If your organisation uses Microsoft Teams, you’re already part of the world’s most widely adopted collaboration platform. But what if you could keep that familiar Teams interface and add industry-leading telephony—without the complexity or cost of Microsoft Calling Plans?

Now you can, with RingCentral for Microsoft Teams—a best-in-class integration that brings together two world leaders in business technology.

The Power of Two Global Giants

Microsoft is the world’s largest software company and creator of the dominant operating system in global business. With over 72% of the desktop OS market share, it’s the platform that powers the majority of the world’s workforce.

RingCentral, meanwhile, is globally recognised as the world leader in cloud telephony and unified communications. Consistently ranked in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for UCaaS Leaders. RingCentral is known for its reliability, scalability and innovation—offering voice, video, messaging and contact centre tools to businesses of all sizes.

So if your team is already working in Microsoft Teams on their Windows PCs… why not integrate with the world’s best cloud phone system—RingCentral—for a seamless, powerful communications experience?

Why Choose RingCentral for Microsoft Teams?

This solution lets users stay within the Microsoft Teams interface, but uses RingCentral behind the scenes to handle voice and telephony. That means:

• 99.999% uptime SLA for calls and messaging
• Global calling in 46+ countries
• Built-in analytics, dashboards and quality monitoring
• Smart call routing, voicemail transcription and AI features
• Deployment with or without Microsoft Teams Phone licenses
• Retain your Teams interface and user habits – no retraining needed

Flexible, Scalable & Cost-Effective

Perfect for SMEs, agencies, education providers, retail chains, bureaus, the public sector, and enterprise businesses, this solution is designed to scale. Whether you need just a few licences or a fully virtual global PBX, RingCentral for Microsoft Teams offers:

• Fast, cloud-based deployment
• Flexible licensing and attractive pricing
• Minimal IT overhead and full admin control
• A solution that grows with your business

Ready to Find Out More?

Let us explain the detail, the power, the flexibility, and the pricing — all in a 20-minute call, no obligation.

As a concept announced in 2021. The 4-year development stage is now complete and testing is underway ready for launch at the ISE show in Barcelona in February 2025.

Immersive Telepresence became a buzz term nearly 20 years ago when Polycom and Tandberg produced their multi-codec, multi-display technologies. Into the traditional world of SIP video conferencing. Today, HP, the owners of Poly (ex Polycom) are bringing it back but rather than being termed “Telepresence”. It has coined a new term “Co-Presence”. Using some of the latest advancements in 3D imaging and AI processing. Starline promises to bring a unique experience to the workplace. Unlike earlier attempts by others to produce 3D video. The HP/Poly/Google solution will not require users to wear glasses or headsets. Imagine next generation video communication and the future of collaboration being delivered this year

Project Startline will only be available to Google platform users and is aimed at making video calls more lifelike and natural. As if two people are speaking to each other across a meeting room table. HP have already begun inviting companies. Including Salesforce, WeWork and T-Mobile to provide their feedbacks. To be amongst the first to receive products following its 2025 launch.

We are now inviting you to get on the London waiting list for a live demonstration. Contact our Sales Team for more information.

According to Andrew Nartker, General manager of Project Starline. “It works like a magic window where you can talk, gesture and make eye contact with another person, life-size and in three dimensions. The system uses advanced AI to build a photorealistic model of the person you’re talking to, and projects that onto a light field display with a unique sense of volume and depth. The result is a lifelike image of the other person as if they were right in front of you”.

At VideoCentric, we’re at the forefront of innovation in video communication and collaboration technologies. With the announcement of Project Starline’s upcoming launch in 2025, we are excited to offer you the opportunity to explore and experience this groundbreaking “Co-Presence” technology firsthand.

Why Choose Cloud Telephony?

Cloud telephony enables businesses to make and receive phone calls over the internet, offering greater flexibility and accessibility. It integrates seamlessly with unified communications platforms like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and other collaboration tools, providing a single hub for all communication needs. Whether you’re a small business looking to streamline operations or a large enterprise with multiple locations, cloud telephony delivers a range of benefits:

• Cost Efficiency: With cloud telephony, there’s no need for expensive on-premise hardware or maintenance. Pay only for what you use, and scale up or down as needed.
• Enhanced Mobility: Your workforce can stay connected anytime, anywhere. Cloud telephony supports remote working, allowing employees to make and receive calls from any device.
• Seamless Integration: Integrate cloud telephony with CRM systems, customer service platforms, and other business tools to streamline workflows and enhance productivity.
• Scalability: Easily add new users, offices, or remote locations without the hassle of installing physical lines. Cloud telephony grows with your business.
• Reliability & Security: Benefit from high-quality calls with reliable uptime and enterprise-grade security measures to protect sensitive communications.

Cloud Telephony Services: 8×8 and RingCentral

At VideoCentric, we partner with industry leaders like 8×8 and RingCentral to offer best-in-class cloud telephony services tailored to your business needs.

• 8×8 Cloud Telephony: 8×8 provides a complete unified communications and contact center solution, combining voice, video, chat, and analytics in one platform. Whether you’re looking to improve customer engagement or enable global collaboration, 8×8 offers a flexible, secure, and scalable solution that enhances business communications.
• RingCentral Cloud Telephony: RingCentral is known for its easy-to-use, feature-rich platform that includes voice, video, team messaging, and contact center capabilities. With powerful tools like AI-powered analytics, RingCentral helps businesses improve communication efficiency, streamline operations, and provide an exceptional customer experience.

By choosing VideoCentric, you get access to both 8×8 and RingCentral solutions, ensuring you have the best tools for your specific requirements.

Teams and Zoom Telephony

VideoCentric also offers integration with Microsoft Teams and Zoom Phone, two of the most popular unified communications platforms in the world.

• Microsoft Teams Telephony: By integrating telephony directly into Microsoft Teams, your business can manage all communication—calls, meetings, messaging, and collaboration—from a single platform. Teams telephony provides a seamless experience, whether in the office or working remotely. Features like call queues, auto-attendant, voicemail, and integration with existing CRM or ERP systems help businesses enhance productivity and improve customer service.
• Zoom Phone: Zoom’s cloud telephony solution is an ideal choice for businesses that are already using Zoom for video conferencing. With Zoom Phone, you get the same intuitive interface, combined with powerful telephony features like call routing, voicemail to email, and real-time analytics. Zoom Phone integrates easily into your existing workflows, whether you’re using it as a standalone solution or part of your broader Zoom communication ecosystem.

Features of Cloud Telephony

• Call Routing: Automatically direct calls to the right person or department, reducing hold times and improving customer satisfaction.
• Voicemail to Email: Receive voicemails directly in your inbox, ensuring important messages are never missed.
• Conference Calling: Host or join conference calls from any device, without the need for additional software.
• Auto Attendant: Provide a professional greeting and direct callers to the appropriate department, even when you’re away.
• Call Recording: Record calls for training, compliance, or quality assurance purposes with easy access to recordings in the cloud.

Unified Communications Integration

Cloud telephony is more than just voice services – it’s a critical component of a unified communications strategy. By integrating with platforms like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Webex, businesses can connect voice, video, messaging, and collaboration tools into a single, cohesive system. This helps reduce communication silos, enhances team collaboration, and provides a seamless experience for both employees and customers.

Future-Proof Your Communications

As businesses continue to adapt to hybrid working environments, cloud telephony ensures that your communication infrastructure is ready for the future. Stay ahead of the curve with a solution that provides the flexibility, scalability, and reliability your business needs to thrive in the digital age.

For more information on Cloud Telephony – Contact our Sales Team Today!

VideoCloud™ is a trademark originally used by to brand VideoCentric’s own service portfolio. Which was launched as far back as 2007 as VIPER (Video over IP EverywheRe).

Then based on RADVision and Codian servers housed inside VideoCentric’s own Wokingham premises. It was replaced in 2010 by a rack of resilient and secure Tandberg and Cisco VCS and MultiPoint servers owned by VideoCentric and hosted in a professional data centre in Farnborough where it took on the name VideoCloud. This included multipoint SIP and H.323 hosting, an endpoint registration service, firewall traversal and ISDN & PSTN gateways, leading the way in room system and desktop interoperability.

Scalability became a challenge and so between 2011 and 2013. BlueJeans, Vidyo and Videxio Cloud services were white labelled and integrated into the VideoCloud brand. In 2017, Videxio was purchased by Pexip of Norway and so Pexip Infinity and Pexip-as-a Service became the engine behind the VideoCloud portfolio making it one of the most powerful and flexible video communications services in the world.

Although still operating today, in 2024, the days of SIP and H.323 have passed and VideoCloud is a shadow of its previous service. Overtaken by Microsoft Teams, Zoom Meetings, Google Meet, Cisco Webex and telephony orientated services from Ring Central, Zoom and 8×8.

The importance of this history is that VideoCentric’s engineers who embarked upon this 17 year ride are still on board today. And are still offering their knowledge, skills and expert consultancy and training  to customers who have a mixed estate of cloud subscriptions where Microsoft and Google CVI licences, Zoom CRC, Pexip Connect and Webex interoperability remain as important as ever, or where public sector organisations are still preferring on-premise or secure privately-hosted services rather than those in the public domain. The growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and non-European development will continue to fuel the need for VideoCentric’s expertise.

VideoCloud™ Today    

VideoCloud™ remains a trademark used by VideoCentric but as a marketing collection of offerings from 3^rd party cloud service providers. VideoCentric adds value in terms of licences, consultancy, installation, configuration, administrator and user training in:-

• Meetings Licences (eg Zoom Pro, Zoom Biz, Zoom Enterprise, Webex)
• One Touch Join and Domain Hosting
• Telephony and Contact Centre Integration
• Interoperability Subscriptions (eg Zoom CRC, Microsoft CVI, Google Meet CVI)
• SIP & H.323 Room Endpoint Registration & Firewall Traversal
• Webinars & Event Subscriptions
• AI feature expansion, storage and security

VideoCentric is H.M. Government accredited to supply such services into the public sector and demonstrate recent successes under G-Cloud into The Home Office as well as others into The Foreign Office, multiple NHS Hospitals, UK Schools and Universities. Contact us to share our experiences and make the right decisions for your organisation.

What is G-Cloud?

It is a framework agreement which has been pre-assessed by H.M. Crown Commercial Service to ensure that all sellers listed on it are able to deliver and support the specific service in a professional way. It is a contractual agreement providing any public sector organisation access to the latest innovations through cloud-based services including hosting, software licences, support services and pay-as-you-go subscriptions without the need for further scrutinization of a supplier’s credentials.

VideoCentric has been on G-Cloud since G-Cloud 8 and is proud to have been awards a place on G-Cloud 14 in October 2024.

Contact our Sales Team Here!

SDI and NDI® for Conferencing in Meeting Rooms, Classrooms and MDT Suites. The world of USB webcams is changing …

Effective communication is crucial especially in a world of hybrid working. From business meetings, to classrooms, medical decision-making and ongoing training and engagement of remote employees.

Work environments have undergone remarkable transformations. With game-changers Microsoft and Zoom revolutionising cloud-based meeting room systems over the last 3 years. But these are USB-based and met with challenges of scalability, reliability, and flexibility especially in larger meeting spaces. The advent of AI will further transform the camera technologies and methodologies used. The future of USB is already in question.

New game-changers for camera systems are SDI (Serial Digital Interface) and NDI® (Network Device Interface) and coupled with audio equivalents (eg DANTE audio-over-Ethernet). Will revolutionise the way we engage in meetings, classrooms, and MDT (Multi-Disciplinary Team) rooms in the next 5 years. They have already started making an impact in VideoCentric’s installations and have been implemented in our Thames Valley demonstration suite with ground-breaking advances in what we can show.

In this blog post, we’ll explore what they mean. How they differ and how they might be applied to AV communications and radically change the way we input video, audio and content. Into platforms such as MS Teams, Zoom and Google Meet amongst others.

USB,  NDI® , and SDI are three distinct technologies used for different purposes in the field of video production and connectivity. Here’s a comparison of their characteristics:

USB (Universal Serial Bus): USB is a widely used interface that allows for the connection of various devices to computers and other devices. It was initially developed for data transfer but has evolved to support audio, video, and power delivery as well. In terms of video production. USB is commonly used for connecting webcams, external cameras, capture devices, and other peripherals to computers. It is typically used for video capture and streaming applications on a smaller scale. Such as video conferencing, live streaming, and content creation for social media platforms.

SDI (Serial Digital Interface): SDI is a professional-grade digital video interface widely used in the broadcast and video production industry. It utilizes coaxial cables to transmit uncompressed and serially transmitted video signals. SDI supports various video formats, including standard definition (SD-SDI), high definition (HD-SDI), and ultra-high definition (UHD-SDI). SDI is known for its robustness, reliability, and high-quality video transmission. It is commonly used in live broadcasting, studio productions, and professional video equipment interconnections.

NDI®  (Network Device Interface): NDI®  is a network-based video transport protocol. That enables the transmission of video, audio, and metadata over standard Ethernet networks. It uses compression techniques to transport video signals and allows for real-time, high-quality video streaming and production. NDI®  simplifies video workflows by eliminating the need for dedicated video cables and hardware. It is commonly used in live production environments, software-based video switchers, IP-based production systems, and multi-camera setups where video sources are connected and accessed over the network.

Wireless NDI®  as the term suggests. Refers to video and audio transmission over a Wi-Fi or other wireless network without the need for physical cables. These provide flexibility by allowing cameras, computers, and other NDI® -enabled devices. To wirelessly communicate and stream video content in a similar way as if they were Ethernet connected. Performance of wireless NDI®  can vary based on the wireless technology used, access point location, signal strength, interference, and other factors. So it is crucial to ensure a robust and stable wireless network before considering wireless NDI® .

In summary, USB is a versatile interface commonly used for connecting peripherals to computers. NDI®  is a network-based video transport protocol used for real-time video streaming and production over Ethernet networks. SDI is a professional digital video interface for high-quality video transmission in broadcast and production environments. The choice of technology depends on the specific requirements and scale of the video production setup.

Let’s now look to see how SDI and NDI® methodologies are deployed in different applications:

Meeting Rooms: The versatility of SDI and NDI®  cameras allows dynamic layouts, automatic switching between cameras. Mixing of multiple camera brands and types, capturing every angle of the room, and with embedded AI, pick out the main participants and frame them NDI® visually, effectively pre-processing the images before they are fed into the meeting room system.  It also streamlines tasks such as live streaming, recording meetings with secondary feeds and document annotation in a way that cannot be achieved with USB alone.

Classrooms: Enriching Learning Experiences in the modern classroom, means engaging not only with every student in the room, but also with every remote participant joining in from home or elsewhere. A lecturer/teacher needs to focus on delivering learning content rather that mastering the technology, switching cameras or manually zooming into specific shots or even operating pre-set buttons.

For example, by pre-cabling a room with network points to accept NDI® cameras with added AI capabilities, automatic camera selection is made possible based on the direction in which a teacher is looking and where his/her voice is being picked up from. We consider that people-framing and auto-switching and mixing techniques are an essential part of of the modern classroom moving forward and to simply install one-camera solution into such a room is short-sighted. A minimum of one front and one rear camera should be considered, but left, right and centre may also be desirable depending on how the room is actually used.

MDT Rooms: Enhancing Collaborative Decision-Making in MDT rooms facilitates the coming together of multidisciplinary teams to discuss patient cases. Those “rooms” now consist of on-premise hospital meeting rooms as well as remote attendees. The in-room technology needs to be capable of multi-angle views in the same way as described for classrooms above, but sometimes with the addition of other digital medical devices for reference in the meeting, eg scanner, visualiser, PACs machine, endoscopy camera, interactive whiteboard etc.

Multiple SDI or NDI®  cameras (and associated audio) bring a new level of efficiency and accuracy to these critical discussions. Exceptional image quality allows for in-depth examination of medical imagery and presentations, ensuring that all team members can visualize and contribute effectively. The advanced audio capabilities eliminate distractions, allowing for focused conversations and consensus-building.

Cost-Effectiveness and Future-Proofing: Implementing SDI and NDI®  cameras and audio systems in meeting rooms, classrooms, and MDT rooms provides long-term benefits for engagement, flexibility, reliability and cost. These technologies are designed to evolve with the changing communication and collaboration landscape, future-proofing your investment.

Talk to VideoCentric about how the world of visual communications has changed over the last 30 years and where it will head in the next 5 years. As always, when we “talk”, we talk through live demonstrations. Our HDMI + USB demonstration suite was already one of the most comprehensive in the world (according to our manufacturers) and has already been enhanced with both SDI and NDI® technologies which we stream and record independently as well as feed into Microsoft Teams and Zoom conferences via certified devices. For more information or to book a demo  get in touch on the form to the right!

Contact Us

For more information or to place an order, please contact our Sales Team!

VideoCentric’s extensive range of products, most of which are integrated into complete solutions for Microsoft Teams, Zoom or Google Meet, can be demonstrated at various locations across the UK, including London, Wokingham, Reading, Bracknell, Basingstoke, Leeds, and Edinburgh. Our in-house experts provide consultancy, installation and technical support to ensure you get the most out of your investment regardless of which market sector you operate in. Experience firsthand, the quality, technical innovation, quality & reliability that set our solutions apart with unique demonstrations crafted to suit your organisation and the specific needs of your meeting spaces.

As businesses evolve, choosing the right telephony solution becomes increasingly critical. Whether you’re upgrading your infrastructure or starting from scratch, understanding the benefits and limitations of cloud, on-premise, and hybrid systems will help you select the best option for your organisation’s communication needs.

Cloud Telephony: Flexible & Scalable

Cloud telephony solutions are hosted entirely online, offering flexibility and scalability that traditional systems struggle to match. By moving communications to the cloud, your team can operate from anywhere, using any internet-connected device, without the need for costly on-premise hardware.

Key benefits include:

• Reduced Costs: No need for expensive hardware, maintenance, or upgrades. Cloud telephony typically operates on a subscription basis, offering predictable costs.
• Scalability: Scale up or down effortlessly as your business grows or contracts. Add or remove users quickly without impacting your operations.
• Remote Access: Ideal for distributed workforces. Teams can stay connected no matter their location.
• Business Continuity: Cloud telephony ensures your business stays operational during disasters or disruptions, thanks to built-in redundancy.

However, cloud telephony relies on a stable internet connection. For organisations in areas with unreliable connectivity, this can impact performance.

On-Premise Telephony: Control & Customisation

On-premise telephony involves hosting your telephony infrastructure on-site, giving businesses full control over their communications system. This traditional model is ideal for organisations that require a high level of customisation, integration with existing technologies, or have stringent security requirements.

Key benefits include:

• Total Control: Full access to your telephony system for advanced customisation and integration with other on-premise applications.
• Security: Greater control over data security, with the ability to apply tailored protocols that meet specific industry standards.
• Long-Term Savings: While the initial investment is higher, ongoing costs can be lower in the long term, especially for large organisations with many users.

On-premise systems may require substantial capital investment for equipment, installation, and ongoing maintenance. Additionally, scaling these systems can be more complex compared to cloud solutions.

Hybrid Telephony: The Best of Both Worlds

Hybrid telephony combines the benefits of both cloud and on-premise systems, giving businesses the flexibility of the cloud while maintaining on-site control where needed. This option is perfect for organisations looking to leverage existing infrastructure while taking advantage of cloud technologies.

Key benefits include:

• Flexible Architecture: Deploy cloud-based features for remote workers while keeping sensitive data on-premise.
• Cost Efficiency: Utilise existing investments in on-premise hardware while reducing reliance on additional infrastructure.
• Resilience: Hybrid solutions provide enhanced business continuity, offering a backup for both on-premise and cloud-based systems.

This approach is ideal for organisations transitioning to the cloud but still require some level of on-premise control.

Which Solution is Right for You?

Choosing between cloud, on-premise, or hybrid telephony depends on your business’s specific needs. Consider the following:

• Workforce Mobility: If you have a distributed or hybrid workforce, cloud telephony offers greater flexibility.
• Data Security: Highly regulated industries may benefit from the control provided by on-premise or hybrid solutions.
• Budget: Consider both upfront investment and long-term operational costs when selecting your solution.
• Future Growth: Cloud and hybrid systems are more scalable, making them ideal for fast-growing organisations.

At VideoCentric, we provide expert guidance to help you determine the best telephony solution for your business. Whether you need a fully cloud-based platform, prefer to keep operations on-premise, or require a tailored hybrid approach, our team can support you every step of the way.

In the realm of business phone systems and communication solutions, a definitive shift towards the cloud has become evident. The cloud, particularly in the form of Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS), has emerged victorious in the ongoing debate against on-premises Private Branch Exchange (PBX) systems. This transition is not just a trend but a strategic move as organisations across diverse sectors opt for cloud-based solutions to meet their unified communications, collaboration, and contact center requirements.

The Growing Momentum: Cloud-based “as a service” solutions, encompassing voice, text, messaging, video, conferencing, and more, are gaining widespread adoption. UCaaS empowers workers to seamlessly communicate over various channels, irrespective of device or location, significantly enhancing productivity. Market trends indicate a rapid growth in cloud-based business telephony services, with forecasts projecting end-user revenue to reach $10.4 billion by 2023.

Rationale for Migration: Organisations with outdated premises-based PBXs, many of which face end-of-life scenarios and lack manufacturer support, are increasingly migrating to UCaaS. This shift is fuelled by the need to modernise communication systems, access new capabilities, and overcome the limitations of on-premises solutions, which are expensive, resource-intensive, and challenging to upgrade.

Cloud’s Competitive Edge: The cloud’s allure lies in its ability to offer innovation and flexibility, catering to the demands of a distributed and mobile workforce. Cloud solutions outpace on-premises counterparts, especially in terms of speed to market for new capabilities. The agility provided by UCaaS aligns with the imperative for businesses to “disrupt or be disrupted,” ensuring nimbleness in adapting to evolving technologies and market demands.

Key Benefits of UCaaS: The meteoric rise of the UCaaS market is attributed to the numerous advantages the cloud affords organisations:

1. Simplicity: Streamlined deployment, management, and maintenance, reducing operational overhead.
2. Cost and Scalability: Pay-as-you-go model, allowing flexibility to scale services based on business needs.
3. Reduced Risk: Access to the latest communication features without the risk of technology obsolescence.
4. Global Reach: Facilitates seamless communication for multinational organisations, fostering collaboration.
5. Business Continuity: Offers off-site backup, redundancy, and disaster recovery, ensuring uninterrupted operations.
6. Mobility: Enables on-the-go communication without the need for extensive software downloads.
7. Advanced Capabilities: Access to features like video conferencing, enhancing overall communication.
8. Integration: Open cloud platforms facilitate integration with third-party applications, enhancing workflow.

Success Stories: Illustrative examples, such as B&R Auto Wrecking and Motion Recruitment Partners, showcase the real-world benefits of transitioning to UCaaS. These businesses achieved improved stability, scalability, and cost-effectiveness, ultimately enhancing their overall communication infrastructure.

The Imperative for Change: Legacy PBXs are on a rapid decline, with shorter lifecycles and diminishing vendor support. The impending obsolescence of on-premises solutions necessitates a transition to UCaaS, not merely as a replacement but as an opportunity to empower the workforce with advanced unified communications capabilities.

UCaaS – Beyond the Sum of Its Parts: UCaaS is more than a collection of communication tools; it’s a holistic approach that unifies telephony, conferencing, messaging, collaboration, and more. Today’s collaborative workforce requires seamless integration and accessibility, making UCaaS the go-to solution for businesses looking to stay competitive and agile.

Choosing the Right Cloud Approach: As organisations consider migrating to the cloud, understanding the various cloud options is crucial. Whether it’s multi-tenant, multi-instance, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, the selection depends on factors such as customisation needs, security concerns, and the desired level of integration with existing systems.

Crafting a Successful Migration Strategy: A well-defined migration strategy is essential for a smooth transition. Businesses must set clear goals, prioritize requirements, and choose a migration approach tailored to their specific needs. For smaller businesses, a flash-cut approach may be suitable, while larger organisations might benefit from a phased migration based on user types, geography, or technology features.

Selecting the Right UCaaS Partner: Choosing the right vendor is pivotal to a successful migration. Key attributes to look for include a unified platform, reliability, security, seamless integrations, and vendor experience in migrating from on-premises PBXs to the cloud. The selected partner should not only meet current needs but also demonstrate a vision for future challenges.

Why don’t you contact our Sales Team today to see how we can help you with your PBX migration!

The era of on-premises PBX is waning, giving way to the ascendancy of cloud-based UCaaS solutions. Embracing this paradigm shift is not just about replacing outdated technology; it’s an opportunity to transform the way organisations communicate and collaborate. As businesses navigate this transition, choosing the right UCaaS partner, platform, and migration strategy is paramount to unlocking the full potential of modern, innovative solutions and preparing for the challenges of tomorrow.

Elevate your Microsoft Teams collaboration to new heights with RingCentral’s cutting-edge cloud-based voice solution. Businesses aiming to maximise their Office 365 investment while leveraging Microsoft Teams for seamless collaboration can now achieve this synergy by integrating RingCentral’s robust cloud communications solution. This seamless integration offers global calling functionality, allowing users to harness the power of an industry-leading cloud PBX seamlessly integrated into Teams, placing Teams at the core of the collaborative experience.

Key Features and Benefits:

1. Enterprise-Grade Telephony for Teams Users: Enjoy a native user experience with enterprise-grade telephony seamlessly integrated into Microsoft Teams.
2. Rich PBX Features: Explore a range of PBX features, including basic call controls, IVR, automatic call recording, call reports, analytics, and call queues.
3. Global Calling Reach: Access full PSTN in over 40 countries, with local and toll-free numbers available in 100+ countries.
4. Out-of-the-Box Native Integrations: Boost user productivity with native integrations that require no additional interfaces or downloads.
5. Simplified Adoption: No need to manage communication infrastructure, SIP trunks, or SBCs. Adoption is straightforward without the requirement for separate interfaces or downloads.

Intuitive Teams Experience:

The RingCentral Cloud PBX for Microsoft Teams seamlessly integrates into the Teams interface, offering users the same familiar environment without the need for additional downloads, bots, or plugins. Experience the best of both Teams and RingCentral platforms in one, enhancing productivity without the need for retraining.

Any Device, Anywhere:

Empower your users to communicate seamlessly on a single platform, regardless of whether they are Teams users, customers, or partners. Enjoy communication and collaboration on any device – mobile, desktop, or web – and manage preferences through an intuitive user portal.

Centralised Management:

Admins can efficiently manage their entire organisation’s user base, including Microsoft Teams members, from one intuitive interface. The integration supports Single Sign-on, ensuring automatic authentication and connection to the RingCentral communications account when logging in to Teams.

Robust Analytics:

Gain valuable insights into Teams calls, identifying trends across employees, teams, and the company. Leverage real-time data for impactful changes, set up automated alerts, and create targeted reports with configurable out-of-the-box KPIs and metrics.

Out-of-the-Box Business Application Integrations:

Facilitate flexibility through native integrations with commonly used business apps. Make and receive calls directly in your preferred productivity apps, attach call log information, and link to call recordings in your CRM.

Enterprise-Grade Telephony:

Experience seven layers of enterprise-grade security and geo-redundant data centres worldwide, ensuring reliable HD audio wherever work takes you. RingCentral’s industry-leading availability guarantees a secure and dependable communication solution for your business.

Contact our Sales Team today to see how this will work in your environment!

In case you’re not familiar with the term, VoIP, which stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, enables reliable, high-quality phone service anywhere you have internet access. In other words, it eliminates the need to use landlines for real-time conversations.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the advantages of VoIP technology.

VoIP advantages for small businesses

Why is VoIP better? Here are several reasons why small business owners are embracing this technology to power their business communications:

By downloading the app of your business VoIP provider, you and your employees can communicate using existing devices, including desktops, smartphones and tablets – no traditional desk phones required.

VoIP phone systems don’t require you to pay for capacity that you don’t need. Instead, you can easily configure new phone lines on as your team grows. The process is so simple that there’s no need to bring in (and pay for) technical support.

Best-in-class VoIP providers offer all-inclusive pricing plans at a fixed monthly cost, which makes budget planning much easier. Features like unlimited long-distance calling are bundled in with a monthly plan, whereas with a traditional phone system these costs fluctuate from month to month.

Why VoIP is better today for small businesses

Although VoIP was commercialized over two decades ago, some business owners may be hesitant to make the jump. While VoIP experienced issues like any emerging technology in its early days, these have largely been resolved as it has matured.

For example, common assumption is that switching to a VOIP system means you have to switch numbers.

Understandably, businesses prefer to keep the numbers customers are accustomed to – and they can. Porting services make it easy to transfer existing numbers and preserve the connection to your customers

Some business owners believe business VoIP systems require a trade-off: lower costs for lower quality. While choppy voice and echoes were once common, this is no longer the case.

Best-in-class VoIP providers commit to providing the highest quality service and provide helpful tools and instructions to set up the ideal environment, such as how to configure router settings properly.

More than any other reason, there are three primary reasons small business choose VoIP:

Security and reliability of VoIP phone systems

For a time, business owners’ fears about a power outage taking down their VoIP phone system were justified. Today, however, leading providers encrypt VoIP service between network endpoints, ensuring a secure, reliable VoIP network.

This protects business communications from service disruptions of all kinds, including cyber-attacks, natural disasters and even power outages.

No hardware required

Cloud phone systems render costly visits from technicians a thing of the past. Unlike the traditional on-site equipment required to power conventional phone services, cloud phone systems cut the cord.

Because there’s no physical hardware required or telephone cables to install, your entire office can be up and running with VoIP phone services in 24 hours or less. In doing so, your team can freely communicate via physical SIP phones (i.e. use IP network to make calls instead of over telephone lines) or with any device, including smartphones, laptops and tablets, by downloading the app of the VoIP service provider.

Mobility and flexibility

Traditional phone services impose constraints on employees, especially since businesses don’t often follow a 9-to-5 schedule in the office. Because these services tend to tie a single phone number to a specific phone, employees who are not in the office for whatever reason (e.g., working from home, traveling, meeting with a customer) cannot access their business phone number.

With a cloud phone system, location doesn’t matter. As long as your employees have access to the internet and a computer or mobile device, they have access to their business number and can call, text, and fax as they please. They just need to download the app or log in to the VoIP service provider’s web portal, and they can start making and receiving calls and faxes on their business number from anywhere.

Affordable global communications phone service

As your business expands, the need to make long-distance and international calls can increase – and with it, your business communications costs. VoIP phone services can cost 68 percent less than traditional phone services, eliminating cost concerns over local, long-distance and international calls. Additionally, toll-free numbers typically have lower per minute charges with a cloud phone system than traditional telecom carriers.

This is a guest blog provided by Irina Kirnos, Product Marketing Manager, RingCentral.

Author’s Bio

Irina Kirnos is a Product Marketing Manager at RingCentral in EMEA. With experience in the cloud software and communication industry spanning Silicon Valley, Research Triangle Park and now London, she enjoys working collaboratively with global teams to develop product messaging and positioning, sales enablement and competitive differentiation. Irina grew up in San Francisco, California and is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.