8x8 Express (discontinued) vs. Sangoma Communications Platform

The 8x8 app is great and very user friendly and straightforward. Team Members can adjust their own setting as needed.

Incentivized

We can even use the switchboard option if we are completely online and not using the phone. We can transfer calls by using the online switchboard as well as see who is on the phone or not at that time.

Incentivized

• Being able to forward calls to my cell phone when I am out of office.
• So much functionality. So many options.
• One set price instead of a bunch of add-on fees.

Incentivized

• Allows us to forward phones internally or externally.
• Allows us to set up our favorite contacts to sync up on telephone screen for quick calls.

Incentivized

• We are just starting to use the platform and using limited features at the moment and 8x8 is doing everything we need it to do.

Incentivized

• I've installed quite a few of these systems for a number of customers, and I've found a number of times having access to the second Ethernet port on some of the larger systems, and the ability to do some sort of static routing, and firewall functionality. I would love to have the ability to connect one port to the carrier's cpe router, and the other port to the customer's network.
• I've worked with Voip products for a number of years, and various asterisk iterations. I'd like to see more access to the asterisk cli for troubleshooting, and/or potentially some sort of shell access.
• I'd like to see the Digum Switchvox phones have vpn functionality. It would be great to deploy a field office with a pre-provisioned phone that automatically connects back to the corporate network via a secure vpn tunnel from most internet connections. Currently we either use a softphone, manually program a Cisco phone that does have the capability, or deploy an semi expensive router that support a secure tunnel. It would be much easier to sell a customer on a remote office and a fancy Digium phone, if they didn't need the extra hardware.

If you get less than 4 phones you fall into the online only customer service. There were a couple of times that I could have used more assistance but figuring it out online was a bit of a hassle.

Incentivized

I have not had to use Support yet, so I did not rate this. I have not had to reach out for anything.

Incentivized

8x8 has a much lower cost that avaya for the same features. 8x8 is a bit more user friendly than some other larger well established brands. It still uses industry standards in terminology and call flows to for anyone with voip experience its a pain free switch to make over.

Incentivized

I've installed, and maintained a number of different phone systems over the last few years, including nationwide level Voip service providers relying entirely on custom built Asterisk systems, to SOHO systems connected to cloud level services. So far Digium Switchvox has been one of my favorites when it comes to ease of use, customer service, and over all reliability. While there are a few things I'd like to see done a little differently, updates are released frequently with fixes, and new features.

• Positive impact - pricing is right, service is easy to use.
• Especially during the pandemic, clients who would normally just pop by the office had to call in. 8x8 Express made that so easy as we could transfer calls to our cell phones, but also received emails when a voicemail was left with an audio recording of the message. We didn't miss a beat!
• We use some contractors that are not even in the same state as us, but our clients wouldn't know it as autoforwarding calls is super simple and seamless

Incentivized

• Our in house system has allowed us to grow as our needs have grown. It takes no time to turn up a new phone and get a fresh employee taking calls, and saves us a call to an outside consultant every time we want to make a change to the phone system.
• Previously a receptionist's time would be utilized for directing incoming calls to their destinations, demanding the need for multiple staff member to handle call volumes. With Digium Switchvox we were able to implement a few Interactive Voice Response menus so callers could reach their intended destination without the need for human intervention, allowing us to better utilize the time of our employees.
• Thanks to installing our own system, and enjoying it so much, we were able to take that knowledge and return it back to the company selling, installing, and maintaining Digium Switchvox systems.