Telus extends cloud services via RingCentral partnership

Telus has introduced its Business Connect offering, an integrated service it is delivering in conjunction with RingCentral that it says will address the cloud needs of small businesses.

The Business Connect offering will consist of a suite of communications tools for both office and mobile use.

Among the features that Business Connect will offer: local and toll-free numbers; an automated attendant and call routing; unlimited Canadian and U.S. calling; audio and video conferencing; wireless back-up for office Internet access; a single number that can be used across mobile phones, tablets, IP desk phones or PCs; and mobile apps to connect to business tools such as voicemail, fax and conferencing on the move.

One of the trends the new service is responding to is the bring your own device (BYOD) movement that businesses continue to see, with employees using their own smartphones and tablets to access the company network and documents.

Because Business Connect is a cloud-based solution, Telus said that it can remove the cost, complexity and rigidity inherent in on-premise PBX and related voice systems.  

"The way we work is changing, and traditional enterprise phone systems can be complicated, costly and ineffective for small businesses," said Jim Senko, senior vice president of small business and emerging markets at Telus, in a release. "Telus Business Connect provides an affordable, fully-featured suite of communications tools, so our customers can spend less time worrying about their phone system and more time concentrating on growing their business."  

One of the potential benefits is a business can purchase service on a per-user basis, enabling it to add and remove users quickly as the business grows or to meet seasonal shifts in demand. In addition, Telus offers payment plans for IP desk phones: new users can be added as a monthly operating expense without any upfront costs.

For more:
- see the release

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