COLT's enterprise cloud platform consists of a range of services that will be rolled-out throughout 2009, starting with COLT Managed Workspace. This service provides genuine access to 'on-demand', remote desktop applications including Office, Sharepoint, Visio, Project, Messaging and Blackberry. The service will be available across Europe from July 2009.



COLT's enterprise cloud platform will be further enhanced through the launch of COLT's Cloud Infrastructure Services utilising virtualised servers on a shared or dedicated infrastructure with server based storage and backup. The third planned offering is COLT's Managed Application Services providing customers access to shared and dedicated resources that can offer guaranteed performance via application service level agreements. All services will be available to customers by the end of 2009 and offer best in class flexibility and security enabling customers to retain control of their strategy and focus on their core business with confirmation that their IT environment is running efficiently and their data is secure.



While virtualisation of network, storage and computing power is key to the provisioning of enterprise cloud, these services are not purely about technology. COLT offers guaranteed performance-related service levels and contract terms as flexible as the services provided - supported by specially crafted pricing models that include predictable, usage-based options.



Maggy McClelland, Managing Director of COLT Managed Services said, "For years the CIO has had to balance asset ownership with providing flexibility and innovation to the organisation. Enterprise cloud computing is now enabling that balance to tip in favour of cost-efficiency and innovation.



"From a service provider's perspective, owning dynamically assignable assets in the form of infrastructure, data centres and especially network gives us clear long-term advantage. Our customers can be sure their critical datata and applications are secure in our data centres. Ownership of the network also allows us to provide end-to-end management capabilities which are second to none - and we can deliver customer-specific, relevant, end-to-end service level agreements."



"By offering reliability and high-end performance our new services provide European businesses with a strong competitive advantage. We believe technology should be an enabler to success and should work seamlessly in the background to allow our customers to get on and do what they do best - run their business. It is this belief that underpinned our investment in the new COLT enterprise cloud platform. We can now deliver these new services across Europe and provide a fantastic customer experience."