Tag Archives: VoIP News

Plantronics Announced Acquisition of Polycom for $2 Billion!

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March 28, 2018 – Plantronics, a learning electronics manufacturer for audio communications equipment, announced today that they have entered a definitive agreement to acquire Polycom, a multinational VoIP provider for video, voice, and content communication collaboration.

This acquisition is expected to close by the end of the third quarter of 2018 with a cash and stock transaction valued at $2 billion. This acquisition deal will allow Plantronics to become a big part of the communications and collaboration industry.

Significant benefits that will come out of this acquisition

  • Polycom’s global leadership position in voice and video collaboration will accelerate Plantronics vision of delivering advanced communications experiences.
  • Plantronics will be able to expand its portfolio to provide more communication and collaboration products and services across the global ecosystem.
  • This acquisition will provide additional opportunities across the Unified Communications (UC) market and increase growth opportunities.
  • Polycom will significantly expand Plantronics offerings in management and analytics services.

This news definitely came as surprise this morning but Polycom and Plantronics are great partners of VoIP Supply and we are very excited to see what develops out of this acquisition.” – Paula Griffo, President and CFO of VoIP Supply

Sangoma Released New PBX Feature: Vega Management Module

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Are you using or selling Sangoma’s FreePBX or PBXact phone systems? You will want to check this out!

Sangoma Technology recently announced the new release of Vega Management Module, a new PBX module designed to manage and monitor Vega gateways within the FreePBX and PBXact phone systems. Let’s find out what the buzz is all about!

 

What is Vega Management Module?

The Vega Management Module is a free-of-charge module, designed to help FreePBX/ PBXact customers manage and monitor their Vega gateways associated with their phone systems.

 

What Features are included?

The module is accessible just like any other module within the FreePBX webGUI, offering the following features:

  • Dashboard overview
  • Gateway Status
  • Configuration management
  • Firmware management

 

Where Can I Find It?

The module is accessible within the FreePBX webGUI like any other PBX module. Currently, the Vega Gateway Management Module is available to customers as a public Beta for FreePBX 14 systems.

It is not compatible with FreePBX 13 and below, but customers can easily upgrade their systems using the FreePBX 13 to 14 upgrade instructions . The Vega Management Module will be officially released for FreePBX 14 by the end of March 2018, then available to PBXact customers in April, 2018. See installation and configuration instructions here!

The Module currently supports the following Vega Gateways:

  • Vega 60G FXS/FXO, 3000G, 3050G Analog Gateways
  • Vega 100G/200G/400G E1/T1 Digital Gateways

Questions about Sangoma’s new module or the FreePBX/ PBXact phone systems? Give us a call at 1-800-398-8647 or utilize the comment box below to share your thoughts with us!

Valcom Acquired Keltron Corp to Expand Life-safety Event Management Portfolio

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Feb. 14th – Valcom, a leading provider of emergency communication and VoIP paging system, acquired Keltron Corp., a provider of life-safety event management systems for colleges, university campuses, healthcare centers, and more.

These two companies will share technology, experience, and engineering but operate separately. This will help both Valcom and Keltron expand their product portfolio to provide customers with combined technologies.

“More resources will further the development of state-of-the-art systems that distribute the right message to the right people at the right time,” says Valcom CEO and Owner John Mason. “Both companies are committed to meeting customer and partner needs with the latest in technology as it pertains to life safety communication solutions.”

Communication has been playing an important role in healthcare and education industries. We are excited to see how these two companies will work together and bring more values to the customers!

The VoIP News Update: Polycom Acquires Obihai, ITEXO 2018 And Sangoma University

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2018 is a new year, and the VoIP industry is already starting off with a rather sizable change.  Once finalized in the first quarter of 2018, Polycom will have officially acquired Obihai Technology! This is a big move for Polycom and Obihai specializes in hardware and software for VoIP phones.

It will be exciting to see what Polycom has in store for the future, and it is making everyone wonder exactly how many more of acquisitions we’ll be seeing this year!

In this episode of the VoIP News Update, VoIP Supply Marketing Supervisor Mary Cheney also covers what you need to know about this years ITEXPO!  VoIP Supply will be there February 13th – 16 at booth #428! If you plan on stopping by, don’t forget to say hi!

And lastly, on The VoIP News Update, Mary covers some important details on Sangoma University.  If you are thinking of becoming a VoIP reseller, or if you already are but have not looked into Sangomas product portfolio, then you will want to pay attention!

We want to hear from you! Are you a certified member of Sangoma University? Will you be at ITEXPO 2018? Do you think Polycom made the right decision by acquiring Obihai? Let us know, below!

Mitel Announced the Integrated Portfolio for North America

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January 29th – A quarter after its acquisition of ShoreTel, Mitel® announced their rebranded and integrated portfolio of Cloud and on-premise solutions for the North American market.

This new portfolio is designed to offer their North American customers the best path to the Cloud for access to advanced applications and the latest technology and to provide on-site portfolio with maximum choice, flexibility, and reliability.

“Mitel’s product portfolio has never been stronger. It offers a complete technology menu to choose from with the right combination of cloud and on-site solutions that really gives us the freedom and flexibility to customize solutions that make sense for our customers,” said Matt Pingatore, Chief Executive Officer, Packet Fusion.

Mitel is a global leader of business communication solutions provider that delivers simplicity, reliability and high-end communications and collaboration. Mitel’s flagship solutions for the North American market include:

Retail UCaaS Solutions

  • MiCloud Connect (previously ShoreTel Connect CLOUD) with Teamwork and Contact Center
  • MiCloud Flex (previously Mitel MiCloud Enterprise) with MiCollab and MiCloud Contact Center

On-Site Solutions

  • MiVoice Office 250 with Phone Manager applications
  • MiVoice Connect (previously ShoreTel Connect ONSITE) with Connect UC and Contact Center
  • MiVoice Business with MiCollab and MiContact Center Business

Polycom Announces Agreement to Acquire Obihai Technology

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January 4th, 2018 – Polycom announced that they have signed a merger agreement to acquire Obihai Technology, Inc, a VoIP audio solutions innovator based in California’s Silicon Valley.

Polycom is a multinational corporation that develops video, voice and content collaboration and communication technology. After completion of this strategic acquisition, Polycom expects to broaden their solutions portfolio to add the cloud-based capabilities and Analog Terminal Adapter solutions.

Obihai Technology specializes in developing software and hardware for VoIP endpoints. Their innovative development team will add great value to Polycom to compete in the global voice market. The acquisition is expected to close early in first quarter of 2018.

“Sangoma Technologies (the parent company of VoIP Supply)  always admires watching other North American based businesses growing both in revenue and product portfolio through organic growth and Acquisitions after completing 5 of them in 5 years ourselves,” said Tony Lewis, COO and General Manager of Sangoma. ”The acquisition of Obi by Polycom appears to be a great strategic fit and we look forward to seeing where the newly combined companies have to offer.”     

“I have personally had a good relationship with Obi over the years through the FreePBX project and always admired the product and people at the company and we congratulate Jan and the whole team on a job well done.  I think this is just a start of a busy 2018 of Mergers and Acquisitions in the VoIP and Telecom space and we will see many more of these in the upcoming weeks, months and quarters announced so stay tuned for a fun 2018.” said Tony Lewis, COO and General Manager of Sangoma

It’s always good to see more North American companies coming together and trying to figure out how to have broader product portfolio and be competitive in the global landscape. We are excited to see how the two companies collaborate and bring value to more customers in the near future!

Microsoft Retires Office Live Meeting on December 31, 2017!

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Microsoft announced that they will discontinue Office Live Meeting completely by end of this year.

Live Meeting is a popular online collaboration and web conferencing service that empowers businesses to conduct the real-time and interactive presentation.

Migrating to Skype for Business & Skype

The company is planning to migrate all data and applications from Live Meeting into Skype for Business and Skype Meeting Broadcast. Most of the features that were seen in Live Meeting have already been migrated to Skype for Business and Skype Meeting Broadcast and there are some new upgrades available such as a larger attendee scale.

Live Meeting users are encouraged to begin transferring their system to other similar solutions no later than December 31st, 2017, at which time Microsoft will fully close the Live Meeting service.

You can find the guides for transitioning to Skype here.

Other Web Collaboration Options

There are a lot of easy web collaboration tools available on the market that will provide you with even better interactive video conferencing, shared drive, and team collaboration.

Check out more VoIP service features here to learn how you can keep your employees connected in one system, regardless of their location. Call one of our VoIP experts at 1-800-398-8647 to get a free consultation!

Mitel/Shortel, Digium E-Series, and FreePBX 14. VoIP News Update by VoIP Supply has you covered!

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In our VoIP News Update Episode 10, we are covering the acquisition of Mitel and ShoreTel, Digium’s new E-Series appliances, and the FreePBX 14 Stable. Don’t miss it! Let’s check it out:

Mitel to buy ShoreTel for $430 Million

shoretel-and-mitel

Mitel is in the process of requiring ShoreTel for $430 million. All cash deal. This is Mitel’s second attempt to buy ShoreTel and the offer is less than the last attempt back in 2014. By acquiring ShoreTel, Mitel has almost doubled its UCaaS revenue to $263 million and there will be efficiencies achieved.

Digium Released its New Appliances: E-Series

digium-home-page-bannerTargeting small businesses, Digium released the E-Series appliances that are built with less operational complexity and better value at an even lower price. The Switchvox E-Series includes the E510, the E520, the E530 and the E540. With up to 500 users support and less weight/size that can fit right in your backpack, you will enjoy a more powerful solution at a lower cost. If you have used any of the Digium Switchvox appliances before, you will tell the differences right away! Learn more here.

FreePBX 14 Stable is Released!Sangoma FreePBX

After months of waiting, the FreePBX 14 Stable is finally available! This new version has four major updates to give you better user experiences and a more secure setup: Auto-update security releases, the Upgrading system in the GUI, New Calendar module, and Upgraded user control panel. To learn more about the changes and features in the FreePBX 14, click here!

That’s all for this VoIP News Update Episode! Subscribe to the VoIP Supply YouTube Channel to stay on top of VoIP news at all times. See you in the next episode!

Buffalo Business First Featured VoIP Supply’s Cool Office Lifestyle

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vs_office1Amherst, NY – VoIP Supply’s office was featured by Buffalo Business First as a cool office in the Western New York area, highlighting its full-sized kitchen, the entertaining lounge area as well as the two gym areas with a shower!

Walking through VoIP Supply’s front door, a bowl of candies puts some smiles on the employee’s faces. Every Monday, the company starts with an all-staff meeting on the “lawn”, a bright green carpet that looks and feels like grass. Aside from discussing the business goals and performance, the employee of the week is selected to play a Plinko game for prizes including beer, gift cards, and paid time off.

After the office remodeling about two years ago, VoIP Supply’s workplace was brightened up with vibrant colors and posters that encapsulate the company’s five core values. On the second floor of the warehouse space sits the staff lounge with two gym areas, couches, TV set with gaming console as well as a shower for employees to use after a workout. The office is also pet-friendly which means employees are allowed to bring their pets to work.vs_office2

A full-sized kitchen with a double-sized steel fridge makes sure the employees have enough space to store their lunches and snacks. A full stove, oven, microwave, and toaster are also available at all times.

VoIP Supply’s office sets an example of great work-life balance and makes their employees feel comfortable coming to work every day.

“We work hard, and we play hard,” said Mary Cheney, VoIP Supply’s marketing supervisor. “We’re a family company, and having everything you’d have at home reinforces that.”

See the original Buffalo Business First post here.

Watch the video below to hear what VoIP Supply’s employees have to say about working at VoIP Supply!

About VoIP Supply

Established in 2002, VoIP Supply is known as a leading VoIP hardware and service solutions provider in North America, delivering valuable VoIP solutions for over 125,000 customers worldwide. Located in Amherst, NY with a full team of marketers, engineers, and salespeople, VoIP Supply also operates an office in Las Vegas to provide fulfillment services. To learn more about VoIP Supply visit www.voipsupply.com or call 1-800-398-8647.  

VoIP News! The latest On The Mitel/Toshiba MoU, The Patton Smartnode 101 and More!

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Unless you have been living under a rock, I’m sure you have heard by now that Toshiba is exiting the VoIP business. If you or your business are currently Toshiba customers then you probably were about to fall into a deep despair, that is until Mitel swooped in and saved the day!

Mitel recently confirmed that they have signed a MoU with Toshiba to transfer certain assets and support obligations to Mitel. This Memorandum of Understanding means that Mitel will be honoring Toshiba contracts and warranties, along with honoring past Toshiba quotes and maintaining what is left of Toshiba’s inventory. Doing this will ensure a clear and easy path for customers who will be transitioning over to Mitel.

mitel-and-toshiba

But if you are someone who is looking at this as a reason to try something new, there are other options out there. One popular choice that can replace your Toshiba system is Digium Switchvox.

Digium Switchvox is easy-to-use, feature-rich, and cost-effective. If that is not enough for you to consider, we are offering special discounts off the US MSRP for selected Switchvox appliances or Switchvox software downloads when sold to replace a Toshiba system. This promotion also applies if you are looking to replace your Avaya system as well!

In other news, Patton Electronics has released a brand new ATA called the SmartNode 101. This is a feature-rich analog telephone adapter that enables you to connect standard telephones and make VoIP calls using your broadband connection.

patton-101

These are easy to install and simple to use. The SN 101 is equipped with one FXS RJ-11 phone interface, and as for the size? These things are SMALL! You can really put this thing anywhere!

If you are just starting to look into VoIP, or looking to give VoIP a try without getting rid of your old telephone lines, then the SN101 is worth a look.

Lastly, we have one huge promotion that we have been running here at VoIP Supply that is coming to a close. Get one month of FREE VoIP service when you sign up through the CloudSpan MarketPlace!

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This is a great deal if you are in the market for VoIP service, but you can also use this to your advantage if you are a VoIP Service reseller! That’s right! You can use this promotion to offer your customers one month of free VoIP service as well! This promotion is ending June 30th, so make sure you take advantage while you still can!

And that is your VoIP News Update for June! If you haven’t caught it yet, check out our video as well! And don’t forget to subscribe to the VoIP Supply’s YouTube channel for all the latest in VoIP!