8x8 Rolls Out New Cloud Communications Hardware Program

8×8, the cloud services provider, on Tuesday unveiled its new Flex Hardware Program, designed to take the risk out of companies moving communications to the cloud.

The program provides the latest Poly IP desktop and conference phones at monthly lease payments, eliminating the need to incur upfront costs. It also includes a seven-year warranty, upgrades for new hardware, and no long-term contracts. Businesses can cancel and return the phones at any time.

8×8’s Megan Keough

“Hardware, such as desktop phones, headsets and conference phones, have traditionally accounted for a large portion of a new communications solution deployment, which can be a deterrent for some businesses looking to move to the cloud and adopt an opex model,” said Meghan Keough, 8×8‘s global vice president of corporate and product marketing. “By offering a low-risk, device-as-a-service offering, 8×8 is removing friction from the sales process, allowing companies to focus their efforts on reaping the long-term benefits and cost savings associated with cloud communications.”

8×8’s life-cycle management capabilities are included for phones in the program so companies can set up, deploy, monitor, update and transition the equipment. Organizations can choose from more than 15 different Poly IP desktop and conference phone models.

8×8 said the program is “perfect” for businesses with fluctuating seasonal requirements as they can add or remove hardware as needed at no extra cost.

The program is available to customers in the United States.

“We are thrilled to partner with 8×8 to offer companies an easy way to upgrade their communications systems with zero-risk,” said Shawn Puddester, Poly‘s vice president of global service providers. “The integration of 8×8’s Flex Hardware Program with Poly’s latest VVX x50 line of VoIP desktop phones, with industry leading voice technology, enables innovative communications for the modern-day workforce.”