Masergy Adds Cisco Webex to Growing UCaaS Offer

Masergy just added Cisco Webex collaboration to its UCaaS offering.

The software-defined networking provider said on Thursday that it has merged its hosted unified communications calling platform and Cisco Webex “into a single application experience.” In addition, users can pair the UCaaS offering with Masergy’s SD-WAN to ensure reliable application performance.

Masergy has been offering Cisco-based products and services since its inception in 2004.

TalkingPointz’ Dave Michels

Dave Michels, enterprise communications analyst for TalkingPointz, said this meets a need for an extensive solution that includes collaboration, network services and security.

“Companies of all sizes are looking for a no-hassle migration path to cloud communications. Masergy enhances the Webex solution with networking and management features that give enterprises the advanced features and support often required,” Michels said. “This offer combines multiple services, thus reducing the burden on the customer’s IT to deliver and secure communications. It also simplifies installation and troubleshooting time.”

Channel Perspective

Jim Glackin, Masergy’s senior vice president of global channels, said the company wants to embrace the popular consumption model. That means business owners and their IT leaders prefer to avoid owning technology. They also don’t want to invest in in-house personnel to run the technology. As a result, Masergy is meeting their needs by providing a single platform with an on-ramp to the cloud.

Masergy’s Jim Glackin

“They want to consume technology; they want to use technology. But they don’t want to own it. They don’t want to manage it. They don’t want that distraction from running their core business,” Glackin said.

Glackin said that although people buy 80% of technology through distribution channels, that trend has not historically held true for telecommunications. But now channel partners are seeing demand for their services.

“Customers have traditionally gone direct to AT&T, Verizon, CenturyLink — those providers,” Glackin said. “As the technology has truly converged, customers are now not only expecting – they’re demanding – to work through distribution. They understand the value that the partners bring to the equation.”

Masergy last summer unveiled a new partner program, which provides an increased number of training resources and financial incentives. The company later updated its SD-WAN solution with new SASE capabilities.