Collaborating on hybrid workplace communications and 5G innovation
TORONTO — Rogers and Microsoft announced today a five-year strategic alliance “to help enterprise and small and medium business customers accelerate digitization and take full advantage of hybrid work and 5G-enabled solutions,” according to a press release.
Rogers has selected Microsoft’s Azure platform “as its strategic cloud for infrastructure and technology workloads and will leverage Azure’s public cloud capabilities to power innovation, unlock new customer experiences and enable employees to collaborate with more agility across the organization,” the release reads.
As a result of this alliance, which builds on the two companies’ long-standing relationship, Rogers is now Canada’s largest operator partner of Microsoft Teams solutions and is the first company in Canada to offer Operator Connect Mobile, “a new all-in-one communications and collaboration solution built on Microsoft Teams.”
Operator Connect Mobile, powered by Rogers for Business, “will offer customers a fully integrated voice calling experience, improving availability and responsiveness, and allowing people and businesses to work securely from anywhere across the devices of their choice,” according to the release.
“With Operator Connect Mobile, customers will have the flexibility to make and receive calls on Teams using the Rogers network, giving users the ability of placing outbound calls through the collaboration enhanced Microsoft Teams application, integrated IP Phones, or directly through the native dialer on a customer’s SIM enabled mobile device.
“Organizations will also benefit from a unified communications experience through a single app, streamlined technical support as well as direct peering to Rogers Network for enhanced network resilience,” the release says.
“Landlines and legacy voice services are rapidly being replaced by mobile — the workplace is shifting, and our customers have embraced new ways of working,” said Ron McKenzie, president of Rogers Business, in the release.
“Together, we are bringing Operator Connect Mobile to Canada, which will help businesses save up to 50% in costs by upgrading outdated, expensive legacy voice infrastructure and shifting to a best-in-class digital calling experience. We’re proud to power the latest digital connectivity advances for Canadians and look forward to playing a pivotal role in helping businesses thrive in the new world of work.”
As part of their expanded partnership, the two companies “will work together to optimize networks, enabling highly reliable, cost-effective, and secure services, providing seamless experiences for customers across Microsoft’s cloud and Rogers’ network,” the press release says.
“The two companies will continue to partner, invest and collaborate on delivering Rogers’ digital transformation journey, building on a long-standing relationship of mutual cooperation over decades.”
In addition, “Rogers will leverage Azure’s enhanced data and AI capabilities across its business to enable use cases and operational improvements through Microsoft’s new Data Centre of Excellence in Toronto.”
The two companies will also explore collaboration on research and development opportunities to support the Internet of Things (IoT) and Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) to advance 5G innovation and Canada’s digital economy, the release says.
“Our alliance with Microsoft further enhances both our 5G network leadership and our customer’s experience,” said Jorge Fernandes, chief technology and information officer of Rogers. “Together, we’ll provide the next-generation service innovations for business customers that will support Canada’s growth and prosperity in the years ahead.
“With this first in Canada alliance, Rogers and Microsoft are opening all-new opportunities in 5G MEC and introducing the next chapter of global hybrid work just as Canada recovers from Covid-19 and looks forward to the economic, social and sustainability advantages of 5G.”
For more, please click here.
