Tag Archive for: Unified Communications

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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.

 

Top 6 Reasons For Mobile Unified Communications Growth

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Mobile unified communications is becoming the hot topic in VoIP today. Let is see why.

Competition in the market is cut-throat these days. To make a difference in such competitive environment, you are left with little options but to embrace technology. Only technology can make things simpler and faster. If you are worried about communications, then unified communications (UC) is the best way to provide a solution. There are many reasons why UC technology is growing in popularity. Some of them being mobility, flexible access, and varied collaboration tools.

Now, UC can be premises-based or mobile based. It is found that mobile UC is more popular than premise based one. The primary reason for popularity is in the name itself, it is ‘mobile.’ Yes, as cloud-based UC gives freedom of movement to the executives, the demand for it is rising day by day. Let’s find out the reason why there is growth in Mobile Unified Communications.

#1 Power to the User

When you get certain privileges while working with varied tools, you will look for them everywhere. This is true for UC too. Professionals habituated with UC applications at their workplace will crave for them everywhere in other office locations, on the road, and at their home.

However, is it possible for enterprises based UC to give this support? The answer is NO. Technology based on Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) cannot support this as switching devices will not be possible.

On the other hand, in Mobile Unified Communications the systems are built around users and not devices. So, wherever you go if you have access to the internet available there you can use your systems to do anything that you do while sitting right at your office desk.

#2 On-Premises UC Is Complex Than Cloud UC

As already mentioned, onsite UC is developed on Session Initiation Protocol. Thus, it is built on devices. There is a different functionality of each device that has to be managed by professionals. It is more complex that cloud-based UC as there everything is delivered after completing things on the cloud. Your concern does not have to think about the complex procedure of maintaining and managing each device. You just need to use the features from Mobile Unified Communications.

#3 On-site UC is Costly

This is true that with the help of UC businesses can improve their performance a lot. However, with that, they need to have a strong IT team who will manage the intricacies of on-site UC devices. Moreover, as technology will bring about new enhancements of the present devices, you need to change them to keep an updated system. This will increase the capital investment. In comparison to this when you use mobile Unified Communications as Software as a Service you do not have to do all this. Just pay the subscription amount and the services are there at your fingertips.

#4 Manage All Communications Online

Another benefit derived from mobile Unified Communications is that it allows managing all the communications online. Different SaaS provider has their IT staffs that are controlling the Web portals. So, when you are using it if you face any problem, it can be managed online. You do not have to wait for hardware engineers to take action. Just lock your complaint online and get the thing done.

#5 Risk Of Downtime Is Minimized

Has disruptive downtime caused huge business losses? Now, as mobile Unified Communications is cloud based you can have the risk of downtime minimized. This is because you can secure access via any device. Thus, the moment someone or other finds fault can ask the vendor to check it. Things are done immediately. As the end user, you are benefitted as you do not have to wait till the system is corrected.

#6 Faster, Cheaper Access To Advanced Features

Another and most important reason of growth in mobile Unified Communications is faster access to advanced features. With mobile UC, you can get access to conferencing, messaging, presence, phone instantly. Thus, you do not have to wait to reach your desk and complete the task! Just use then while moving.

About PhoneAM

At Phone America, we have the knowledge and experience to prepare a blueprint for your shift to VoIP. Call us today and we will guide you through the whole process.

Phone America Corporation is a leading supplier of advanced telecom systems for small and large businesses. We serve as a single point of contact for today’s growing communication needs, offering a wide range of telephone equipment, wiring, surveillance systems, telephone cost accounting systems, and voice processing systems.

Call (800) 836-3601 for a free evaluation of your current system and the system you will need to carry your business into the FUTURE.

Unified Communications And VoIP

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Unified CommunicationsPrior to learning about the role of Unified Communication in an effective VoIP set up, let us get acquainted with the term UC or Unified Communications.

Unified Communications (UC), which is also at times referred to as Unified Messaging (UM), is a technology that integrates different types of communication networks like voice mails, emails, instant messaging, faxes, video conferencing, etc. into a common interface and repository.

Now this technology can be implemented in a number of ways in a particular business organization. In its rudimentary form, the technology provides a feasible way of accessing various modes of communication. Each of these communication modes is unique in its own way, with a number of features that come to the aide of the users. However, more sophisticated communication technology provides more advanced and value added features that only improve the functionality in a number of ways.

When it comes to implementing Unified Communication, it does not ask for VoIP. A regular telephone system can be used, as VoIP by default comes up with mechanisms that include FMFW or Find Me Follow Me functionality, and a number of other features that are used in a typical Unified Communication system.

Using Unified Communications in a Business Environment

Unified Communications has made a valiant headway into the world of enterprise fraternity. Its effects are more visible in the enterprise business community, though SMBs have also started using it. This is because it not only simplifies the life of the end users, it also comes in handy when it comes to reducing the cost of running a small scale business. Also, it makes the issue of communication less cumbersome, thus affecting the use of VoIP in a great way. Moreover, with more and more availability of the technology, the cost if its implementation is getting lesser and lesser, making the VoIP based UC more acceptable to the small scale businesses.

Some of the fundamental features of Unified Communications system are that it can increase productivity, especially when it comes to businesses that depend on constant communication with customers, partners and vendors 24×7, thus increasing the efficacy of the VoIP by many folds.

Unified Communications Features that help VoIP

  • Use of the same interface as well as device for accessing emails and faxes, voice mails and the likes.
  • Option that helps to set priorities on messages and callers, so that the end users are able to retrieve high priority messages and take actions promptly and accordingly.
  • Help to response to a particular message quickly without having the exit the messaging system. It also helps to forward a particular message to another recipient within a single call.
  • Send single or multiple voice messages in the form of email attachments to a single or multiple users. There is also the option of setting up an automatic call or message forwarding options so that a designated person will always get a copy of the message or mail of the recipient by default.
  • Sending messages to more than one person by making a single call.
  • Use of text-to-speech translation to help end users read the email messages over phone.
  • Answering to email messages from by dictating over phone.
  • Use of text-to-speech translation to enable reading of email messages over phone.
  • Access fax messages over phone and forward the same to others by attaching them with emails.
  • Another very effective feature of a typical Unified Communications system that helps VoIP is its ability to track and trace the location of a user wherever the individual is available at a particular phone number.

Hence, the growing use and adoption of VoIP technology has brought in a revolution in the world of telecommunication in the business fraternity and the Unified Collaboration or UC is a substantial force, which helps to drive this adoption of VoIP in the business fraternity.

About PhoneAM

At PhoneAM, we have the knowledge and experience to prepare a blueprint for your shift to VoIP. Call us today and we will guide you through the whole process.

PhoneAmerica Corporation is a leading supplier of advanced telecommunication systems for small and large business environments. A total service company, PhoneAmerica serves as a single point of contact for today’s growing communication needs, offering a wide range of telephone equipment, wiring, surveillance systems, telephone cost accounting systems, and voice processing systems.

Please call (800) 836-3601 for a free evaluation of your current system and the system you will need to carry your business into the FUTURE.

5 Reasons Why Your Business Should Be Transitioned to VoIP

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Business CommunicationVoIP has completely changed the way we communicate as it not only saves a lot of money but even improve the performance of businesses. The cloud based telephone system is a winner all the way because it comes with loads of benefits and features. If you are still apprehensive about the idea of making a switch to the VoIP then here is a list of 5 compelling reasons to do so:

VoIP Cuts Communication Costs

This is probably the most debated benefit of VoIP communication systems. The patrons of VoIP believe that it can help businesses save a great amount of money. Telephone bills often go over the roof in case your business is expanding and your office employees are making numerous long distance or overseas calls. In a conventional PSTN telephone network, the calls are transmitted over the conventional telecommunication lines whereas VoIP just uses the existing internet connection to transmit the calls. This implies that you only pay for the internet usage and the calls are almost free. People using the same VoIP application like Gtalk or Skype can even make free calls (both national and international), which can helps companies save a lot of money.

VoIP Delivers Rich Media Service

The old telephone systems that we use offers only voice calls and fax service, which is quite limited when compared to the rich media services offered by VoIP. Some of the advanced media services that employees often demand are instant messaging, video/voice calls, image transfer and presence. VoIP is a technology that facilitates the integration of rich media services with different applications and protocols. The modern communication needs of businesses make it mandatory to use media services and only VoIP offers the option to users. Thus, in order to stay connected and enjoy smooth communication, it is imperative that businesses migrate to VoIP.

Mobility Is In-Built in VoIP

The phone number portability feature offered by VoIP gives mobility a huge boost. The users need not use their deskphones only and they can set up ringing of multiple phones before moving to the voicemail. Thus, callers will never really miss out and you too would be able to attend to all customer queries with ease. The best thing about the VoIP is that the numbers are portable and you can use your phone from anywhere as long as you can connect to your IP network. This offers a huge amount of flexibility to the workers who can make or receive calls even when they are not present at their desks.

VoIP is Scalable

The primary concern of every growing business is the scalability feature of their communication systems in order to accommodate more lines or users. VoIP is a highly scalable communication technology wherein you will be easily able to upgrade or downgrade the system as per your requirement. This is completely missing from the legacy business telephone systems as you will need to add more equipment and lines in order to accommodate more users. On the other hand when you are using VoIP, this can be achieved by simply subscribing for a higher package and using the administrative controls to add more numbers to the network.

VoIP Offer Advanced Telephony Features

VoIP communication systems come loaded with unbeatable advanced telephony features, which you will never find on the legacy telephone systems. Some of the advanced telephony features that you can expect to avail while using VoIP systems are Find me/Follow me Call Routing, Voicemail to Email transcription, Music on Hold, analytic reports on bandwidth utilization and call details (inbound and outbound), Call screening, Coaching tools, Auto Attendant, Conferencing, Do not Disturb etc.

It is really unwise to ignore all the benefits offered VoIP so every intelligent business owner will definitely move to the latest VoIP communication systems.

About PhoneAM

At PhoneAM, we have the knowledge and experience to prepare a blueprint for your shift to VoIP. Call us today and we will guide you through the whole process.

PhoneAmerica Corporation is a leading supplier of advanced telecommunication systems for small and large business environments. A total service company, PhoneAmerica serves as a single point of contact for today’s growing communication needs, offering a wide range of telephone equipment, wiring, surveillance systems, telephone cost accounting systems, and voice processing systems.

Please call (800) 836-3601 for a free evaluation of your current system and the system you will need to carry your business into the FUTURE.

New Unified Communications Solutions From Toshiba

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UCedge - Unified CommunicationsOne of the greatest utility of a VoIP or IP based business phone system is Unified Communication. UC allows you to use computer applications, data files, video, and other resources as part of your voice call. Till now, using Unified Communications required multiple resources on hand such a phone system, a computer, and log-in to servers and other databases.

Not any more. If you are using Toshiba’s IP, VIPedge, or the Strata CIX phone systems, your are truly mobile for all aspects of the modern IP based phone systems. Toshiba has introduced UCedge applications for Windows, iOS, and Android operating environments. Once installed, UCedge present a single and uniform user interface for you to access and use all the applications that reside on your Toshiba phone server – whether on-premise or on the cloud.

For more details on UCedge, please click here.

 

About PhoneAM

At PhoneAM, we have the knowledge and experience to prepare a blueprint for your shift to VoIP. Call us today and we will guide you through the whole process.

PhoneAmerica Corporation is a leading supplier of advanced telecommunication systems for small and large business environments. A total service company, PhoneAmerica serves as a single point of contact for today’s growing communication needs, offering a wide range of telephone equipment, wiring, surveillance systems, telephone cost accounting systems, and voice processing systems.

Please call (800) 836-3601 for a free evaluation of your current system and the system you will need to carry your business into the FUTURE