Cisco launches cloud email service

Cisco is making its move into the cloud email market with the launch of its new WebEx Mail.

The announcement came as part of a list of new products from the networking giant at its Collaboration Summit being held this week in San Jose, California.

Cisco's WebEx Mail is a business-focused hosted email solution. It is compatible with Microsoft Outlook as well as supporting mobile devices. It is also scalable to help with the data growth.

The company has been able to create this new offering thanks to its acquisition of email and collaboration server company PostPath.

"Cisco WebEx Mail is on-demand, highly available, and designed to free IT departments from the burden of email infrastructure management and operation," the company said in a statement.

Matt Cain, research vice president at Gartner told IT PRO Cisco was entering the market at a time when competition is heavy with Gmail, IBM and Microsoft all with their own offerings.

"The company is anxious to be a participant in the fast-growing market for cloud-based application services to buttress its overall longterm growth prospects," he said.

"While there is significant market opportunity, Cisco will be challenged to clearly articulate the benefits of WebEx Mail to overcome enterprise concerns over its lack of email market experience."

WebEx Mail is only available in the US and Canada at the moment but a UK launch date is expected soon.

In addition to hosted email, Cisco has added to its TelePresence portfolio with Cisco TelePresence WebEx Engage designed as a scheduling tool and Cisco TelePresence Directory a hosted directory of endpoints, organisations and people with access to Cisco TelePresence.