Level 3 takes Amazon Chime worldwide

Amazon is encroaching on Microsoft and Cisco stomping grounds

Network company Level 3 Communications has launched Amazon Chime as a managed service; traditionally an area for Microsoft's Skype for Business or Cisco's WebEx.

Chime is Amazon Web Services' unified communications tool, used for video conferencing, instant messaging, VoIP and content sharing. Its reach is smaller than those from Microsoft or Cisco, with support for up to 100 simultaneous users in a meeting; but AWS is keen to promote the app's noise-cancelling technology and lack of ongoing maintenance or management fees.

Amazon Chime delivered by Level 3 is a vendor-managed unified communications solution, running on AWS and with customer support provided by Level 3. Customers have the option of taking it on a pay-as-you-go basis, without contracts.

Carlin Wiegner, general manager of Amazon Chime at AWS, said, "AWS and Level 3 have a solid track record of working together to provide solutions to businesses... As an Advanced Partner in the AWS Partner Network, Level 3 is well suited to participate with us to deliver Amazon Chime."

Level 3 has launched the service in EMEA and North America now, aiming to leverage AWS's existing enterprise customer base.

Despite its reach, Amazon simply cannot compete in the crowded UC market by itself, and needs partners. Level 3 is only the latest to work with Chime; Vonage launched a service shortly after Chime was announced in February.

Amazon acquired the Chime technology through its acquisition of Biba last year, although there has been some criticism of the move - and the service.