Amnesty International USA Adds Efficiency, Lowers Operating Costs Using Hosted VoIP From M5 Networks

NEW YORK, March 16 /PRNewswire/ -- As one of the preeminent voices for victims of human rights violations around the world, Amnesty International plays a critical role in worldwide affairs.  Every dollar the grassroots organization takes in is considered a valuable resource, and organizers work hard to stretch donations to meet the needs of their operating costs.

To this end, Amnesty International USA, the group's New York-based arm, recently sought to get a better handle on its telephony costs.  With 200 phone connections across six domestic offices, Amnesty International USA's investment in phone systems and fees was quite significant.  The organization felt that moving its calling platform to a VoIP (Voice over Internet Telephony) system would increase efficiency while lowering operating expenses.

After looking at several VoIP system providers, Amnesty International USA selected M5 Networks, a hosted VoIP company headquartered in Manhattan.  In addition to offering dedicated account representatives and an optimized network for premium call quality, M5 Networks has several value-added capabilities that set it apart, including the ability to accommodate service changes in just a matter of days — a dramatic difference from traditional phone companies that require multiple weeks.

"Each U.S. Amnesty office was served by individual phone systems that required receptionists to track down travelling staff.  As a result, incoming calls didn't always get to their intended party in a timely manner," said Amanda Hughes, Amnesty International Account Manager for M5 Networks.  "Adding or deleting phones for staff was also a frustrating and time-consuming process."

Amnesty International USA found that M5 Networks' VoIP solution, delivered as a service, offered the combination of cost efficiency, features, and flexibility the organization needed.  Once in place, the new IP-based system saved Amnesty International USA's IT staff considerable time and headaches, since it no longer was responsible for maintenance and administration.  The hosted system was not only managed by M5 experts, but users could also easily customize features to suit their own particular preferences.

With the M5 Networks system, all phones, regardless of location, are connected to one network that can be viewed and managed from any browser.  Receptionists or staff can "see" where everyone is and transfer calls instantly across the hall or across the country.  Furthermore, Amnesty found that with VoIP, there are no national long distance charges — a major plus for a global non-profit organization.  All phones and phone charges, regardless of office, are included in one monthly bill.

Fundraising was another function that benefited from M5 Networks' value-added VoIP platform.  In the past, Amnesty International USA's phone system did not provide metrics and reports to help the organization gauge the effectiveness of specific fundraising campaigns.  With M5 Networks' reporting tools however, Amnesty International could now measure its results in real time.  The tool allows adjustments to be made immediately, so fundraisers can maximize techniques and efficiencies.

Amnesty International USA now has an enterprise-class phone system that accommodates its needs today, while supporting initiatives and future growth.  "The M5 hosted system has enabled us to become more responsive to our mission and members while reducing the overall expense of our phone service," stated Lesley Edinboro, Director, Information Technology for Amnesty International USA.  "The business features and efficiencies of M5 are just as valuable to non-profits, such as ours, as they are to conventional organizations."

To learn more about M5 Networks' hosted VoIP business services, visit www.m5net.com.

About M5 Networks:

M5 Networks provides Voice-over-IP managed phone systems delivered as a disaster-proof service.  M5's delivery model facilitates the rapid deployment of advanced phone system functionality and features that drive a consistent voice experience, as businesses elevate service levels and employees become increasingly dispersed.  M5's pay-per-profile pricing model offers companies a low cost-of-entry to feature sets that traditionally have required large capital expenditure and dedicated IT resources.  By leveraging M5's network infrastructure, customers have a voice platform that frees all voice-related data and commands to mash with other applications. The result is a competitive edge for driving business intelligence, improving customer service, and enhancing enterprise application effectiveness. M5 has numerous industry awards and recognitions and is headquartered in New York City.  To learn more about M5, visit www.m5net.com. 

SOURCE M5 Networks