to normal as possible under these highly unusual circumstances,” said Patrick Joggerst (News - Alert), EVP, and Chief Marketing Officer for Ribbon. “Combining IBM’s trusted and secure public cloud environment with our advanced unified communications provides enterprise teams with all of the communications tools they need to collaborate, stay productive and offer their customers with great support.”