New Services: Avaya, Fusion Connect, 8×8

UCaaS vendors dominated the headlines last month with new and improved products and services.

The world’s top communications providers are constantly upgrading their products in order to reign supreme. RingCentral and Atos launched their co-branded solution in the U.S. Wildix launched a new platform. Avaya enhanced its contact center solution’s AI capabilities. And 8×8 rolled out updates across the board.

But our editors covered more than just UCaaS vendors last month. TPx Communications upgraded its SD-WAN solution to meet remote workers’ needs. A fiber provider added automation and analytics capabilities to its network via a partnership. A master agent signed several providers to its portfolio. And here are two little words for you: 5G phones!

Scroll through the 11 images below to see the latest products and services that channel partners can sell.

Did you miss our previous services recap? Check out our December roundup.

8x8

The UCaaS provider announced its "winter release."

The updates include changes to the 8x8 Contact Center solution, as well as integrations with customer engagement software provider Verint. 8x8 also enhanced its CPaaS capabilities.

“The latest 8×8 enhancements highlight the benefits our partners’ customers can gain by having an integrated cloud contact center and communications product from a single provider,” 8x8's global vice president of product marketing said.

You can read about 8x8 in Edward Gately's UC Roundup.

Fusion

Fusion Connect announced two product updates involving high-profile vendors.

Both announcements pertain to unified communications. First, the cloud services provider added Cisco WebEx to its business communications platform. In addition, Fusion introduced direct routing for Microsoft Teams.

Edward Gately has the scoop on the Cisco WebEx and Microsoft Teams-related news.

TBI

The Chicago-based agency signed Avaya and other vendors to its portfolio.

The Avaya partnership lends TBI's agents a UCaaS and CCaaS solution. TBI also signed mobility management provider MobileSense, cybersecurity company ThreatProtector and managed network services provider QOS Networks.

Read about the new supplier partnerships.

Avaya

Speaking of Avaya, the vendor enhanced its contact center solution.

Avaya will bolster the OneCloud by integrating with AWS Contact Center Intelligence solutions (CCI). The communications provider can tap into deeper AI and machine-learning capabilities as a result.

Read about the AWS partnership.

Consolidated

Consolidated Communications is partnering with Ciena to address 5G networking.

Ciena's FlexEthernet-based slicing and its Adaptive IP platform will help Consolidated improve network performance. Moreover, Consolidated executives said they can now build automation and analytics into their 46,300-mile fiber network.

Get details on what their partnership entails.

Atos

The IT services company launched its UCaaS offering in the U.S.

We had already covered Atos' partnership with RingCentral that created a co-branded offering called Unify Office by RingCentral. They originally targeted Europe, but have now moved across the pond. 

"We’re excited to bring the innovative combination of RingCentral’s leading UCaaS product together with Atos’ deep system integrator capabilities to the United States," Atos North America’s head of unified communications said.

Learn more about the offering.

Wildix

The UCaaS provider unveiled a new platform.

"X-bees," which improves the customer experience, is likely entering beta testing this month. Wildix also launched a lead tracking solution and a webinar offering.

Read Edward Gately's coverage of the Wildix UC&C conference and learn about how Wildix differs from other UCaaS vendors.

TPx

TPx Communications updated its SD-WAN solution in multiple areas.

First, TPx now offers private traffic segmentation. In other words, home users can separate their recreational computer traffic from that of work-related activity. In addition, the offering meets PCI and HIPAA requirements.

Learn what the offering does now. 

Uniphore

Uniphore, which provides conversational automation services, added new capabilities that will improve the contact center experience.

One feature verifies contact center agents by their "voiceprint." Another automation feature registers promises that agents made to customers during their calls.

Our Edward Gately also wrote about Uniphore in his column.

Malwarebytes

The cybersecurity provider expanded the dashboard that MSPs use.

The OneView dashboard now includes an integration with the ConnectWise Manage business management solution. Partners can streamline services like billing and IT ticketing as a result.

“By expanding OneView integrations and product capabilities, we are helping MSPs by both providing tailored security solutions for their clientele and also easing the burden of management and billing," Malwarebytes' vice president of worldwide MSP and channel operations said.

Read about Malwarebytes on Channel Futures.

Samsung

Samsung partners began accepting orders for new Galaxy S21 phones.

The three new devices possess upgraded security in the form of the Knox Suite. The phones also work with 5G.

Samsung announced the news at around the same time it announced a North American channel chief.

Jeffrey Schwartz wrote about Samsung for Channel Futures.