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NewsGlobe: Currents
SMBs get new lease on VoIP
Apptix launches program to simplify adoption of UC
by Jim Barthold
Small-medium-businesses (SMBs) struggling over the initial
costs of purchasing and installing business-class VoIP
technology can now lease the essential elements, including
site surveys, equipment, shipping and installation — everything
but the monthly services fee — over a 24-month period.
Apptix has added the leasing option to its growing hosted
services business aimed at SMBs from 1 to 1,000 employees
in North America because that segment of the market
sometimes needs a little help to overcome the initial price
hurdle, said Jackie Funk, director of marketing-channel
programs at Apptix.
“Just five people in a business is going to run them about
$1500 for the upfront purchase of everything they’d need to
get started on our hosted VoIP solution, but by leasing it over
a 24-month period with a $1 buyout option, they can bring
that down to $76.44 per month. That lets them immediately
take advantage of all the features within the solution while
minimizing their risks and spreading out the cost,” said Funk.
Fifteen hundred bucks is a drop in the bucket for a larger
enterprise customers “but when it comes to a small business
there are other areas they want to focus on and it becomes
much more expensive,” Funk said.
In an announcement not directly related to the leasing
program, Apptix also said it was partnering with Polycom to
use HD phones.
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