Rakuten Communications Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Japanese internet service provider Rakuten Inc., and U.K. cloud communications provider Content Guru Ltd. entered a strategic partnership to roll out a new cloud contact center platform called "connect storm" in Japan, according to a Feb. 20 news release.

The cloud-based solution will let businesses communicate with customers through channels like SMS, web chat, email, voice and social media within a single interface for call center agents. It will be launched at the TechMatrix CRM Forum in Tokyo on Feb. 23.

Content Guru said it will also set up an office in the Japanese city in the first quarter of 2018 to support the partnership.