Toshiba: Schools Can Get Cloud-based Telephone Solution Via E-Rate

Toshiba‘s VIPedge cloud-based business telephone solution is now eligible for the national E-Rate Program, which helps U.S. schools and libraries obtain affordable telecommunications and Internet access.

Toshiba America Information Systems Telecommunication Systems Division has announced VIPedge is available to schools and libraries via the E-Rate Program, with discounts ranging from 20 percent to 70 percent of the cost of eligible voice services.

“Thousands of schools nationwide currently have Toshiba’s IPedge and Strata CIX on-premises business telephone systems. Toshiba’s VIPedge cloud-based solution is now eligible for the E-Rate program and is available to schools and libraries at a significant discount,” Brian Metherell, vice president and general manager of Toshiba America Information Systems, said in a prepared statement. “All of the Toshiba systems can be networked together for a hybrid cloud solution, enabling a comprehensive, integrated solution for schools, school districts and libraries.”

VIPedge delivers the advantages of Toshiba’s IPedge business telephone system in the cloud without requiring an entire telephone system, according to Toshiba.

The VIPedge cloud-based business telephone solution features:

E-Rate, also referred to as the Universal Service Fund (USF) Program, is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) under the direction of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

This program provides $2.25 billion annually to public and non-profit K-12 schools and all public and many private libraries.

How can VIPedge help organizations save money?

Toshiba pointed out BookPal, an Irvine, California-based enterprise book seller, exemplifies how organizations can save money with VIPedge.

Ketara Gadahn, BookPal’s director of operations, noted her company’s operations team uses VIPedge to remotely manage its telecommunications systems, which has helped her organization save more than $3,000 annually.

“[The] VIPedge cloud-based business telephone system has exceeded our expectations,” she said in a prepared statement. “We rely on Toshiba’s VIPedge cloud-based business telephone solution to help us better communicate with our customers and partners.”

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