Trending Stories: RingCentral-Zoom Legal Fight, AT&T Business 5G, Rick Ribas' New Job

RingCentral and Zoom lit up the news this week in a fiery debate over their partnership.

Zoom argued that RingCentral breached their reseller partnership by moving customers to the new RingCentral video solution. However, the court is upholding RingCentral’s Zoom sales for now.

Our editorial team also covered several high-profile personnel stories this week. Rick Ribas, for instance, left one channel chief role for another.

Check out the seven stories below.

7. AT&T Gives Business Customers Fixed Wireless 5G Options

Businesses are getting their hands on long-heralded fixed wireless 5G solutions.

The carrier rolled out new options to its business broadband network. Cradlepoint and Sierra Wireless have partnered with AT&T to provide fixed wireless routers for customers. Business can access the offerings next month.

Check out the news.

6. Nextiva Hires Synnex Vet as Distribution Lead

Nextiva’s Rob Moyer

The cloud communications provider tapped Rob Moyer as its senior director of global distribution.

Moyer logged a nine-year stint at Synnex, where he led the distributor’s cloud, mobility and IoT practice. He also worked for Microsoft, where he collaborated with Nextiva CRO Eric Martorano.

Edward Gately has the scoop.

5. PGi, Windstream, IBM Vet to Lead Broadvoice’s Channel Marketing

Lauri Martinez will leverage her deep B2B marketing experience in her new role as vice president of channel marketing.

Martinez has worked in a number of prominent marketing roles. For example, Martinez most recently worked as PGi’s senior director of North America field, channel and customer marketing.

She said she’ll support PGi’s partner program.

Learn more about the hires.

4. 8×8 Contact Center Integrates with Microsoft Teams

The UCaaS provider’s newly integrated contact center solution allows agents to receive calls using Teams.

8×8 announced 8×8 Contact Center for Microsoft Teams. The solution allows contact center agents and other employees to perform PSTN calls on the Teams application.

“Organizations have turned to Microsoft Teams to help solve their most critical collaboration and telephony needs, so integrating advanced contact center capabilities into their communication hub is a natural next step,” a Microsoft executive said.

Learn about the partnership.

3. AT&T Tops Global Ethernet Providers, Trailed by Colt, Orange Business

Little has changed in Vertical System Group‘s global Ethernet rankings.

AT&T and Colt remained the top two providers in the 2020 Year-End Leaderboard. However, Verizon, Orange Business, Lumen and BT Global Services shuffled positions.

The study also touched how the ethernet market has slumped in the last year.

See the leaderboard.

2. Partners No More: Zoom Sues RingCentral for Contract Breach, Unfair Competition

Zoom went after its former partner in court.

The video conferencing giant filed a lawsuit, expressing outrage that RingCentral is profiting off its trademark.

But the drama quickly shifted, as a district court filed a restraining order against Zoom. The restraining order allows RingCentral to continue selling Zoom services that their partnership agreement specifies.

Read about the drama.

1. Fusion Connect Hires Intelisys Vet as New Channel Chief

Longtime Intelisys alumnus Rick Ribas moved from LogMeIn to Fusion Connect.

Ribas had been serving as LogMeIn’s vice president for global channel sales. He credited Fusion and its senior management team for inspiring him to make the leap. He also praised Fusion’s partners.

“I plan to spend my time further strengthening and expanding these relationships, as well as expanding our new breed of sales partner, including VARs, MSPs, distributors, resale [and] white label, to round out our long-term channel strategy,” Ribas said.

Learn about Ribas’ new position.