OREANDA-NEWS. December 2, 2011. NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701), a leading international provider of IT and network technologies, and Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (NYSE: MBT), a leading telecommunications provider in Russia, and CIS today announced the launch of the first cloud computing business application store for MTS subscribers in the Republic of Belarus.

Users get access to SaaS business applications and programs via the www.br.mts.by portal. The SaaS model allows suppliers to provide access to applications through a web interface without users having to install additional software on their PC.

The new service covers a range of applications including a business accounting service "1C-Enterprise"; "Publiclick", a service for creation of advertisement web pages for mobile phones and their distribution to clients by sms; "VideoBridge", a service for organization of business web-conferences on any PC with Internet and "Spontania", an application for provision of online video-conferences with a wide range of functions.

MTS customers gain access to the new business application store by registration at http://br.mts.by. Following registration, every client can use applications free of charge for the period of one month. SaaS services will then be available to subscribers on a pay as you go basis.

The SaaS model will help organizations to reduce expenditures on IT structure by cutting down on installation, modernization and technical support costs for software.

The Republic of Belarus is the first CIS country to see the launch of MTS SaaS services. NEC was responsible for the installation and integration of the SaaS platform with MTS' network and billing system. NEC also provides technical support and upgrades for the SaaS solution and plans to increase the number of cloud applications available via the portal before the end of the year.

"The successful implementation of the SaaS project in Belarus is the first step towards large-scale provision of cloud services to MTS Group subscribers. We see interest in cloud services in the Russian market and we are active on the development of cloud solutions in Russia," said Frederic Vanoosthuyze, Vice President of MTS Information Technology.

"Today cloud computing opens up new business opportunities for small businesses and large corporations worldwide," said Raymond Armes, General Director of CJSC "NEC Neva Communications Systems". "We are pleased to offer people in Belarus the best technological achievements of NEC and we plan to actively support the development of cloud services in the Russian and CIS markets".