Comcast Upware Cloud-Based Software Marketplace Aimed at SMBs

Organized on the Upware online portal in aisles by technology, vendors include Microsoft, Carbonite and YouSendIt.

Communications solutions specialist Comcast Business Services, a unit of Comcast Cable, announced the launch of the Upware marketplace, a suite of cloud-based business solutions that can be purchased through one integrated Web portal.

The Upware marketplace contains a selected list of third party, cloud-based business applications from a variety of companies in categories such as data backup, data security, and collaboration. Upware is designed to meet the needs of small to medium-size businesses (SMBs) looking to use cloud-based solutions to simplify their IT systems, control costs and increase productivity.

With Upware, Comcast has chosen a select group of widely respected vendors that meet a set of security, redundancy and customer service requirements. Organized on the online portal in aisles by technology, the vendors in the data backup aisle include Carbonite, DigitalSafe and Mozy, which specializes in online backup.

On the data security side, Norton and Websense are included, while in the collaboration aisle, Box offers small businesses online storage, Microsoft provides Web collaboration tools, Soonr allows online file sharing and YouSendIt specializes in document collaboration.

Through the Upware marketplace, business customers can purchase and use cloud services, as well as order other Comcast Business services including Business VoiceEdge, Website Hosting and Signature Support, a program for on-site tech support. Upware is also designed to simplify application management with the convenience of a single sign-on, which makes access quicker and easier for individual users.

In addition to the nine applications currently on the Upware marketplace, Comcast said more applications will be added in the near future to existing aisles and new aisles will be added to address other business needs such as marketing and customer relationship management (CRM).

“We know small business owners and we know what tools they need to grow their businesses,” Comcast Business Services senior vice president and general manager of new business solutions Kevin O’Toole said in a statement. “Upware simplifies what can be a complex world of choices when evaluating cloud-based services. With the choice of these top vendors, business owners can quickly choose what tools they need to run their businesses and keep their focus on their number one priority – serving their customers.”

In addition, business owners can add or remove employees from the system as their business needs change. Small businesses also have a number to call for support, management and troubleshooting for issues associated with their Comcast Business Class Internet service, including the Upware marketplace and the software applications themselves.