IceWarp 10.3 Server Delivers the Five Essential Pillars of True Unified Communications to Empower the Mobile, Agile Workforce

SPRINGFIELD, VA – April 25, 2011 – IceWarp, the leader in Unified Communications and Collaborations solutions, announced today the release of IceWarp Unified Communications (UC) Server Version 10.3 that provides the five essential pillars of UC including Communications, Security, Collaboration, Mobility and Data Access.  The company also announced today the results of a commissioned survey by Osterman Research revealing the urgent need of global enterprises to deploy a unified communications solution to drive their business and stay competitive.

IceWarp 10.3 Server sets new UC standards for the enterprise as validated by the new Osterman study.  The study produced results that strengthen the case for a Unified Communications deployment. IceWarp customers surveyed said that what they valued most is how quickly the solution can be deployed with a mean of 3.5 person-hours for all tasks for server setup. They also valued the low maintenance costs requiring only 10.4 IT staff hours every year.  Additionally, the low cost of ownership gave IceWarp the edge over competitors.  IceWarp labor costs are just $44 per user per year compared to others such as MS Exchange which can range as high as $80 to $107 per user per year.
“Enterprises are clamoring for a true Unified Communications solution that will support today’s mobile, agile workforce who are actively connecting and collaborating across multiple channels and time zones,” said Ladislav Goc, president of IceWarp. “IceWarp responds to these needs by virtually eliminating the barrier between a traditional and a mobile office. IceWarp Version 10.3 helps organizations of all sizes, from SMBs to global multinationals, to improve their working capital situation by freeing up the resources locked in outdated infrastructure and enabling their mobile workforce to rapidly react to ever-changing global business challenges.”
To overcome the communications, data access and security challenges that modern enterprises are facing, the new IceWarp Server 10.3 release brings several new feature additions and enhancements to existing features including a greatly improved IceWarp Desktop Client, IceWarp Outlook Connector, IceWarp Notifier, and WebClient Enhancements. Through an unmatched combination of carrier-grade stability and enterprise-grade features, Version 10.3 requires near-zero configuration that greatly reduces deployment obstacles.  IceWarp’s UC solution sets new standards in cost-effective integration, scalability and easy of deployment.
IceWarp Unified Communications Server Version 10.3 new features include:

•       Communication.  Full new set of PBX functionality, including auto attendant system, IVR, voicemail, echo service, call recording and archiving
•       Security.  A new virtual keyboard that blocks key loggers, Multi-Protocol Scanning Anti-Virus that includes support for GroupWare, FTP, SOCKS, IMAP Append.
•       Mobility. Mobile users have up-to-the-minute access to both personal & shared information (including GAL) through support of Exchange ActiveSync® & SyncML.
•       Collaboration.  Multiple location synchronization with Global Address Book – countrywide or globally, enhanced resource and meeting management, support for iSchedule protocol
•       Data Access.  Eliminates the need for a proprietary client, providing users with flexibility of choice in how they communicate and collaborate,- use virtually any client on any platform, Windows, Mac, Linux, or mobile

“The ROI achieved by deployment of Unified Communications solutions is easily recognized: To streamline and manage communications, increase user productivity and efficiency, to enable users to work remotely with the same communication tools they have in the office, and to reduce bottlenecks that thwart the communications pipeline,” said Michael Osterman, president of Osterman Research. “Despite the reported benefits, enterprises aren’t always comfortable adopting these solutions because of the pain associated with the initial capital investment and the complexity of deployment for typical Unified Communications solutions.”

Already recognized as a leading UC provider deployed in more than 20,000 organizations, and supporting more than 50 million users worldwide, IceWarp delivers “true” Unified Communications features for a number of companies, such as Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) and Verizon Communications, Inc. (NYSE: VZ, NASDAQ: VZ), as well as small to midsized firms. While the typical set of Unified Communications features, including e-mail, mobility, VoIP, instant chat, file sharing and others, is not novel, IceWarp’s ability to roll up individual features into one seamless, easy-to-use and secure software solution is new.

In addition to its software, IceWarp is a solutions provider which works with companies to maximize their UC investment with professional services for planning, deployment, training and support.

For more information, please visit IceWarp (www.icewarp.com) on Twitter and Facebook.

ABOUT THE OSTERMAN STUDY
The Osterman Research survey, commissioned by IceWarp, validates the urgent need for global enterprises to deploy a unified communications solution to drive their business and stay competitive.  The study produced results that strengthen the case for a Unified Communications deployment. According to the research findings, enterprise IT planners underestimated the benefits while overestimating the challenges of deploying a UC solution. IT professionals said they are most interested in a UC solution that enables their workforce to better communicate, collaborate, and manage work flow, while extending these tools to their mobile workforce – all blanketed with the highest levels of multi-layered security.

ABOUT ICEWARP
For over a decade, IceWarp has focused on unifying communications for every business class, size and niche. Building upon the best in communication, collaboration, security and mobility, IceWarp revolutionizes how organizations work and communicate. The same product can easily be used by SMBs, enterprises, and data centers alike, delivering exceptional scalability as an organization grows. IceWarp’s solutions are available in over 40 countries through a comprehensive network of distributors.