Today’s topics include the availability of Skype for Business running on iOS and Android, a new set of services for IBM’s Bluemix cloud platform-as- a-service, an expansion of Sprint’s Open World international calling program and a new round of funding for cloud database-as-a-service vendor Tesora.
Skype for Business is finally available on iOS and Android, at least for participants of Microsoft’s Skype for Business Preview prerelease program.
The new apps replace Lync 2013, as part of a rebranding effort the company kicked off last year to bring its enterprise unified communications platform under the Skype banner.
In April, Microsoft made it official with the launch of Skype for Business apps for Office 365 customers. Now, businesses can see how the experience translates to iOS and Android devices, announced Jared Goralnick, principal group program manager of Microsoft Skype for Business.
IBM launched a new set of services for its Bluemix Platform-as-a-Service that brings enhanced analytics and data warehousing capabilities to the cloud platform.
With the new services, developers can add analytics capabilities into cloud applications. The new IBM Cloud tools, which include the IBM Streaming Analytics service, enable developers to integrate both data analytics and visualization in their apps.
Sprint has expanded its Open World international calling program to now make all mobile calls and texts to and from Canada and Mexico free and included in monthly customer cellular plans, without additional roaming charges.
As part of the expanded service, Sprint customers will also receive up to 1GB of 3G data for free while traveling in Canada and Mexico, according to the company’s Aug. 10 announcement.
Cloud database-as-a-service vendor Tesora today announced that it has completed a new round of funding, bringing in $5.8 million.
The new round included the participation of Red Hat, Rho Canada Ventures and existing investors General Catalyst and Point Judith Capital. Total funding to date for Tesora now stands at $14.5 million.
Ken Rugg, founder and CEO of Tesora, told eWEEK that the new funding will be used to help fund development efforts as well grow sales and marketing activities.
Tesora is one of the leading contributors to the OpenStack Trove DBaaS project and also offers the Tesora commercial enterprise product.