Phone Systems Featured Article

Flexibility and scalability are two characteristics that are essential in today’s business communications solutions. With employees working from anywhere, using any device and companies making global expansions, not having a flexible option that can scale to any size will limit the growth of an organization.

As one of the oldest IP telephony service providers, Vonage (News - Alert), has migrated to cloud communications services for consumers and businesses to ensure flexibility and scalability don’t become an issue. This includes the mobile inbound calling functionality of the Vonage Extensions App and the Dell Business Phone (News - Alert) powered by Vonage Business Solutions, which were acknowledged with two awards in the 2015 TMC INTERNET TELEPHONY Product of the Year Award competition.

The INTERNET TELEPHONY Product of the Year Awards is in its 16th year, and highlights companies that have created innovative and exceptional VoIP and IP communication products and services.

The Vonage Extensions App is designed to extend the personal communication devices of individuals as part of a comprehensive platform so they can have access no matter where they are. Customers can use up to two iPhone or Android (News - Alert) smartphones over a Wi-Fi or data connection. This gives the user the ability to separate their work and personal mobile numbers, while still taking advantage of the multiple calling options and low rates Vonage provides to the customer.

Also offered are business phones especially designed to address the collaborative needs of today’s workforce. The phone systems are manufactured by the top names in the industry, like Cisco, Polycom, Panasonic and Yealink (News - Alert), which have been certified for business use and are compatible with the company’s business VoIP phone service.

The phones have a wide range of features including multiple lines, speakerphone, handsets and headsets, power over Ethernet, integrated Ethernet switch, Wi-Fi capability, Bluetooth/mobile phone capability and many other options depending on the manufacturer.

The other award recipient is the Dell Business Phone powered by Vonage Business Solutions, which is designed with Vonage technology to power third-party communications solutions for enterprises of any size. The key features of this platform are:

• Full range of voice features: voice mail, call waiting, call hold, call forwarding, transfer and three-way calling, plus optional call recording and conference bridge capabilities;
• High Definition voice (G.722) for voice over IP (VoIP) calls;
• Calling over WiFi or 3G/4G networks;
• Cost-effective international calling via Wi-Fi;
• IT control over enterprise information;
• Voice mail, text and call details archiving for compliance; and
• Support for Apple iOS and Google (News - Alert) Android smartphones and tablets from any carrier.

“Vonage has played a key role transforming the way consumers and businesses communicate, and we are honored to have that innovation recognized at this year's INTERNET TELEPHONY Awards,” said Joe Redling, Vonage Chief Operating Officer. “These exceptional products are two examples of how we listen and respond to market needs in forward-thinking ways.”