New enhancements will help those businesses looking for a simple way to prepare for existing ISDN and PSTN networks to be shut down in 2025.
- Vodafone Business and RingCentral launch new enhancements to their joint Vodafone Business Unified Communications collaboration and calling platform – putting mobile at the heart of the user experience.
- New enhancements will continue to help businesses who are looking for a simple way to prepare for existing ISDN and PSTN networks to be shut down in 2025.
Vodafone and RingCentral have launched new enhancements to their joint ‘Vodafone Business Unified Communications (VBUC)’ collaboration and calling platform, placing mobile devices at the heart of the user experience.
With access to RingCentral’s leading mobile applications, powered by Vodafone’s award-winning mobile network, the VBUC platform now provides an intuitive, unified experience that lets users make calls, send messages, and launch HD quality video meetings.
All these benefits are seamless and effectively turn your iOS or Android mobile device into a full extension of your office – whether working remotely or on the go.
Plus, following the application of a Unified Directory system, it is now easier to connect and collaborate with colleagues across your organisation – including those who do not have a VBUC license.
First launched in 2022 for large enterprise customers, VBUC has been expanded to cater to the needs of businesses of all sizes including small-to-medium enterprises.
These enhancements will provide organisations with the tools they’ll need to help them adapt to new ways of working, keeping up with changes in how employees communicate. They also replace outdated fixed telephone systems (an essential need for businesses who are preparing for existing networks – Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) and Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) – to be shut down in 2025).
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The enhancements follow new research from Vodafone Business and RingCentral which has revealed the leading bugbears for hybrid workers when working from home.
Issues with broadband connectivity (25%) and tech not working properly (23%) lead the list, followed by video calls freezing mid-flow (15%), and calls dropping out (11%).
Other issues were of a more personal nature, including missing out on ‘office banter’ with co-workers (23%), family members walking in on virtual calls (20%) and feeling lonely (16%). Vodafone and RingCentral surveyed more than 2,000 workers* across businesses of all shapes and sizes in the UK.
With organisations now adapting their workplace policies to suit the requirements of staff who need to work remotely, or split their time between the office and elsewhere, the findings found that workers wanted to feel connected to their organisation and empowered by the tools they were provided with.
Claire Harris, Vodafone’s Head of Small, Medium and Enterprise Business in the UK, said: “At Vodafone we are committed to providing businesses with access to market-leading communication solutions, powered by our award-winning network.
“These new enhancements effectively turn employee mobile devices into a true and complete extension of the office, which is positive news for those who work remotely, are constantly on the go, or constantly have connectivity issues with their broadband – which ultimately affects business efficiency and productivity.
“We will continue to add new enhancements to the VBUC platform over time, as we continue to empower businesses with the tools they’ll need to rapidly adapt to an ever-changing work environment.”
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Continued Yves Desmet, Senior Vice President, International Service Providers, RingCentral, said: “At RingCentral we are focused on bringing people the best communications capabilities across team messaging, video meetings, and a cloud phone system.
“We are delighted to go one step further with our partnership with Vodafone, bringing to the market a powerful differentiated solution which puts mobile at heart of the user experience.
“VBUC new capabilities will enable customers to work anywhere on any device, simplifying the way they communicate to answer most of today’s hybrid work concerns.”
Find out more about how Vodafone Business UC with RingCentral can help your business.
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Notes to Editors
*An online survey was conducted by independent market research agency WALR, among 2,096 workers, aged 18+ in the UK. The research fieldwork took place between 31 March and 4 April, 2023. WALR is a member organisation of the Market Research Society and abides by all codes of practice.
**Top Ten Bugbears:
- Issues with broadband (25%)
- Tech not working properly (23%)
- Lack of conversation with people (23%)
- Increased cost of energy bills that aren’t supplemented by my company (22%)
- When my family walks in on a call (20%)
- Feeling unable to control my work-life balance (17%)
- Loneliness (16%)
- Video calls freeze mid-flow (15%)
- Calls dropping out and they can’t get the person back (11%)
- Limited options for lunch (10%)
About RingCentral
RingCentral is a leading global provider of cloud-based business communications and collaboration solutions that seamlessly combine phone, messaging, video meetings, and contact centre. RingCentral empowers customers with AI-powered conversation intelligence that unlocks insights from their interaction data to accelerate business outcomes. With decades of expertise in reliable and secure cloud communications, RingCentral has earned the trust of millions of customers and thousands of partners worldwide. Visit ringcentral.com to learn more.
