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Cloud solutions provider 8x8 released Version 4.0.3 of its mobile app for iPad and iOS in March and its last Android update in February. The mobile app is free with any existing Virtual Office subscription. On a recent overseas trip, 8x8 (News - Alert) subscriber Gary V. Nicolas, a managing partner with Secant Healthcare, discovered that when international roaming failed him, the 8x8 mobile app instantly connected him to his office phone. All Nicolas needed was a Wi-Fi connection and his smartphone.

Nicolas flew to Liverpool in the U.K. with a client. The team dealt with numerous flight delays, and when Nicolas arrived in the U.K., he discovered that one of his team members was missing. When he took out his smartphone to call the person, he discovered that his mobile phone had no international support.

Nicolas figured he had no means of communication except for videoconferencing and IM on his laptop. Then, he remembered that he had the 8x8 mobile app as part of Virtual Office. He used the app to dial into his phone and to forward all mobile phone calls to his office phone.

"For the next three days, as long as I had Internet connectivity, I was in complete communication back to the United States," Nicolas said in a letter to 8x8. "Anyone that called my office or mobile number was instantly connected to me on my mobile phone, using WiFi (News - Alert) and the 8x8 Android app."

Virtual Office delivers a number of Fortune 500 features with a VoIP price tag (News - Alert) that small and medium-sized businesses can afford. Auto attendant, conference bridge, corporate directory and personalized voicemail are just some of the standard features that come as part of 8x8’s Virtual Office offering.

Because Virtual Office is cloud-based, the solution requires no investment in expensive PBX (News - Alert) equipment. Additionally, video conferencing is included with every subscription.

Gary Nicolas found his 8x8 mobile app just when he needed it during an overseas trip. Fortunately, he also found his missing team member. The person was sitting in New York City waiting for a flight across the Atlantic.