Hosted Voice for Channel Partners: A Way Forward After Lumen’s Voice Exit

The Smart Opportunity With New Voice Products and Services

According to recent reports two large national providers have confirmed plans to end sales of their voice products and services.  In one case, the provider is completely stepping away from legacy voice products and services for enterprise customers. The company also cut roughly 90 people from its partner organization as it pivots toward network-as-a-service and AI-era connectivity. This is on the heels of another that recently halted the sale of copper-based services.

When large national providers discontinue an entire product segment, the uncertainty creates business continuity challenges for both existing customers and their IT channel partners.  While, a wide scale exit from a product segment is unsettling, it is also a rare chance to transition to flexible technology alternatives.

For example, businesses on legacy voice technology can elect to upgrade hardware and software aligned to the business growth and operational needs. This is also an opportunity to select a new strong technology partner like Smart City with a modern flexible platform and vast technical expertise.

Reach Every Customer Including Off-Net

Smart City Telecom has connected Central Florida businesses and communities since 1969. Voice has always been part of how we help customers stay communicate.

Smart City offers hosted voice and VoIP built for uptime, delivered over virtually any broadband connection, and backed by real, local support. Smart City Hosted Voice Services can be delivered anywhere. Prospective customers are not required to be on the Smart City network. If a business has a reliable internet connection, Smart City can serve them. For example, a property manager in one market, a clinic in another, a hotel three states away — all of them can move to Smart City’s modern Hosted Voice services.  And existing internet connection is enough to get started.

For an IT partner, this pivot also translates into a smooth path for their customers whose voice contracts are nearing expiration. Paired with Hosted Voice, Smart City Managed Services, Fiber Internet, and SD-WAN, and a simple phone conversation can grow into a broader, stickier relationship.

For example, a regional medical group with clinics across several counties with a voice service contract that is set to expire in the coming months. Smart City Hosted Voice can be deployed over their existing connections, the customer can move every location onto one dependable platform — off-net sites included which allows the IT channel partner to keep the entire account under one roof.

The Bottom Line

The headlines of national players exiting the voice product segment should be a wake-up call for both business and residential customers, but it doesn’t have to impact one’s bottom line. With the right hosted voice solution and services, this transition could be a valuable opportunity to deepen relationships and future-proof an organizations infrastructure.

Smart City is ready to help customers and IT channel partners make that move on terms that work for you. Contact Smart City Telecom today!

Further reading: Lumen’s voice pullback leaves partners uneasy — Channel Dive