Capitalizing On Cloud Communications

Moving communications capabilities out of the telco closet is no longer a radical concept. Companies increasingly are embracing hosted and cloud models as an alternative to premises-based business telephony. Channel partners, including telecom agents, IT VARs and PBX dealers, have an opportunity to capitalize on this growing interest. Among the prerequisites for success are aligning themselves with strategic suppliers and honing their sales skills for increasingly discriminating business clientele. This Channel Partners Digital Issue explores both.

Buying Into the Value of Cloud Communications
According to Aberdeen Group's research, "Best-in-Class" companies were more than twice as likely to use a hosted communications solution.

Selling Cloud communications With TCO Modeling
Selling based on Total Cost of Ownership not only offers the customer a truer comparison, but it also positions the channel partner in the role of trusted adviser.

Comparing Cloud Communications Providers
Figuring out which cloud communications service provider to ally with is a decision with many variables — from technology platform to target user to channel support.

Assessing Competitive Threats from Google and Skype
Even as the channel embraces cloud communications, a nagging question is emerging: What threat do self-serve technologies such as Google Voice and Skype pose to partners' business models?

Linking Offices With Hosted VoIP
Channel partner Glacier Communications put David's Financial locations on Broadview's OfficeSuite cloud communications platform.