Shoretel announces acquisition of M5 cloud-based voice solutions

Today there are two primary means of data backup and storage: on-premise and hosted in the cloud. While most enterprises deployed on-premise solutions in prior years, housing all data on internal networks that could be accessed by all members in a specific brick-and-mortar facility at once, recent technological innovation is allowing businesses to decrease their IT burden by partnering with managed IT services to store data remotely.

Consequently, many companies today are likely considering the benefits of a transition to a hosted platform while still trying to enjoy gains from previous investments in on-premise hardware.

In a move that will thus provide the company with a distinct competitive advantage, Shoretel – a leading provider of business phone systems and communications solutions – recently announced the strategic acquisition of cloud-based voice specialists M5 to offer next level hosted, on-premise or hybrid business models.

“When I joined the company just over one year ago, I outlined a strategic plan that included three priorities: continuing to grow market share in our core premise-based business both domestically and internationally, launching ShoreTel Mobility for integrating smartphones and tablets with IP PBX systems, and introducing a cloud-based hosted solution,” said ShoreTel’s CEO Peter Blackmore in a press release. “Now, with M5 as our hosted VoIP and UC solution, we are successfully delivering against these strategic imperatives. ShoreTel is in an excellent position to deliver unmatched value to our customers.”

Consequently, the merger will allow Shoretel to provide customers with some of the most comprehensive solutions in the marketplace by accelerating progress into the cloud industry while still offering on-premise IP-based telephony service that all coalesce to provide lower total costs of ownership.

In order to deploy these valuable resources, business officials in Illinois can turn to a Chicago phone systems provider such as CTI Technology that is certified as an authorized reseller of Shoretel products.