CTM, Cable & Wireless Communications’ business in Macau, has extended its suite of cloud computing services with software enabling local small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to manage their businesses when away from the office.

Cloud computing is enabling enterprises to save costs and increase efficiency by accessing IT services through the internet (‘the cloud’). Software delivered via the cloud (known as ‘software as a service’) is rented as a managed service which can help customers to reduce the cost of licences and IT support staff.

CTM launched its first cloud services earlier this year in collaboration with Cisco.
 
The company’s first software as a service product has been jointly developed with Microsoft and a Macau based software house, Laxino Technology Limited.

Called ‘Office Anywhere’ the software helps customers to manage their emails, calendar and corporate intranet via any PC or smartphone device.
 
Office Anywhere combines Microsoft Exchange which enables users to manage or share emails, calendar, documents, contacts and tasks anywhere they have internet access and Microsoft’s web application, SharePoint which enables online file sharing, creation and editing.
 
CTM will provide ongoing support for customers including managing a firewall, 24 hour monitoring of customer sites, installing spam and virus protection updates and backing up any information stored. Declan Leong, Vice President, Enterprise Business for CTM commented: “We believe that cloud computing will be an important service for enterprise customers in future since the cost of specialist staff, licensing and IT infrastructure storage are high relative to other jurisdictions.”
 
 “We are Macau’s leading telecoms company and this is an opportunity to supply value added technology services to enterprises with whom we already have a good customer relationship. It’s early days for cloud computing, but we are taking the opportunity to learn about the requirements of our customers and ultimately cement our position in the future market.” CTM’s enterprise revenue grew by 9% in 2011-12. There are an estimated 20,000 SMEs in Macau.