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Allworx® Corp., a Windstream company, today introduced Allworx Verge™, a new class of mobile-first IP phones for businesses. Allworx also introduced System Software version 8.2, Allworx Reach™ version 3.0 (for iOS and Android) and Allworx Interact™ Professional version 3.0 to support the latest mobility integration features available with Verge.
As smartphones have become the central hubs for business users to manage communications and store contacts, traditional business desk phones are increasingly becoming isolated, less-useful devices. In fact, according to a new third-party survey of 486 U.S. workers with access to both a dedicated work desk phone and a smartphone, only one in two regularly use their desk phones for making voice calls, and one in three prefer to use their smartphones to make voice calls even when they have easy access to a desk phone. One in three say they are willing to give up desk phones at work entirely.
“This survey validates the growing trend we’ve been seeing over the past few years that business users are trading off the business phone features and high audio quality of their work desk phones for the convenience of their smartphones,” said David Plakosh, CTO and General Manager of Allworx. “But our industry has been lagging in bridging this usability gap between desk phones and smartphones. With Verge, we are reinventing the business phone system to seamlessly integrate with mobile devices in ways that have never been done before.”
“We are very impressed with Allworx Verge because the ways in which it addresses the mobility integration are technically novel, yet deceptively simple to use for the end-users,” said Rob Arnold, Principal Analyst at Frost & Sullivan. “We also like that Allworx can offer these enterprise-grade mobility features at an affordable price point for small- and medium-sized businesses. In fact, Allworx was the winner of the 2016 Frost & Sullivan Customer Value Leadership Award because of its leading price/performance value, among other benefits.”
Verge IP phone family includes two models and an expander:
• Verge 9312 12 self-labeling programmable function buttons, Gigabit Ethernet, 4.3-inch color screen, Bluetooth® wireless support and Verge 9318Ex Expander support
• Verge 9308 8 self-labeling programmable function buttons, Gigabit Ethernet and 3.5-inch color screen
• Verge 9318Ex Expander with 18 self-labeling programmable function buttons and a 4.3-inch color screen; up to three can be added to a Verge 9312 IP phone
Verge IP phones offer key mobility integration features including:
• Real-time contact syncing across Verge IP phones, mobile devices (via Reach mobile application) and MS Outlook (via Interact Professional PC application)
• Instant call handoff to and from Verge IP phones and mobile devices (via Reach)
• Remote control of Verge IP phones using mobile devices (via Reach)
• Bluetooth mobile call appearance (available in Verge 9312 IP phone only)
The Reach mobile application replicates the rich functionality of Verge IP phones to iOS and Android mobile devices for today’s mobile work force. The Interact Professional application combines the ease of PC-based call management interface with the high voice quality of Verge IP phones, boosting productivity for power users such as front desk staff, customer support staff and sales professionals.
General Availability
Allworx Verge 9312, 9308 and 9318Ex Expander will be generally available through Allworx Authorized Resellers in early February.
About Allworx
Allworx (allworx.com) is an award-winning maker of VoIP communication systems for SMBs and a wholly owned subsidiary of Windstream. Allworx provides a complete portfolio of VoIP systems, IP phones, network switches and advanced software options to help SMBs create solutions tailored to meet their unique needs. Allworx is available to SMBs through a network of 1,000+ independent resellers in the U.S., Canada and Latin America, and also as Windstream IP Simple, a managed monthly subscription service that combines Allworx equipment with VoIP and data services from Windstream.
About Windstream
Windstream Holdings, Inc. (windstream.com), a FORTUNE 500 company, is a leading provider of advanced network communications and technology solutions for consumers, businesses, enterprise organizations and wholesale customers across the U.S. Windstream offers bundled services, including broadband, security solutions, voice and digital TV to consumers. The company also provides data, cloud solutions, unified communications and managed services to business and enterprise clients. The company supplies core transport solutions on a local and long-haul fiber network spanning approximately 129,000 miles.
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