If you’ve just gotten used to the idea of running your business voice communications over a data (IP) connection, you may have heard that companies are now going for a full, unified suite of cloud communication tools.

If your plain old telephones (PoTs) just aren’t cutting it, your phone company declared bankruptcy, or you’re looking for an upgrade, you’re probably wondering about the difference between VoIP and UCaaS, and how they stack up.

Investing in business network performance can yield a high return on investment. Research has found that stronger network performance is associated with more profitable companies, due to cost savings, increased productivity, and lower risk. Not having to worry about the network or constantly troubleshoot it or discover bottlenecks that impede progress are result in your ability to increase the bottom line. If your organization is evaluating the best SD-WAN solutions, you’re on your way to unlocking better network availability, reliability, and reduced administration costs.

But which SD-WAN is the best? How do you know the difference between vendor marketing and solutions which will lead to superior network performance?

According to Gartner, there are over three dozen options for SD-WAN administration. The same survey found that shoppers are overwhelmed with their choices due to a lack of familiarity with the technology and skepticism about how reliably options can perform. If you feel the marketplace is confusing or crowded, you're in the majority among your IT peers. I had one CIO tell me that at a Tech Council cocktail party, he got over five different answers to the question, what is SD-WAN?

There are a lot of ways to evaluate the top community colleges in Washington, D.C. to find the right fit. Academic programs, location, scholarship opportunities, and culture can all play a role in the selection process. However, technology is an essential part of the college experience you probably never considered.

An investment in technology indicates a growing school with a solid financial footing. Every career in the modern workforce involves using technology in some fasjion, so college students need technical training to become well-rounded career candidates. Community college technology can enhance the student experience by providing a platform for communicating with professors, students, and online learning.

Chances are, you’re aware that you can save quite a bit of money on your business telephone communications by bundling service into a package with your internet connectivity.

Whether you’ve already decided to make the switch from traditional telephone service to IP-based phone service (VoIP) or you’re already using cloud-based phone services, evaluating vendors who offer both internet and voice on the same network could be the right move.

However, a lower price paid each month is only one benefit you can realize with bundling if you select the right option from the best business internet and telephone packages available now. With the right vendor, you can unlock the full range of long-term business advantages associated with Unified Communications as a Service or UCaaS - a technological baseline for next-generation communications.

BroadSoft is a leading platform for Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS). As an alternative to UCaaS platforms such as Mitel and Microsoft, BroadSoft has three times more installed users than its closest competitor and 41 percent market share. As a licensed reseller and partner of BroadSoft, the Broadsoft UCaaS platform is a core part of the technology stack we use here at Atlantech Online to deliver voice, hosted PBX, and unified cloud communications to our clients.

Are we biased towards BroadSoft vs. alternatives? Of course, we are! However, Atlantech Online has been in the internet service provider and telecommunications business since 1995 and we adopted Broadsoft at the core of our voice service delivery after doing copious research and technology validation. BroadSoft is a slightly newer firm, originating in 1998 and was purchased by Cisco in Fall 2017. Over 23 years delivering business communications services in the greater DC and Mid-Atlantic region, Atlantech has developed some context around what organizations need from their cloud communications tools and we're committed to offering unbiased recommendations to potential customers--even in the cases where BroadSoft ISN'T the best fit for their needs.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed or confused when you’re trying to research pricing for Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS). How do you know how much it will cost to switch your business from traditional telephone networks or VoIP-only service to cloud communications through a vendor? Also, how do the different types of UCaaS options available--from vendor to features--impact your costs?

If you’re considering switching to Unified Communications, you probably know most businesses unlock significant cost savings. However, exactly where and how this financial advantage is achieved is less clear.

Over 96 million people worldwide work remotely at least some of the time. Within two years, over 70 percent of U.S. workers will use a combination of desktop computers, smartphones, and tablets to work across devices.

It’s no secret that the workplace has changed drastically alongside technology.

Driving productivity with the right business communication tools in 2018 requires technology that’s flexible, mobile, and unified. These factors have driven the rapid growth of Unified-Communications-as-a-Service (UCaaS), or hosted cloud communications tools for businesses. By bringing all of your multimedia communications tools into a single platform, companies are achieving new efficiency and transparency across business locations and industries.

Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) offers collaboration and productivity benefits to any organization, especially firms with multiple locations or remote workers. As companies take a serious look at options to upgrade their communications, UCaaS adoption is soaring. One recent study revealed that 60 percent of enterprise tech today is delivered through the cloud as a service. Among companies considering the switch to UCaaS, the need for use cases and case studies is growing.

Read on if you’re trying to determine whether UCaaS is the right choice for your business, or gather evidence to prove the value of hosted cloud communications to your boss.

Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) is a transformative technology investment for any organization. Making the switch to cloud communication tools offers a host of business benefits, including richer features, superior collaboration, and better productivity.

A quick search reveals several options for UCaaS service in the greater DC metro area. Potential providers range from large, nationally-known companies to locally-based firms. Pricing and services also vary significantly, which can add complexity to evaluating your options.

So where do you start? In this article, we’ll share six of the best UCaas providers in Washington D.C. and Virginia, as well as things to consider before signing any contracts.

Unified Communications (UC) is a system that improves productivity and mobility while saving money on communication costs. By combining voice, video, data, chat, presence, and other features into a single platform, you can achieve a streamlined, IP-based communications platform.

Employees can easily use an app on desktop or mobile to place calls, send chat messages, video conference, or respond to SMS. That same employee can receive files, take phone calls, and collaborate with team members from the field without the need of traditional office presence. This kind of mobility and flexibility drives satisfaction and transparency throughout the enterprise.

But, how do you know which of the available Unified Communications platforms is the right choice for your business?