Ribbon Communications Launches Remote UC&C Solution, Introduces New CEO to Partners

Written by James Anderson
March 24, 2020

The company has rolled out its new [email protected] solution to address the telecommuting wave.

Ribbon Communications is rolling out new capabilities to customers and partners as telecommuting ramps up during the coronavirus crisis.

The company has rolled out its new [email protected] solution to address the telecommuting wave. The cloud-based offering gives enterprises and contact centers remote working capabilities. It’s the remote version of Ribbon’s Smart Office, which includes video, screen sharing, chat and other features. Customers can get free licenses from select partners through June 30.

Offerings like this have found traction. The Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) used Etisalat’s Cloud Talk– which is built on Ribbon’s cloud-based communications solutions – to assemble his cabinet on Sunday.

We recently compiled a list of 20 top UCaaS providers offering products and services via channel partners.

“In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, companies must be empowered to shift their operations to alternate locations quickly and efficiently,” said Sacha Gera, Ribbon’s senior vice president of cloud products. “Our Kandy communications platform-as-a-service (CPaaS)-based solutions enable companies to rapidly meet this need seamlessly and cost-effectively.”

We’re proud to work with our partner @etisalat to help support remote work requirements: in these uncertain times: https://t.co/uEHjSC6VPP #stayhome #TogetherAtHome #FlattenTheCurve pic.twitter.com/biTyXdq7w7

— Ribboncomm (@ribboncomm) March 24, 2020

Remote work has become the new normal, and technology companies of all kinds are scrambling to accommodate their customers. The vendors’ influx of new offerings is occurring while they themselves are moving their employees off campus. Patrick Joggerst, Ribbon’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer, said 75% of the 3,000-person Ribbon workforce was working away from the office, as of Monday.

He said Ribbon has given select channel partners free collaboration tools through June 30. He urged partners to make themselves available to their clients.

Ribbon Communications’ Patrick Joggerst

“The partners that are serving those enterprise customers should be bold,” Joggerst told Channel Partners. “Make sure that you are in front of customers helping them weather the storm, because loyalty gets rewarded. It’s the right thing to do. It’s good for business. It’s good for society.”

The company also announced last week that its Intelligent Edge multiservice business gateways (MSBGs) are now certified for Microsoft Teams direct routing. That includes the EdgeMarc 2900, 4800, 6000 and 7000. Gary Forrest, CEO of SIP trunking provider Pure IP said the update ensures optimal calling performance and service assurance for enterprises moving to Teams.

“We are already leveraging the capabilities of Ribbon’s SBCs within our Microsoft Teams Direct Routing and SD-WAN service offering and now we are in the process of deploying their EdgeMarc devices at various customer sites,” Forrest said. “The timing of their latest certification could not be more ideal.”

As a @Microsoft Gold Communications Partner, our #SBC portfolio is certified for @MicrosoftTeams #DirectRouting, and enables enterprises to migrate at their own pace. #UnifiedCommunications #UC Find out more: https://t.co/P5cp6LVjnr #MSTeams pic.twitter.com/pAHZV6rv6s

— Ribboncomm (@ribboncomm) March 22, 2020

Ribbon this month also released its new EdgeMarc 300 series, which is part of the company’s Intelligent Edge portfolio. The 300 serves small businesses, connecting analog-based communication systems to IP-based voice services.

“The EdgeMarc 300 is the perfect communications solution for our customers’ growing businesses,” said Centro Computer‘s Luca Vitali, whom Microsoft named a “Most Valuable Professional” for his insights on Skype for Business.

“… The EdgeMarc 300 fits perfectly into the ecosystem of Ribbon products that we already support, allowing our customers to preserve current investments and know-how, while offering us new solutions,” said Vitali.