Telstra is working its way further into the mobile app market. The telecom company said it is partnering with three business app providers – Digitalinc, Canvas and GeoOP – to its T-Suite range of apps. Telstra expects to add more apps in the future. The apps will be available for subscription on a month-to-month basis.
Telstra’s initiative on the mobile front is a result of strong demand from businesses for traditional software from its T-Suite products. T-Suite, for example, offers a variety of software ranging from Microsoft Office 365 to cloud services and antivirus software. With rapidly growing mobile use among office workers, Telstra’s move is a logical one.
“With the rapid uptake of smartphones and tablets, it makes sense to provide dedicated business apps that can streamline customer or staff interactions,” said
Will Irving, group managing director of Telstra Business.
“Many consumers have embraced the power of apps to make their lives easier – especially while on the move. For most people they have been more about personal life than work or their business,” he said. “With the power of the latest smartphones and 4G mobility there is now real scope for businesses of all sizes to make much more use of apps to make doing business easier and free up valuable time.”
Telstra’s early offerings are:
Digitalinc’s ARISapp: The iPhone app allows businesses to provide access to specific content and tools to their employees. ARISapp is available at $25 per user per month.
Canvas: This app replaces paper forms with digital ones on compatible devices. Customers can also add electronic signatures, GPS location and photographs to create a multi-featured tool to improve the productivity of their mobile staff. Canvas works on Android, Blackberry, iPhone, iPad, Windows/Mac Desktop and is available at $20 per user per month.
GeoOP: This mobile workforce management application is compatible on iOS and Android devices. Users can create and dispatch, schedule, complete and invoice jobs. Workers can also update status of jobs, attach photos and customer signatures, import parts lists and more. GeoOP costs $20 per user per month.
Telstra is offering a 30-day free offer for subscribers’ first orders, (up to 499 licences for Canvas and 399 licences for ARISapp).
Is this the start of a new distribution partner for app developers? Will the other telcos follow?
