A recent innovation in the IT space, cloud computing is the delivery of
hosted services over the Internet. This enables the delivery of communication
services, remotely enabling users to access services virtually anywhere, at any
time.
The Cloud Service Brokerage model centralises access to services, where a
third party, in this case MTN, acts as the single point of contact for
customers. This eases the administrative burden for companies, where instead of
dealing with multiple service providers, they now deal with one.
Executive for Enterprise Business at MTN Group, Farhad Khan, says the pilot
project will be carried out in six of MTN’s key markets in Africa. These are
Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda and South Africa.
MTN Business has identified a number of small and medium enterprises (SMEs)
in these markets to trial its cloud services and product. MTN Cloud will be
targeted at SMEs in Africa to assist customers to reduce the cost of doing
business by offering bespoke ICT solutions.
The trial period with selected customers will run
until the end of January 2013. Participating companies will automatically gain
access to a variety of MTN Cloud services. These include Office Desktop, a
cost-effective email and collaborative software, Mozypro, a back-up service for
the effective management of files and servers, and Dialcom, an on-demand video
conferencing offering.
Also on the catalogue is McAfee, a popular anti-virus and anti-spam security
software, Averiware, catering for companies’ HR, accounting, finance and sales
force automation needs, and Microsoft SharePoint, a staff and cross functional
collaborative tool. Also available will be Microsoft Dynamics CRM, a customer
relations management tool.
To make the services even more accessible, users will be able to pay for
MTN’s cloud offering using their airtime or MTN Mobile Money. Payment for the
services will be in the local currency of the different markets.
Khan says the overarching objective of MTN Cloud services is to provide
customers in the selected markets with peace of mind, as well as affordable business
management tools at reasonable price.
“We want our enterprise customers to focus on running their businesses
knowing that their data is kept safely and securely.”
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