Panasonic Enters Cloud-Based Communications Market

Panasonic System Networks Company of America has launched a cloud-based services solution, the Panasonic Cloud Business Phone System. Designed for small businesses, the Cloud Business Phone System is designed to pair Panasonic's business phones with cloud-based voice services.

The Panasonic Cloud Business Phone system, developed in collaboration with BroadSoft, is designed to meet the communications needs of small business owners and operators. With cloud-based voice services, Panasonic provides intuitive web-based installation and the ability to enable features or activate additional lines over the internet instead of through technical support.

Panasonic also offers the Panasonic Cloud Business Phone System model KX-TGP551, made for companies with fewer than ten employees.

According to Jim Burton, co-founder of UCStrategies, "Panasonic has been trying to figure out how to enter the unified communications space for a while, but still hasn't cracked the code, unlike other vendors that have seamlessly evolved to the next generation of business communications. Now the company is trying to jump on the hosted services bandwagon, but is sticking with its tried and true basic voice communications that appeals to small businesses looking for inexpensive, basic voice solutions. Panasonic isn't calling its offering unified communications (although its partner BroadSoft refers to it as UC in the press release) since it does not have the basic UC features and capabilities required by most companies. There is a plethora of hosted service vendors offering both basic voice communications and more sophisticated offerings that appeal to small businesses, most of which have more experience offering hosted solutions and have built their companies on the hosted model."

Blair Pleasant of UCStrategies adds, "Panasonic was smart to partner with a company like BroadSoft, and to make the hosted service offering available through popular retail outfits. However, you have to wonder how service and support will be provided to customers - will it be through the retailer or Panasonic - neither of which have much experience with hosted voice services. I expect to see lots of finger pointing when there's a problem. Panasonic is a hardware company, not a software or services vendor, and will be challenged as it becomes a hosted provider, where QoS, scalability, and reliability of the service are key."

The Panasonic Cloud Business Phone System is currently available through online suppliers, starting at $299.99, plus an additional $39.95 per line per month.

For more information, visit www.panasonic.com.