Windstream Fires Up Major UCaaS Upgrade

The Windstream Enterprise UCaaS Mitel Platform has been upgraded, enhancing its value for businesses seeking an enterprise-class UC offering that integrates voice, multimedia, unified messaging, mobility and other services onto a single, unified platform.

In 2013, Windstream entered an agreement with Mitel to offer the company’s MiVoice and MiCollab offerings in a fully managed, cloud-based UCaaS, powered by Mitel’s MiCloud for service providers. Windstream, a Mitel platinum partner, said the Mitel platform is an integral part of its UCaaS platform.

The version 4.0 release includes add-on features for free, next-generation MiCollab Desktop Client, and a portal with expanded tool sets for enhanced administration.

In addition, enhancements have been made to the customer experience, specifically in the quoting/ordering/bundling processes, including: life-cycle billing for user seats, a flex contract, consolidated seat bundles, no UCaaS installation charges, and per-site phased implementation and billing.

Windstream Enterprise said the upgraded platform means partners now have a “more robust and feature-rich UCaaS/CCaaS platform, while also having a more simplified and user-friendly offering.”

Today, Windstream Enterprise has customers in every vertical. The upgraded platform allows deeper penetration into those verticals, now with enhanced abilities to integrate with third-party applications that may be specific to a particular vertical, it said.

Last summer, Windstream updated its UCaaS portfolio by adding Broadview Networks’ OfficeSuite, paired with its SD-WAN.

“Businesses of all sizes recognize that digital transformation is essential in a competitive environment,” said Joseph Harding, Windstream Enterprise and Wholesale’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer. “As a company pledged to helping our customers make that transformation, Windstream Enterprise is committed to staying current on the latest trends and technologies, including those from partners who are best-in-breed in their industry. Mitel is one of those partners, and this major platform upgrade is just one example of their shared commitment to continuously improve their solutions with enhancements that streamline and simplify how customers use UCaaS in their business.”

According to Gartner, UCaaS capabilities now exceed those available from premises-based UC. While premises-based UC still accounts for about 70 percent of the services sold to midsize and large enterprises, UCaaS providers are expanding their capabilities to meet enterprise needs.