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Mitel Support Q&A Regarding its Purchase of Toshiba

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With Toshiba’s surprise exit from the telecom market, Mitel has stepped in, acquiring Toshiba Telecom’s assets and support obligations. The deal has been completed. To keep you informed on Mitel’s obligations, here are answers to some frequently asked questions.

Watch the video: Mitel VP Mike Conlon talks about the Toshiba acquisition

What you need to know now…

1. Who is Mitel?
Mitel is a global market leader in UC and collaboration solutions, serving more than 60 million business users in more than 100 countries. Mitel supports the communication needs of the smallest business to the largest enterprises – both in the cloud and on premises.

2. What exactly has Mitel acquired from Toshiba?
Mitel acquired certain assets, inventory, and support obligations from Toshiba’s unified communications business, specifically:

  • IPedge platform (premises-based IP PBX and IP phones)
  • Strata CIX communications platform (digital hybrid solution)
  • VIPedge platform (cloud version of IPedge)
  • Associated peripherals and applications

The transaction also includes an agreement to provide product and service continuity. To accomplish this, a number of key Toshiba sales, support, and R&D employees have joined Mitel to serve existing Toshiba customers and partners.

3. What changes should customers expect and when?
It is business as usual for Toshiba customers and partners. Continue to follow the same processes as before with respect to service, support, and fulfillment for Toshiba products.

Any changes to products, programs, or processes resulting from the acquisition will be communicated to you by PhoneAmerica well in advance.

4. Are my current contracts with Toshiba still valid?
Yes, contracts will remain valid. Mitel is now responsible for fulfilling all contracts immediately.

5. Will my warranties still be in effect?
Yes, and this includes the SUS (Software Upgrade and Support) plan. And Mitel is now accepting extended warranties.

6. Will any service quality/policies change?
No. Mitel is as committed as Toshiba in delivering quality products and services to its partners and customers. You can expect the same or better quality of support from Mitel.

7. Will Toshiba inventory levels remain the same?
Inventory levels fluctuate with all businesses; however, Mitel is confident it can ensure continuity of supply for the foreseeable future.

8. Will quotes I received on Toshiba solutions still be honored?
Yes, if they are backed by Toshiba or an accredited partner.

Going forward…

As a Toshiba customer, why should you consider staying with PhoneAmerica and Mitel for the long term?
Mitel is enabling Toshiba customers to not only extend the life of their products but also to make a graceful transition to next-generation technologies, with access to Mitel’s entire line of premises, hybrid, and cloud-based platforms and applications.

As a major global player in the unified communications and collaboration industry, Mitel is a well-established, stable business. The company has a strong vision, mission, and customer-first focus, and it is investing heavily in technology for the future with new products and technologies in the pipeline.

As you assess your next steps, we’re confident you’ll want to continue to work with PhoneAmerica. Our team has a proven reputation for high performance and decades of stability. Together, PhoneAmerica and Mitel will ensure your Toshiba system is supported now and in the future.

Please contact us today if you have any questions: (610) 296-2850 or creimel@phoneam.com.

 

Why SIP Trunks Are Becoming a Popular Phone Line Replacement

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SIP Trunks are becoming a popular replacement for traditional phone lines because they offer cost savings, flexibility and features…

  • On top of unlimited nationwide calling – including Canada – you can save up to 40% on your monthly phone bill.
  • You can also transfer calls between your locations and/or enable advanced call routing features.
  • Automatic call failover to a mobile phone or other number if you experience a power outage or disruption.

More advantages…

  • Nationwide support for all your office locations.
  • Get local phone numbers for every office location and SIP supports centralized call handling for multiple sites.
  • Leverage your SIP bandwidth to eliminate the need for separate voice and data circuits.
  • Centralized billing for multi-location businesses.

Let PhoneAmerica show you a better way to connect your business and lower your phone bills with SIP Trunks. We’ll tally the projected savings and manage the implementation details for you. Contact us today at (610) 296-2850.

 

It’s Your Call… Cloud, Premises or Hybrid

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Phone systems have traditionally been deployed at a company location, but today the popularity of the cloud makes it a compelling choice.  Many multi-site businesses have chosen a combination of both – a hybrid deployment consisting of a premises system at headquarters and the cloud for branch offices and home workers. Voice over IP (VoIP) enables all sites to be interconnected, providing a simplified dialing plan and consistent feature set across all locations under central management.

Premises

There are sound reasons why premises phone systems are still favored by many businesses…

  • Control – Companies that have a long history of buying and managing their own IT systems may like the control that comes with running technology in-house. For them, a premises voice solution might make the most sense.
  • Functionality – If a business needs customized voice features, requires integration with other applications, or wants advanced contact center capabilities, a premises solution might deliver more flexibility.
  • Compliance requirements – If an organization is under pressure to achieve uninterrupted communications to satisfy customers, or is under a strict regulatory requirement to do so, a premises system may be the best fit.
  • Expense strategy – If a company prefers to make capital investments for infrastructure and depreciate the costs over time, a premises voice solution can be the most advantageous over the long haul.

Cloud

The cloud can be a good fit for small to mid-sized businesses or an enterprise that needs to connect smaller, remote offices…

  • Predictable costs – Cloud voice solutions eliminate the need for an upfront investment in hardware. Costs become an operational expense and are predictable because they are based on the number of users.
  • Rapid deployment – IT staff is not needed to buy, install and configure systems, servers and storage. A company orders only what it needs now without having to overbuy to accommodate uncertain future demand.
  • Simplicity – With voice-as-a-service, maintenance and support are simplified, and upgrades are automatic. When users pick up the phone, they have the latest version of system hardware and software.
  • Pay as you go – Whether a business is growing or needs to scale down quickly, a cloud service can easily adapt to changing needs. Peak demand can be instantly accommodated for functions like conferencing or for temporary seasonal growth, then scaled back as needs change.

Hybrid

Today businesses have the flexibility of deploying a voice communications system either on location or hosted in the cloud – or combining both as a hybrid solution to exploit the best of both worlds. Whatever the choice, VoIP networking makes it all possible and manageable.

PhoneAmerica can help you determine the solution that’s right for your business. Contact your Account Executive or the Sales Dept. at sales@phoneam.com or call 610-296-2850, Option 2.

What is 5G, and Why Should You Care?

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You may have heard some buzz lately about 5G network capability. As technologies like virtual reality systems and home automation devices continue to become more innovative and advanced, we will require a new way for mobile devices to get online. That’s where 5G networks come in. As the next mobile network standard, 5G will provide users with faster network access and more robust coverage areas, providing a more seamless experience for mobile device users.

Though this may be exciting for consumers who can’t wait to get their hands on the latest gadgets or integrate their mobile devices into every part of their daily life, what about business owners? 5G network capability also has some exciting implications for businesses in a variety of industries. In this post, we’ll talk a little bit more about what 5G is and why businesses should be excited for the future of mobile.

What is 5G?

5G networks are expected to change the way we connect our devices to one another and the internet. Though 5G will not be available to consumers until 2020, many are excited about what this could mean for mobile capabilities. 5G will make it easier for users to connect and integrate everything from kitchen appliances to vehicles to medical devices, allowing for new advancements in the Internet of Things.

Not to mention, 5G networks are said to have speeds up to 100x faster than our current networks. This means that users can access, view, and share large amounts of data in a matter of moments. Though 5G network capabilities are still a few years away, this advancement in connectivity is expected to be a real game-changer for mobile.

How 5G Can Transform Business

Though 5G certainly has clear implications for the average consumer, you may be wondering, how can 5G benefit business? The introduction of 5G networks in 2020 will create huge opportunities for brands across a variety of industries. Mobile and wireless connections are critical to the way that modern companies function, and 5G networks will expand business capabilities by increasing the speed, capacity, and connectivity of mobile devices.

But don’t take our work for it. A report by Forbes Insights found that many global business leaders worry that their needs are outpacing what existing networks can provide. In fact, more than one-third of all executives that participated in the survey reported that their current systems are already unable to support the evolving needs of their business. More than 80% of executives surveyed believe that 5G technologies will have positive effects on many aspects of their business including customer experience, employee productivity, and the quality of their product or service.

Now that you know more about how 5G will impact business, you can start to prepare for the future and get the most out of these mobile capabilities. If you want to learn more about the latest trends and news in the telecom industry, visit our blog here.

Top 2017 Telecom Trends (And What They Mean for Your Business)

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As 2017 approaches, now is the time to consider what is ahead for the telecom industry. Understanding predicted trends and what they may mean for your business can help you better anticipate important changes or shifts in the industry. By staying ahead of the curve, you can work to adopt new technologies and find the right telecom services for your business to promote growth and success in the new year. 

Telecom Trends for 2017

Though there is no way to say for sure what 2017 will bring, we can work to predict telecommunications industry trends in the year to come. Here are just a few of the telecom trends that may impact your business in 2017:

5G development will increase.

In the new year, 5G development is set to continue and even increase as the telecom industry starts laying the groundwork for 5G networks. Many telecom companies across the globe have already developed 5G architecture, and many more are working to do the same. In addition, there will also be continued interest in 5G development from other industries such as transportation and energy as more and more industries are starting to see the potential that 5G has to transform the way they deliver services and goods.

Many of the companies that have already started developing 5G architecture are now aiming to start field testing in 2017. This means that the new year may provide one of the first opportunities for commercial offerings during widespread 5G trials.

Mobile connectivity will continue to outpace hardline connectivity.

Even when landline connectivity is an option, more people globally will opt for mobile connectivity. This is because mobile is often more useful, less expensive, and more convenient than hardline connectivity.

As we move into 2017, this trend will continue with more people opting for mobile. Businesses that want to remain competitive in the global marketplace will need to consider the implications of this trend. As more consumers worldwide move toward mobile, businesses will need to respond with more mobile-friendly (or even mobile-first) communications. This not only impacts direct communication but also marketing and advertising techniques.

There will be more holistic network security.

In 2016, there were many data breaches and network compromises that made it clear that network operators need to start protecting more than just the data transfers. In later 2016, more network operators started introducing business-wide encryption as they realized that their software-defined infrastructure is as vulnerable to attacks as the data transferred over their systems.

In 2017, we will start to see more holistic network security. This is important in light of EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Network operators need to deploy their GDPR solutions by early 2018 to ensure compliance.

Now that you know what you might expect from the telecommunications industry in 2017, it is time to start planning for the new year. If you need help deciding which telecommunications products and services are right for you, we would love to help. Contact us today for more information about how your business may be impacted by these telecom trends.