This month, Gisual, which markets a web tool of the same name and an API that helps  telecommunications companies reduce mean-time-to-repair by diagnosing  off-network outages and providing accurate restoration times, announced that  they have joined the Microsoft for Startups program.
The partners note the increasing demand for highly reliable  connectivity and ever-expanding, interconnected networks requires  telecommunications companies to redefine how to diagnose off-network outages  and acquire precision restoration times.  To aid in this effort, Gisual’s business will run on Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform, providing value throughout the Microsoft ecosystem.
Tom Ayling, CEO at Gisual, said the move to a cloud platform provider was a natural progression for his company and one his customers had suggested. He added that Microsoft Azure was a natural choice, given the platform's reach as well as the expectation that, as part of the Microsoft for Startups program, he'll be able to collaborate with his new partner to create and deploy additional features and capabilities that will expand Gisual's ability to diagnose off-net outages. He declined to reveal what those additional features might be.
Ayling added that the alliance also should expand his customer base, with Microsoft connecting him to potential new customers and new markets. For example, Gisual has begun pilot projects internationally; the company previously was focused on the U.S.
"Microsoft is pleased about the future  Gisual is building and we're going to help them get there faster," said  Tom Davis, senior director of Microsoft for Startups. "Telecommunications  networks are impacted with outages on a daily basis and the technology that  Gisual is providing telecommunication companies with will have an impact on  their end-customers’ everyday lives."
Gisual is available here (https://gisual.com/freetrial) to learn  more about the ways Gisual can provide outage intelligence in cable and ISP operations.