A couple of days ago Pandora Networks unveiled Worksmart, an on-demand IP-
communications solution for small-to-medium sized businesses. Pandora Networks actually applied for the TMC Labs Innovation Awards (and won, publiished in July & August) as well as gave me an exclusive sneak preview of their solution before "officially" launching. I have a recorded interview with Pandora Networks from last week and was planning to transcribe some of the interesting highlights and then blogging it here.

I was thinking I may get permission from Pandora to include the interview as a VoIP Blog Podcast, but there was one section that they told me "off the record". So I either have to edit that part out or just transcribe some of the interesting quotes.

Unfortunately, I've been quite busy with some really major stuff going on (more on that in a few days), so I haven't had time to transcribe the interview. But I really wanted to point out Pandora Networks' solution to my regular blog readers. It is a very interesting hosted communications solution worth checking out. They also gave me a demo account, so I hope to write a review on it either here in my blog or for Internet Telephony Magazine. Maybe both.

In any case, although a press release is by no means a substitute for my in-depth interview, it will have to do for now.

Pandora Networks Unveils Worksmart(TM) -- First, Complete, On Demand IP Communications(TM) Solution for Small to Medium Sized Businesses

New Solution Allows Small and Medium Sized Business IT Managers to Provision Departments and Workgroups with Widest Variety of Integrated Communications Services Available

Pandora Networks, (http://www.pandoranetworks.com) the leading provider of On Demand IP Communications(TM) services, today unveiled Worksmart(TM), (http://www.worksmartcentral.com) the first, complete, IP communications solution designed for small and medium sized businesses (SMB). Worksmart empowers SMB IT Managers to immediately provision departments and workgroups with the widest variety of integrated IP telephony, video, collaboration and instant messaging communications services available.

"While there were many companies that offered various siloed features of our product line, we recognized that no company offered an all inclusive, integrated suite for a fixed monthly cost, nor was anyone deploying IP communications with 'On Demand' self-provisioning capability," said Walter Snell, chief executive officer and founder of Pandora Networks. "After four years of SIP based development, Pandora Networks is addressing the SMB market with the first, complete On Demand IP Communications suite that will eliminate the need for SMBs to purchase point solutions that cost significantly more and lack the benefits of an integrated offering."

Worksmart is the only On Demand communications service that enables SMB IT Managers to provision communications and collaboration services including: traditional and IP telephony service with virtual IP-PBX and ACD functionality, private and public instant messaging, web based presentation, collaboration and conferencing, web based contact center and many other services from a browser in a matter of minutes to any of their offices and personnel worldwide.

Pandora has already signed numerous resellers in markets covering healthcare, retail, hospitality, telemarketing, and government. Pandora's Worksmart service can be marketed under the Worksmart brand, co-brand, or as a private label. Pandora's telemarketing vertical alone is projected to generate over 1 billion minutes of IP Telephony traffic per year. Current channel partners include MedXConnect, QuorumTech, Telbon Communications, and Pioneer Communications.

Already, Pandora's On Demand IP Communications solutions have received technical and customer acclaim. Technology Marketing Corporation's TMC Labs division recently named Worksmart as a 2005 Innovation Award winner from INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine. The award was based upon the uniqueness of Pandora Network's offering as well as how pioneering the service is.

"Pandora Networks has clearly demonstrated to the staff of TMC Labs that Worksmart, a leading On Demand IP Communications solution is truly innovative in the burgeoning VoIP/IP telephony industry," said Rich Tehrani, Group Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of INTERNET TELEPHONY. Tehrani continued, "Worksmart provides a level of flexibility and affordability virtually unavailable to the SMB customer."

Worksmart is available at http://www.worksmartcentral.com.

About Pandora Networks

Founded in 2001, Pandora Networks is the leading provider of On Demand IP Communications(TM) that provides an all inclusive, integrated suite of services for a fixed monthly cost including: traditional and IP telephony with Virtual PBX and ACD functionality, audio, video and web based conferencing and collaboration, and private and public instant messaging tailored to meet the unique business and budget needs of the small to medium sized business (SMB) market. Pandora Networks' Worksmart(TM) (http://www.worksmartcentral.com) service offers an alternative to expensive telecommunications and data software and hardware point solutions that are too complex and expensive for the SMB. Sold under the Worksmart brand, co-branded or private labeled, Worksmart is sold exclusively through indirect channels via service providers, value added resellers and agents. For more information, please visit (www.pandoranetworks.com). The Company is headquartered in Emeryville, California.