OREANDA-NEWS.  January 19, 2012. Fujitsu today announced that it is unifying the communications platform(1) used in the Fujitsu Group by some 170,000 employees in 500 group companies in Japan and around the world to foster and enhance the global integration of the entire workforce.

The business needs stemming from close collaboration with subsidiaries around the globe, in addition to Fujitsu's own experience of using cloud-based services were the key drivers for the launch of this global project enabling a unified communication process.

All employees will use the same tools for e-mail, file sharing, calendaring, presence management(2), and web conferences in order to promote the seamless sharing of information, skills, and expertise, as well as more active communications. The new platform will also encourage information sharing and communication outside the workplace through different kinds of mobile devices including smartphones and tablets. In addition, integration with Fujitsu's authentication platform enables integrated management of group-wide information security.

"This new standardized global communication infrastructure will enable Fujitsu to respond faster to the business needs of its customers and accelerate further Group-wide integration. As the platform is based on a private cloud, it can quickly be extended around the world," stated Makoto Ogamino, Head of the IT Strategies Unit.

Fujitsu began work last year on a private cloud as a communications platform that would be capable of quickly unifying the company globally. The new platform was built using Fujitsu products and services, as well as those provided by global partners Microsoft and Cisco Systems. The new platform is already in partial deployment inside Fujitsu, and by April 2012 will be extended to all group companies in Japan, with a roll-out to all group companies worldwide by fiscal 2013.

Fujitsu will begin offering services, based on its internal project, to other global companies starting today. The first step will be to target Japanese companies conducting business internationally and will encompass end-to-end services ranging from system investigations to construction and operations.

"The communication platform solution is designed to deliver externally what Fujitsu actually uses internally. We are rolling this solution out around the globe as we move forward with it ourselves. Fujitsu is leveraging the experience of this project to benefit our customers," stated Cameron McNaught, Senior Vice President Cloud of Fujitsu.