Toshiba Named Value Leader in Info-Tech's Vendor Landscape on Unified Communications as a Service

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Telecommunication Systems Division today announced that it has been named a Value Leader in the "Vendor Landscape: Unified Communications as a Service" report by leading industry analyst Info-Tech Research Group. Toshiba scored 100 points against competitors' average score of 27 points for its VIPedge® cloud-based Unified Communications solution and UCedge® client software application.

"Toshiba has received Info-Tech's Value Award for providing an affordable, durable, long-term and reliable unified communications solution for SMBs. Toshiba delivers a straightforward approach to UC for small businesses, complementing its IPT offerings, for which it received consistently positive customer feedback in our surveys," said Brad Wells, director, Infrastructure Research for the Voice, Video, and Enterprise Collaboration Practice at Info-Tech Research Group.

Toshiba received 100 points, the highest Info-Tech Value Score of the major UC solution providers, which included Avaya, Cisco, Microsoft, Mitel, NEC and ShoreTel, among others. The Value Score indexes each vendor's product offerings and business strength relative to their price points. Included in the scoring are features, usability, and stability. Toshiba was lauded for its rich feature set in multimedia, mobility, contact center, fixed mobile convergence, presence & IM, Web & desktop, recording & analytics and continuous UCC.

According to Info-Tech, Toshiba's many strengths include:

• A good selection of on-premises and Web-based application partners, which enhances the value of Toshiba's IPT/UC capabilities;
• The admin interface and end-user personalization interface, which are both Web-based, minimizing software installation while giving users individual control over their button configurations;
• Customers' citations, which include strong reliability, durable hardware, fast delivery, and impressive warranty as areas in which Toshiba excels;
• Emphasis on third-party compatibility, leading to improved federation, compatibility, and support with products such as Skype®, Salesforce®, and Microsoft Dynamics®; and
• VIPedge's quick deployment at customer sites.

"We are honored to be named Info-Tech's Value Leader for UC as a Service, and I applaud our team here in the U.S. and Japan for their contributions in delivering an affordable, feature-rich UC solution," said Brian Metherell, vice president and general manager of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Telecommunication Systems Division.

Toshiba's VIPedge delivers a competitively priced, comprehensive telecommunications feature suite based on Toshiba's 135+ years of industry experience. VIPedge gives users the advantages of Toshiba's IPedge® business telephone system in the cloud, allowing companies to pay a monthly service fee — scalable to meet system size and usage needs — as an alternative to the capital purchase of an on-site telephone system. 

Toshiba's UCedge delivers a full suite of UC capabilities including built-in softphone, federation of presence and Instant Messaging with external users on Microsoft® Skype for Business (Lync®) Server users and external organizations using Toshiba's UCedge clients; cloud-synchronized call and Instant Messaging history across all devices; and Contact Center capabilities, including mobile access.

About Info-Tech Research Group
With a paid membership of over 30,000 members worldwide, Info-Tech Research Group (www.infotech.com) is the global leader in providing tactical, practical Information Technology research and analysis. Info-Tech Research Group has an eighteen-year history of delivering quality research and is North America's fastest growing full-service IT analyst firm.

About GHRC
Info-Tech's Gaming & Hospitality Research Center (GHRC) focuses on providing practical and tactical advice for CIOs, VPs and Director level IT professionals within the casino & resort market. Evaluating vendors and products specific to the Gaming & Hospitality industry is a revolutionary way to help evaluate current and future technology. Increased value and accelerated business results can be realized when combined with GHRC consulting services that use a structured, industry best practices approach across four major IT focus areas: IT/Business Alignment, Applications, Infrastructure and Risk Management.

About Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc.
Telecommunication Systems Division (TSD)
Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Telecommunication Systems Division is one of the six business units of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. (TAIS) and offers business communication solutions for SMB enterprises and enterprises with multi-site or regional locations. Toshiba's VIPedge cloud-based business telephone solution supports up to 500 users, and the IPedge and Strata CIX systems support from 8 to 1,000 users and offer Voice over IP, voice mail and unified messaging, conferencing and collaboration, unified communications applications, networking, mobility and more. Together with Toshiba's PCs, tablets, copiers, and surveillance video cameras/recorders, Toshiba's Telecommunication Systems Division helps enterprises maximize business efficiency in communications and mobility. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., TAIS is an independent operating company owned by Toshiba America, Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation.  For more information, visit www.Telecom.Toshiba.com. 

About Toshiba
Toshiba Corporation, a Fortune Global 500 company, channels world-class capabilities in advanced electronic and electrical product and systems into three focus business fields: Energy that sustains everyday life, that is cleaner and safer; Infrastructure that sustains quality of life; and Storage that sustains the advanced information society. Guided by the principles of The Basic Commitment of the Toshiba Group, "Committed to People, Committed to the Future," Toshiba promotes global operations and is contributing to the realization of a world where generations to come can live better lives.

Founded in Tokyo in 1875, today's Toshiba is at the heart of a global network of 550 consolidated companies employing 188,000 people worldwide, with annual sales surpassing 5.6 trillion yen (US$50 billion) (as of March 31, 2016).
To find out more about Toshiba, visit www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm.

For additional information, or to purchase Toshiba telecommunication products, visit http://www.telecom.toshiba.com for an Authorized Toshiba Dealer.
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© 2016 Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc.  All rights reserved.  All product, service and company names are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. Information including, without limitation, product prices, specifications, availability, content of services, and contact information is subject to change without notice.

Toshiba PR Contact:
Teri Sawyer, T&Co.                                                             
714-801-1687                                                                     
[email protected]      

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SOURCE Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Telecommunication Systems Division

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