8x8 Acquires U.K.-based Voicenet Solutions

Cloud communications and collaboration solutions provider 8×8 Inc. (EGHT) has completed the acquisition of U.K.-based Voicenet Solutions, Inc. for $18.4 million in cash.

The acquisition gives 8×8 more than 1,000 business customers and a U.K. operations center. The company hopes to further expand to meet growing global demand for mid-market and distributed enterprise cloud communications and collaborations sollutions, the company said.

8×8 CEO Vik Verma said in a prepared statement that the acquisition will put the company ahead of its competition with Voicenet's "resources, expertise and solidly entrenched customer base in the U.K.

"We are looking forward to building upon the solid foundation Voicenet has established in the U.K. with our unique and differentiated suite of cloud-based unified communications and collaboration services and taking the lead internationally just as we have domestically," he said.

Voicenet CEO Kevin Scott-Cowell said in a statement: "Our knowledge of the local business community combined with 8×8's technological expertise and emphasis on service qualities such as security, reliability and scalability, all key concerns for businesses here, will go a long way as we transition more and more businesses from on-premise to cloud-based solutions."

8×8 is in the process of recruiting solution providers, value-added resellers (VARs) and telecom master agents for the 8×8 Cloud Services Partner Program.