November 14, 2007
NETMARKS INC.
NETMARKS to Offer Communication Tool in SaaS Form
- 15,000 Users at Kanto Gakuin University to Start Using Service Next Spring -
NETMARKS, INC. (Moto-Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Atsushi Ohashi; "NETMARKS") has developed a service named "PeacePlanet Mail 2.0 Service" under which it will offer a communication tool incorporating Web2.0*1 technology in SaaS*2 form. The new service is based on an AJAX*3-compatible Web 2.0-type collaboration software from American firm Zimbra, Inc. and provides an environment that allows the management of e-mail, schedules and documents, etc. over the Internet, via a Web browser. The SaaS format of the service also means that user companies do not need to have their own e-mail or groupware systems but can select the functions they require, as necessary, from among the functions provided by Zimbra products. Moreover, e-mail and other data are managed centrally by NETMARKS on a 24-hour/365 day basis, preventing information leaks due to loss or theft of PCs. The PeacePlanet Mail 2.0 Service is due to be launched in April 2008. NETMARKS has already received an order from Kanto Gakuin University, which is expected to bring in some 15,000 users including current students, teaching staff and former students. NETMARKS received the assistance of Zimbra and Sumitomo Corporation in securing the contract.
Traditionally, many enterprises and schools have operated separate systems for e-mail, schedule management, document management, etc., a fact that has made it difficult to reduce the burden on system managers. Moreover, when logging into systems, users have had to enter an ID and password separately for each system rather than using a single ID and password across the board. The new service will offer an integrated communication tool that links the various systems in SaaS form.
Kanto Gakuin University's aim in selecting the service was to stimulate communication between students and teaching staff or between student and student, and centralize the individual systems that it uses to communicate information about lectures, make announcements, etc. The university plans to use the service as a basis for the future development and expansion of communication tools that are easy for anyone to use anywhere and at any time.
Hiroshi Murakami, head of the Kanto Gakuin University Information Science Center, comments on the adoption of the new service as follows:
"Our main reasons for choosing NETMARKS' service include the fact that it allows e-mail systems to be integrated with existing authentication systems, that it can be linked in a flexible manner with applications within and outside the university, and that it offers a wealth of data management and security functions. We believe NETMARKS will make smooth progress with the introduction of the service on a full-scale basis from April 2008 and, in its capacity as an integrator, will propose systems tailored to the university's needs."
Prices start at \800,000 yen/month (excluding tax) for 1,000 users. NETMARKS aims to sell 50,000 licenses (worth approximately \400 million) in the first 12 months, targeting education-related organizations and business enterprises.
*1: Web 2.0
Collective name for Web-related technologies, website services, etc. based on new concepts
*2: SaaS (Software as a Service)
Service by which the functions of software, etc. are provided to users over the Internet on demand
*3: AJAX
Abbreviation of Asynchronous + JavaScript + XML; a method for the development of Web applications that use XMLHttpRequest with JavaScript, communicate with the server asynchronously with the loading of the page as a whole and use dynamic HTML to rewrite only the necessary parts of the page.
About Kanto Gakuin University
Kanto Gakuin University began life as the Baptist Theological Seminary of Yokohama, founded in the Yamate district of Yokohama in 1884. In 1949, the seminary became Kanto Gakuin University and today has 5 undergraduate school and 5 research departments spread across three campuses at Kanazawa Hakkei (main campus), Kanazawa Bunko and Odawara.
http://univ.kanto-gakuin.ac.jp/
*All brand names and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
*Prices and services name,start dates for shipment may change without notice.
[Press contact]
Market Communication Department NETMARKS INC.
Tel: +81-3-3423-5782 E-Mail: press@netmarks.co.jp
