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Among the responsibilities I have in my marketing position at AudioCodes, I manage campaigns. So when I was asked to run a campaign for AudioCodes’ new appliance for Skype for Business Cloud Connector Edition, I treated it like I do any of the other campaign topics. Little did I know how hot the subject would become.
Rarely have I seen such a strong response to a marketing campaign. We kicked off the Skype for Business Cloud Connector Edition campaign as we did with similar campaigns, with an email to our distribution list inviting folks to register for our Early Adopter Program for AudioCodes’ all-in-one Skype for Business Cloud Connector Edition appliance. In just the first few days we had a flood of people signing up for the program.
I have to admit, I was surprised. But perhaps I shouldn’t have been. Skype for Business Cloud PBX is a hot subject. Our to Cloud or Not to Cloud White Paper on the introduction of Cloud PBX and how AudioCodes’ CloudBond 365 on-premises appliance for migrating users to the cloud had already topped 1,300 downloads. And now Microsoft released Skype for Business Cloud Connector Edition for those Cloud PBX customers without an existing on-premises Skype for Business deployment, tapping into a large market of companies that want to take advantage of Cloud PBX while maintaining their local PSTN or connectivity to existing telephony infrastructure. Microsoft correctly identified the need for these hybrid solutions and began promoting them.
We, too, identified the potential and the need and were the first vendor to release a Cloud Connector Edition appliance. Though the Microsoft Skype for Business Cloud Connector Edition code is free as a downloadable application, it needs to work with a dedicated server, a Windows 2012 Operating System and a gateway or a session border controller. Rather than have users run off in many directions to integrate all that equipment, the AudioCodes Skype for Business Cloud Connector Edition appliance simplifies things by integrating it all into a single appliance. Built on the Mediant 800 platform, the server, the gateway or SBC and the Windows 2012 OS and licenses are all included, making it simple to deploy.
Perhaps, I shouldn’t have been surprised as to the market reaction. When you think about it, people are looking for this simplicity and are anxious to integrate the Skype for Business Cloud PBX offering in its hybrid format. Well, it’s more work for us in the marketing department, but that’s what makes it fun.
For more information on AudioCodes Cloud Connector Edition appliance, click here.
To register for AudioCodes’ CCE Early Adopter Program, click here.
