OpenScape Business Pay As You Go

Unify have a long history in business telephony. Formerly known as Siemens, they provide integrated communications solutions for 75% of the Global 500 and have over three million users throughout the UK’s SMB sector. But with the popularity of the latest public cloud telephone systems, such as Skype for Business and BT Cloud, Unify have needed a way to compete with the increasingly popular system rental model.

The answer came this week with Unify releasing their new rental model, called OpenScape Business Pay As You Go. This product is clearly aimed at SMB and mid-market using Unify’s latest architecture in the OpenScape Business server-based phone system. So how does OpenScape Business Pay As You Go compare to public cloud phone systems, and what is Unify’s unique proposition?

Immediately noticeable with Unify’s latest rental offering is the reassuring absence of a customer contractual commitment, which speaks volumes about Unify’s confidence in the solutions they provide. While nearly every public cloud telephone system in the market demands a contractual commitment of 36 months, Unify’s pay as you go model is just 1 month.

Unify are also introducing the rental system with high water mark pricing. If you are unfamiliar with this pricing structure then don’t be surprised – it’s hardly seen anywhere within telecoms yet. Simply put, you only pay for what you use; specify the maximum number of licences you need and the system will automatically flex down with your business. This model is ideal in any industry that expands and contracts periodically, but it works just as well for any business by presenting a fairer pricing structure. This high water mark pricing applies to software and features too, removing pressure from managers who have nailed their name to a new purchase delivering ROI . If your staff don’t use it, you don’t get charged for it. Trying new features is risk free.

Pricing has been announced to authorised Unify partners and we can confirm that Unify have done their research. The specific pricing is dependent on required features, but you can expect licence pricing to be comparable with public cloud telephone systems.

This is not a public cloud telephone system; OSB Cloud requires a server for installation, either on premise or in a data centre (AKA private cloud). Server hardware can easily be specified and bought or leased, but Unify’s gradual shift to software specialisation is because the majority of businesses already have access to a virtual server environment. OSB Cloud is compatible with VMware and Hyper-V, opening up the option of high availability for those that need it. Handsets will need to be purchased, as with most cloud phone systems, either on lease or outright. The system supports softphones and includes a mobile app, giving the full range of endpoint options.

As mentioned previously, the high water mark rental feature is ideal for businesses with seasonal  fluctuations in business size. Be conscious that not all resellers will offer that flexible pricing model onto clients. This is not suggesting there is any negative intent, many will simply have separate models for amortising costs, but the informed buyer can ask the question.

Unify’s Device@Home feature allows handsets to connect securely to the core telephone system from any almost any internet connection; ideal for homeworkers, multi-site businesses, and those who need an effective business continuity strategy. That latter point should have some reflection; with the government incentive to change commercial office space into residential space, and Openreach’s ISDN30 having a lead time of up to 30 working days (with a “subject to survey” clause) once you find a new office, it’s worth understanding how vulnerable your business would be if your landlord served notice on your tenancy agreement.

The feature list of OpenScape Business is too long to list, but Unify have long been a leader in providing full-feature, comprehensive phone systems. With the inclusion of a fully integrated contact centre, metrics reporting, and up to 1,500 extensions on a single system, Unify’s flagship SMB system will make waves in the modern service-driven rental economy.