Laszlo moves beyond WebMail, targets providers with apps, VoIP

Internet rich-application vendor Laszlo Systems today released a new version of its Web 2.0 Desktop app, including a version specifically targeted at service providers.

Also today, Laszlo announced a partnership with voice-over-IP softphone-maker CounterPath Solutions to integrate VoIP calling into its Webtop, further targeting communications providers.

Laszlo’s Web 2.0 Desktop, known as Webtop, offers service providers a prebuilt architecture and set of applications — including integrated Web-based e-mail, messaging, contact, calendar and other apps — that service providers can private-label and offer to their subscribers. For instance, Verizon is offering Laszlo’s WebMail application to its broadband customers. (Read a review of the application or listen to a podcast with the Verizon messaging product manager.)

The new Webtop includes integrated Laszlo Mail, new APIs to let developers more rapidly integrate applications, and new options for adding advertising. An evaluation copy of the software can be found at www.laszlosystems.com/go/webtop.

In addition to the new features, Laszlo has released a version of the software specifically for service providers, including bundled Laszlo Mail and Contacts applications, as well as modules for adding content such as news, stocks, weather and productivity applications.

Among the apps now available to be integrated is softphone-based VoIP calling, which Laszlo built with CounterPath Solutions. The voice calling application is integrated with the Webtop’s existing mail and contacts applications, all of which operate inside a browser-based interface. The VoIP phone supports industry-standard SIP protocol-based calling, Laszlo said.