The Weekly Wrap: UCaaS Providers Jockey for Partners, CenturyLink Rebrands

UCaaS providers made the news this week with product integrations and acquisitions.

Broadvoice spiced up its offering with a Salesforce integration, In addition, CoreDial announced a purchase that it says will give it an edge against Zoom and Cisco. And UCaaS vendors shared their strategic advantages in a Channel Partners Virtual Thunderdome session.

Each Friday we share a rundown of the most popular topics on our website. Check out the seven mini-stories below.

7. Broadvoice B-hive UCaaS Platform Now on Salesforce AppExchange

Broadvoice announced a new CRM integration.

The UCaaS provider made a version of its platform that connects to Salesforce customer databases and workflows. B-hive for Salesforce gives SMBs better communication flow with their customers. Moreover, a Broadvoice executive noted that B-hive includes call disposition and call recording features.

Edward Gately has the scoop.

6. Best in UCaaS: Fuze, Granite, CallTower or CenturyLink?

What do you look for in UCaaS providers? A native solution? A deep portfolio? Scalability? Support resources?

The companies in the UCaaS Thunderdome at Channel Partners Virtual mentioned these drivers in their recent debate. Speakers from CenturyLink, CallTower, Fuze and Granite Telecommunications weighed in on why their offerings stand out.

Check out the Thunderdome recap.

5. Verizon Shelling Out Nearly $7 Billion for TracFone

The New York-based carrier is making a big play to advance in the prepaid wireless service market.

A large chunk of TracFone subscribers used Verizon’s network for their plan, but all 21 million customers will fall under Verizon’s purview. However, that assumes the deal will pass regulatory clearance and finalize sometime in 2021.

Read about why Verizon is making the purchase.

4. CoreDial Acquires eZuce, Sets Up Battle with 8×8, RingCentral

UCaaS providers made another appearance this week.

CoreDial announced plans to buy the video collaboration and communications technology vendor eZuce. The purchased company brings to the table a video collaboration platform, UC solution and contact center offering.

Read about the acquisition.

3. What, No 5G? Apple Updates iPad Air

The new iPad Air will boast a 60% faster speed on existing LTE networks than its predecessor. However, neither it nor the iPad 8th generation work with 5G.

Apple announced the two new tablets, but it has delayed its iPhone 12 launch until later this fall.

Check out Jeff Schwartz’s story for more information.

2. Top Gun 51 On Target: The Channel’s Up-and-Comers List

Back in the summer, Channel Partners highlighted top-performing channel chiefs. Now those standouts are shining a spotlight on other members of the channel. Top Gun 51 winners nominated colleagues and peers that they see making a difference.

VMware‘s Amy Flanagan and Check Point‘s Abigail Maines, for example, made the list.

Take a look at the gallery.

1. CenturyLink Enterprise Now Lumen, as Old Brand ‘Kinda Sounds Old’

Enterprise partners and customers, say hello to Lumen Technologies.

Although CenturyLink’s small business and consumer units remain under the same name, the company has rebranded its enterprise business. Executives said the change reflects the “4th industrial revolution,” in which connected devices and complex applications abound.

Garrett Gee functions as Lumen’s senior vice president of indirect sales.

“Our goal is to deliver the critical services that our partners and their customers need from us with a focus on digital delivery,” Gee said.

Read about the rebrand and what analysts had to say about it.