Lightpath Adds BC/DR Voice Features

Ethernet-based solutions provider Lightpath has added new functions to help midmarket and large businesses communicate more effectively during emergencies.

The new features include an improved self-service portal for its softswitch-based Enterprise Voice and Internet Voice Bundle, and automated communications services for Lightpath Hosted Voice. The company is responding to requests from customers who want more tools to help support business continuity and disaster-recovery efforts.

The bundle customers now have access to the PBX CommPortal, which offers self-service functionality for account changes that used to require a call to Lightpath. The portal is designed to support easy management of PBX-based phone services. This includes configuring immediate call forwarding or unavailable call forwarding to direct calls to an alternative number. Customers can make changes via any Web-enabled device, such as tablets and smartphones. Use-cases include remotely changing how calls are routed when employees are unable to physically be in an office.

During crises like extreme weather events, the ability to communicate quickly and easily is of the utmost importance for businesses,” said Julia McGrath, senior vice president of marketing and business development, Lightpath. The voice-based features that Lightpath is introducing today gives our customers more control and flexibility when its needed most.”

Lightpath Hosted Voice customers can upgrade to add mass announce and firebar capabilities to their service. The company says mass announce makes it easy to create and send a pre-recorded message to a large number of contacts for communication around events like delayed office openings or emergency closings. Calls are automatically placed to contacts on a predefined list with the ability to make repeat calls at certain times throughout the day until the recipient is reached.

Firebar gives organizations the ability to quickly and automatically establish an emergency audio conference with a group, such as a designated crisis team.

Lightpath serves the New York metro area.