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Grubb & Ellis Management Services Deploys Microsoft Office Communicator Mobile to Enhance Service Delivery

Posted on: Wednesday, 5 April 2006, 12:00 CDT

NORTHBROOK, Ill., April 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Grubb & Ellis Company , a leading provider of integrated real estate services, today announced it has been successfully using Microsoft Office Communicator Mobile at Microsoft Corporation's Redmond, Wash., headquarters campus to both enhance service delivery and increase the productivity of its account management teams and field technicians.

"Grubb & Ellis Company is committed to leveraging technology to allow us to better serve our clients," said Michael Groppi, Senior Vice President and National Director of Engineering for Grubb & Ellis Management Services. "We were already utilizing Windows-mobile based devices at the Redmond campus, and this technology is a natural enhancement to the gains we are beginning to see from these devices. Our relationship with Microsoft uniquely positions us to utilize this state-of-art technology and provide feedback to Microsoft that will likely benefit many of our facilities management clients over the long- term."

Microsoft's Redmond headquarters is an extensive campus that includes approximately 87 buildings totaling in excess of 9.2 million square feet.

Communicator Mobile extends the reach of Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005's capabilities to Windows-mobile based devices. This uncovers new mobile scenarios for information workers such as on-premise instant messaging and presence, remote access to Live Communications Server systems over mobile phone networks and remote access to enterprise collaboration resources from Wi-Fi hot spots or home networks.

Groppi said, before Communicator Mobile, if a technician were out in the field and needed subject matter expertise on a particular project or maintenance process on a real time basis, it could be very difficult to track someone down for assistance. Now field technicians simply activate Communicator Mobile on their device, look for who's available and then can IM or call that person immediately.

"Communicator Mobile's integration with Live Communications Server provides information workers with the advantages of rich presence information and security-enhanced, enterprise-grade IM for their mobile solutions," said Marc Sanders, Senior Product Manager, Unified Communications Group, Microsoft. "We are excited that Grubb & Ellis is enjoying the benefits of Communicator Mobile. The Communicator client is a key component of Microsoft's platform and vision for unified communications, putting people at the center and enabling information workers to have access to real-time communications capabilities virtually anytime, anywhere, on any device."

Communicator Mobile can be added via a simple download to a technician's handheld device and will give field staff an additional, powerful, communications tool. Communicator Mobile will provide the technicians with the ability to view the availability of critical management and technical resources and communicate with them via instant messaging. This communications capability is expected to speed problem resolution, streamline approvals and further increase the account team's productivity.

Grubb & Ellis Company

Grubb & Ellis Company is one of the world's leading full-service commercial real estate organizations, providing a complete range of transaction, management and consulting services. By leveraging local expertise with our global reach, Grubb & Ellis offers innovative, customized solutions and seamless service to owners, corporate occupants and investors throughout the globe. For more information, visit the Company's Web site at http://www.grubb-ellis.com/ .

Grubb & Ellis Company

CONTACT: Janice McDill of Grubb & Ellis Company, +1-847-753-7678,janice.mcdill@grubb-ellis.com

Web site: http://www.grubb-ellis.com/

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/136726.html

Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall

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