The program leverages 8x8 Voice for Microsoft Teams, which supports more than 200,000 Teams users worldwide.

Claudia Adrien

June 23, 2022

3 Min Read
Microsoft Teams on different devices
Shutterstock

8×8 is rolling out several changes to its global partner program, one of them being the 8×8 Elevate Microsoft Partner (MP) Program. Together with the 8×8 XT edition, the program enables enterprises adopting Microsoft Teams to reduce communication costs. It also improves employee productivity with a highly resilient global telephony solution, the company said. In addition, the program offers select Microsoft Gold Partners the opportunity to grow their cloud businesses.

The program leverages 8×8 Voice for Microsoft Teams, which supports more than 200,000 Teams users worldwide. The new 8×8 XT edition combines 8×8’s Direct Routing as a service technology, public switched telephone network (PSTN) connectivity, Azure-based managed SBC as a service, domestic DIDs, nationwide calling, HD Audio and secure voice all in a single package. The 8×8 XT edition is now generally available in the U.K. and the company will introduce it in the U.S. and Canada by late summer.

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8×8’s Hunter Middleton

Hunter Middleton is chief product officer at 8×8.

“Communication and collaboration is key to every organization, but every team does it differently, which is why 8×8 offers highly resilient, Direct Routing as a service technology to support every employee across the enterprise,” Middleton said. “From the back-office staff to contact center agents, 8×8’s highly differentiated solutions for Microsoft Teams enable enterprises to engage with customers effortlessly while providing easy-to-use, sophisticated telephony and customer engagement capabilities globally.”

The 8×8 Partner Program: Profitability Through Incremental Services

Through the program, partners can add 8×8 Voice for Microsoft Teams to clients’ Teams implementations to enhance global communications and customer engagement. Microsoft Gold Partners selected for the program benefit from: exclusive access to sell the new 8×8 XT edition; attractive volume-based incentives and rebates; executive forums to discuss 8×8 strategy and products; and increased Microsoft partner profitability through incremental services, the company said.

Partners invited to join the 8×8 Elevate MP Program will also get the benefits available through the recently announced 8×8 Elevate Partner Program. The global channel program differentiates itself by offering multiple routes to market for partners. These includes both resale and agency, as well as offering 8×8 sales and technical certifications at no cost.

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8×8’s Lisa Del Real

Lisa Del Real is global vice president channel sales at 8×8. She wrote in a blog how 8×8’s channel program intends to raise the bar.

“One of the key differentiators is the opportunity for partners to choose how they work with 8×8. Partners can transact with 8×8 as an agent or resale partner. It’s their business, their choice,” Del Real said. “And the key to success for any partner is being well-quipped to talk about the solutions in their portfolio. That’s why 8×8 provides all of our partner sales and technical certifications at no cost. We want partners to succeed, and we remove the barriers to that success.”

Want to contact the author directly about this story? Have ideas for a follow-up article? Email Claudia Adrien or connect with her on LinkedIn.

About the Author(s)

Claudia Adrien

Claudia Adrien is a reporter for Channel Futures where she covers breaking news. Prior to Informa, she wrote about biosecurity and infectious disease for a national publication. She holds a degree in journalism from the University of Florida and resides in Tampa.

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