Gric goes mobile

Gric Communications today announced several of the details of its first mobile solution that lets users collaborate around the world across the Gric network.

The Gric MobileOffice builds off partnerships with Internet Security Systems Nortel Networks and WebEx Communications and lets users access new applications via the Gric MobileOffice Client. As part of its alliance with WebEx, Gric is now offering Gric Meeting, an online collaboration service that connects users over Gric’s access network, which now has 300 service provider partners in more than 150 countries.

The company also is rolling out a security solution with integrated VPN support from Nortel combined with intrusion detection, firewall and auto-teardown functionality from Internet Security System.

The new applications represent a first for Gric, which had previously focused most of its efforts on the IP telephony market.

“While the voice-over-IP business had a great deal of scale, we realized that it was not an option for us over a long haul because it was impossible to build a business of scale,” said Dick Rossi, senior manager of marketing communications. “We then started looking at the larger picture. The conclusion was that more mobile workers are finding it more difficult to work outside the confines of the campus or facility.”

Gric plans to market its latest offerings through a variety of wireless carriers including those operating in the 802.11b space. Wayport, for instance, already is a member of the Gric alliance and has started offering service.

“Wayport has 350-400 access points in North America,” said Rossi. “The vast majority of those are in airports or in lobbying and ticketing areas or in hotels. We wanted to set up a relationship based on that footprint.”