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Elevate Your Business Communications with TCI Host: Customized Enterprise-Class Cloud Solutions

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In today’s business environment, staying connected is more crucial than ever. TCI, your trusted leader in telecommunications serving the DC region for over 40 years, proudly offers TCI Host – an Enterprise-class Cloud Communications Solution that’s revolutionizing how businesses communicate.

TCI Host leverages the power of industry-leading, feature-rich software to deliver a comprehensive Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) platform. This cutting-edge solution is designed to meet the evolving needs of modern businesses, from small enterprises to large corporations.

Key features of TCI Host

  • Mobility and Remote Work Support – Enjoy full functionality whether you’re in the office, working remotely, or on the go.
  • Unified Communications – Integrate voice, video, messaging, and collaboration tools into a single, seamless platform.
  • Virtualization Benefits – Reduce hardware, software, and power consumption costs while streamlining IT management.
  • Flexibility – Choose between hosted, on-premises, or hybrid deployment options to suit your specific needs.
  • Scalability – Easily adapt to your business growth without significant infrastructure changes.

TCI Host is ideal for businesses looking to reduce their technology footprint, eliminate hardware maintenance costs, and stay ahead of technological advances. With its internet-based service, TCI Host significantly reduces carrier bandwidth costs while delivering top-tier unified communications, mobility, and collaboration services.

As the oldest leading Mitel provider in the DC Region, TCI brings unparalleled expertise to every client engagement. Our certified technical staff is respected throughout the industry, ensuring you receive the highest quality support and service.

Don’t let outdated communication systems hold your business back. Experience the future of enterprise communications with TCI Host.

Contact TCI today to learn how we can customize a solution that fits your specific objectives and propels your business forward in the digital age: (703) 321-3030 or GetHelp@tcicomm.com.

Connecting Your Sr. Living Community with TCI Managed UC & Infrastructure Solutions

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TCI designs, deploys and supports the technologies you need to bring your entire senior living community together.

We offer a full suite of integrated services, bringing the ‘TCI Advantage’ to your community with Managed Voice, Core Network and Infrastructure services to connect what counts…

TCI Host

Connect your community with Mitel-powered communication features and built-in mobility, customized app integrations, professional cloud, on-prem and hybrid deployments, and 24/7 support.

  • Voice & Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS)
  • All-in-one Phones, Video Meetings, and Messaging
  • Integrations with Your Business Apps
  • Contact Center Solutions

TCI Connect & Manage

Managing a complex communications infrastructure is no simple task. We handle the day-to-day details so you can focus on your strategic priorities.

  • Wired Infrastructure & Managed Wi-Fi, Data Centers & Broadband
  • 24/7 Help Desk, Monitoring, Alerting, Response & Resolution
  • Asset Management, Data Backups & Recovery

We back up your Assisted Living technology with outstanding TCI support…

  • 24/7 Remote Monitoring
  • On Call Technicians
  • Emergency Service

TCI’s customized technology and communications services keep your families and caregivers in touch, providing the peace of mind they deserve and expect.

Let’s talk about new ways to serve your Senior Living Community: Contact your local TCI experts at (703) 321-3030 or GetHelp@tcicomm.com.
 

The Best of Cloud & On-Prem – 3 Big Advantages of Hybrid UC Deployments

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For years, the focus of IT and telecom decision-makers has been on moving communications to the cloud. Many accepted the idea that all communications would eventually be handled as a cloud-based service.

However, the notion of a “cloud utopia” starts to break down when you consider the significant investments that many organizations have made in on-premises solutions. There’s also a common perception that business communications are too important to relinquish total control.

As a business leader, you may be faced with the decision of whether to go all-in on the cloud or maintain an on-premises communications infrastructure. The good news is that there’s a third option that can provide the best of both worlds: a hybrid approach.

A hybrid solution allows you to leverage the benefits of cloud-based communications while still retaining control and customization over your on-premises systems.

3 Advantages of a Hybrid Solution for Business Leaders

1. Innovate Today, Migrate Tomorrow – The key benefit of a hybrid approach is that you can deliver enhanced communications capabilities, like video conferencing, mobility, and team collaboration, from the cloud while retaining your existing on-premises platform for telephony services. This allows you to manage your growth by deploying new UC and contact center (CC) solutions in the cloud with a flexible, OpEx-based model, while still leveraging your previous on-premises investments for long-term ROI. Additionally, you can expand communications to frontline workers using a serverless, cloud-based approach that integrates with your on-premises UC system, providing a consistent user experience.

2. Different Needs, One Platform – As a business with diverse locations and user requirements, the challenge of going “all-in” on cloud or on-premises is accommodating the exceptions. A hybrid architecture allows you to tailor your communications solution to meet the specific needs of your organization. For example, you can keep telephony on-premises at locations that require it for regulatory reasons or internet redundancy, while deploying cloud-based UCaaS at smaller remote sites. This mix-and-match approach ensures you can meet the unique requirements of your multi-location business.

3. Everything Has Its Place – Unified communications is often a suite of loosely integrated applications, which creates an opportunity for a hybrid approach. You can continue to deploy mission-critical call control on-premises while moving less critical applications to the cloud. Additionally, you can integrate cloud-based UC services, such as mobility and collaboration with your on-premises telephony to optimize virtual team meetings, enable remote access, and even allow for programmable communications through cloud-based APIs.

A hybrid communications approach can provide the flexibility, scalability, and control you need to meet your evolving communications requirements. By leveraging the strengths of both cloud and on-premises solutions, you can innovate today while maintaining your existing investments for the long-term.

Connect with our UC experts to discover new ways to customize communications that will future-proof your enterprise. Contact TCI today at (703) 321-3030 or GetHelp@tcicomm.com.
 

Choosing the Right Cloud Infrastructure for Your Organization

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By definition, Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) is a unified telecommunications system based in the cloud. But which cloud? Your own, or one you share with people and organizations you don’t know?

Public and private cloud environments are very different regarding security, flexibility, performance, control, and other essential factors. Today, organizations can experience the best of both worlds — with some due diligence.

What is a Public Cloud?

In a public cloud environment, multiple organizations share space on a server or, more likely, a virtual server. This platform offers the benefits of simplicity, scale, and savings.

  • Companies don’t have to worry about maintenance; the public cloud service provider handles updates and upgrades.
  • Organizations can add or decrease seats based on business demands.
  • A public cloud platform eliminates the expense of maintaining communications equipment and servers.

At the same time, a public cloud has limitations. Operating systems and software, for instance, are upgraded when the public cloud service provider — not the client organization — chooses. Users who want customization, such as other applications or additional security for their virtual machines, are generally out of luck.

Think of it as an apartment building filled with tenants. The building owner, not the tenants, decides when to shovel the snow off the steps and repave the parking lot. The tenants can request security cameras or electrical vehicle chargers, but the building owner ultimately decides whether to install them.

What is a Private Cloud?

A private cloud system works like a public cloud, but as the name suggests, the resources are limited to a private network. These systems pair the efficiency of virtualization and a centralized infrastructure with the security of dedicated virtual servers. A private cloud gives organizations great flexibility, maximum control, and security.

  • Like public clouds, private clouds are scalable and cost-effective.
  • Upgrades and updates happen when the company chooses.
  • Organizations determine who and what can access the private cloud, significantly reducing the data breach risk.

However, adding and managing data centers, servers, and phone lines can get expensive and complicated and take engineering staff away from other duties. System maintenance can also require staff that may be difficult to find and expensive. In addition, modern communications requirements can mean significant liability.

Many services, including e911 and the calculation and remittance of regulatory fees and taxes, are required for cloud-based systems. Companies that maintain a private cloud must stay abreast of — and comply with — government regulations, such as STIR/SHAKEN compliance; Kari’s Law, which ensures the ability to dial 911 directly; and RAY BAUM’s Act, which requires that all 911 calls include dispatchable location information.

What is a Managed Private Cloud?

The expense and liability of managing data centers have driven many organizations to migrate their private cloud environments to a managed private cloud service. This third offering combines many of the benefits of a public cloud with the increased control and security of a private cloud.

  • Service providers handle maintenance and upgrades at the customer’s convenience.
  • Companies have dedicated virtual servers for each unique application.
  • Regulatory compliance responsibilities (e.g., 911-related services, calculation/collection/remittance of regulatory fees and taxes) lie with the service provider.
  • Billing services lie with the service provider.
  • Geo-redundant data centers offer enhanced security and reliability.
  • Service providers include all inbound/outbound calling services within the 48 contiguous US.

Choosing the Right Service Provider

For more than 40 years, we’ve served as a trusted partner to innovative DC region organizations that need intelligent communications solutions to engage with their clients and accelerate operations.

Let’s explore which cloud infrastructure approach and customized UCaaS can help grow your business. Contact TCI today at (703) 321-3030 or GetHelp@tcicomm.com.
 




How RingCentral Provides Best-in-Class Cloud Voice Security for the Hybrid Work Environment

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During the turmoil of the last few years, businesses of all sizes scrambled to put in place flexible communications and collaboration tools to enable their employees to work from their homes or office. Many pieced together several applications for video conferencing, messaging, and telephony without considering the importance of a holistic security strategy.

Security is essential for UCaaS which spans the cloud provider hosting facility, network infrastructure, applications, and customer business processes. This affords IT departments peace of mind and enables them to focus on core business requirements rather than spending time creating and enforcing security policies across the UCaaS environment.

What Does Security with RingCentral MVP Look Like?

Maintaining customers’ trust in their data handling practices, demonstrating respect for data privacy, and arming customers with dynamic admin controls are top priorities at RingCentral and TCI.

The foundation of RingCentral MVP’s best-in-class security is its secure cloud platform with end-to-end encryption and a robust portfolio of security and compliance certifications.

RingCentral MVP offers compliance with global privacy laws and frameworks such as GDPR and HIPAA, stringent information security protection, and privacy and compliance controls to safeguard your business. Compliance with various industry regulatory standards includes STIR / SHAKEN, Kari’s Law, RAY BAUM’s Act, FINRA, HITRUST, and PCI.

The RingCentral MVP platform also puts a comprehensive set of administrative controls across video, message, and phone systems at your fingertips. You can require meeting attendees to authenticate, limit who can enable screen sharing, and require waiting rooms for your users to approve attendees who can join meetings.

For existing Mitel cloud communications customers, our partnership with RingCentral makes upgrading to the leading UCaaS platform a convenient, cost-effective, and secure business decision.

Arrange a meeting with our Cloud Voice Experts to discuss security and start your upgrade to the cloud. We’ll help you at each step of your journey to RingCentral MVP. Contact us today: (703) 321-3030 or GetHelp@tcicomm.com.
 

Attn. Assisted Living Communities… How TCI Managed Solutions Connect Your Residents, Families & Caregivers

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TCI designs, deploys and supports the technologies you need to bring your entire senior living community together.

We offer a full suite of integrated services, bringing the ‘TCI Advantage’ to your community with Managed Voice, Core Network, Wi-Fi, and IT Security to connect and protect what counts…

TCI Host

Connect your community with Mitel-powered communication features and built-in mobility, customized app integrations, professional cloud, on-prem and hybrid deployments, and 24/7 support.

  • Voice & Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS)
  • All-in-one Phones, Video Meetings, and Messaging
  • Integrations with Your Business Apps
  • Contact Center Solutions

TCI Connect & Manage

Managing a complex communications infrastructure is no simple task. We handle the day-to-day details so you can focus on your strategic priorities.

  • Wired Infrastructure & Managed Wi-Fi, Data Centers & Broadband
  • 24/7 Help Desk, Monitoring, Alerting, Response & Resolution
  • Asset Management, Data Backups & Recovery

TCI Secure

Rest easy knowing your systems are protected with multi-layered security solutions. TCI manages a broad array of defenses on your behalf partnering with proven global security leaders.

  • Next-Generation Firewall and Management Solutions
  • Patch Management, Wireless Security, and Backup/Recovery
  • End Point Security

We back up your Assisted Living technology with outstanding TCI support…

  • 24/7 Remote Monitoring
  • On Call Technicians
  • Emergency Service

TCI’s customized technology and communications services keep your families and caregivers in touch, providing the peace of mind they deserve and expect.

Let’s talk about new ways to serve your Assisted Living Community: Contact your local TCI experts at (703) 321-3030 or GetHelp@tcicomm.com.


Running a Multi-Site Enterprise? 5 Ways UCaaS Simplifies Connecting Your Locations

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A unified enterprise voice network connects your customers and employees, no matter where they’re located…

UCaaS also offers bottom line benefits by eliminating the need for expensive hardware and maintenance costs. With UCaaS, you can control your IT budget, while providing your team with advanced features and functions. You’ll also improve the customer experience, making your communications seamless and efficient.

Here are five ways UCaaS can benefit your multi-site enterprise:

  • Hybrid Work Environments – UCaaS provides full office telephone functionality and business information access to remote users and hybrid workers, no matter where they are located.
  • Hot Desking – UCaaS enables staff members who are working in different offices to take their desktop phone with them. All they need is a code to access their customized desktop settings, making communication easier and more convenient.
  • Business Continuity – With UCaaS, employees can access the system from any location and redirect incoming calls on demand in the case of any disruption at any office.
  • Extended Contact Centers – UCaaS allows businesses to extend their call center coverage to remote offices or home-based agents. Calls are automatically routed to the most appropriate person, team, or location to improve customer service.
  • Improved Call Handling – UCaaS can improve call routing between different locations. For instance, if salespeople are out of the office meeting clients, their calls can be redirected to a backup location.

If you lead a multi-location enterprise, UCaaS is the perfect solution to bring your people together, improve communication and collaboration, and save on costs.

TCI specializes in the design, deployment, and support of unified enterprise voice networks. Contact us today: (703) 321-3030 or GetHelp@tcicomm.com.

 

Mitel’s MiVoice Connect (formerly ShoreTel Connect Onsite) is Sunsetting. You Have Options

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MiVoice Connect and MiVoice Connect CallCenter – formerly ShoreTel Connect products – are slated to end production by Mitel at the end of 2024 and support will be discontinued at the end of 2030.

While this news means future change, you have time to make decisions on the best alternative for your organization.

  • Migrate to MiVoice Business: This is Mitel’s traditional voice solution, which can be deployed as an on-premises solution or a private cloud solution. MiVoice Business solutions can be supported as a CAPEX or OPEX arrangement and there are several cost-effective licensing options to support your migration.
  • Migrate to UCaaS: A cloud-based service option like TCI Host service or RingCentral MVP provides all-in-one communications. Get more details on the available promotions and capabilities to see if these monthly subscription plans make sense for you. 
  • Status Quo: You may decide not to make any changes at all. TCI will continue to support you. At some point, MiVoice Connect may not be compatible with new Microsoft operating systems, and we’ll be able to assist you at that time.

Please contact us if you have any questions, or are ready to explore your options. We’re at (703) 321-3030 or GetHelp@tcicomm.com.

 

Expert Insights: 2023 Unified Communications Predictions

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Today, unified communications (UC) technology is more than just IP phones and simple features like live chat. You’ll want to partner with a local provider who can help guide you toward the right mix of today’s solutions and evolve with you in the future.

TCI has been supporting the DC Metro Region for 40 years and we’re here to help. As we look toward the new year, we know many organizations will be modernizing their communications systems to streamline operations and keep employees and customers connected.

Our strategic technology partner, Mitel has weighed in on what UC will look like in 2023. Here are their predictions.

Generative AI will take off.

Generative AI can create content automatically. It has the potential to revolutionize certain aspects of business, specifically when it comes to content marketing and contact center communications.

The technology can improve the chatbot experience on websites and provide personalized content to customers based on their history. In the contact center, Generative AI can produce content for agent coaching. It can also document and summarize interactions between agents and customers, creating content that can be used for training and development.

Organizations and UC providers need to stay on top of the role Generative AI will begin to play and be able to incorporate the content produced by it into their UC technology stacks.

CISOs will focus on recruiting employees to play a bigger role in preventing attacks and securing edge devices.  

Phishing attacks rose in 2022 and organizations are concerned about unauthorized access or leaks of their proprietary information. Business leaders need to raise employee education and vigilance in avoiding ransomware, phishing, and other threats coming in email, texts, and social media.

Another challenge is securing a rapidly expanding universe of edge devices, both professional and personal. Most employees work on multiple devices, and you can’t protect what you don’t know about, so auditing and securing a widely dispersed infrastructure will be essential.

Mitel and TCI offer a software assurance (SWA) subscription that keeps your UC up to date on the latest software, security fixes, and compliance requirements.

A one-size-fits-all approach to delivering UC will no longer work. Organizations are demanding customized solutions.  

Customers have many communication technology choices today, and many use a mix of infrastructures. In 2023, the world’s business communications will occur across a panorama of on-prem, private cloud, hybrid, and UCaaS systems.

Currently, deployed on-premises solutions lead the pack, but Mitel’s survey found that over 40% of enterprises are combining their on-premises solutions with a cloud solution, and almost half are either evaluating or currently moving their on-premises communications to the cloud.

UC providers need to fully embrace Customer Lifecycle Management as organizations look for the right communications solution to deliver long-term value for both the customer and employee experience.

With so many choices regarding technologies and deployment options, organizations need more than just a drop-ship phone provider. They need a local partner who can support them on-site and guide them toward solutions that support shared workspaces, file and screen sharing, and a mobile-first design. Businesses are looking for a quick and sustainable ROI that empowers their customers to collaborate and complete tasks from anywhere.

Our local team of experts is ready to advise you on the best path forward as you implement your 2023 plans. Contact us at (703) 321-3030 or GetHelp@tcicomm.com.

 

The Power & Business Benefits of a Single Platform UCaaS Solution

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Create new opportunities to boost efficiency, improve employee experience, and better serve customers.

For all the power we now carry in our pockets with our phones, many businesses still struggle with enabling seamless communications and collaboration in the world of remote and hybrid work.

Apart from the fact that talking — real-time audio conversation — has become one of the least popular communication methods, and collaboration platforms are incredibly diverse, there’s a wide variety of solutions for messaging, video conferencing, file sharing, whiteboarding… the list goes on.

Many businesses have invested in a Unified Communication as a Service (UCaaS) platform to replace their old fragmented systems. The next step is to integrate communication and collaboration into one platform.

The Benefits of Bringing it all Together

Bringing communications and collaboration into a single, purpose-built platform delivers four key benefits.

1. Remote work. Recent research from the SMG Group shows that hybrid work environments are a crucial differentiator when people are looking for jobs. This helps businesses attract and retain top talent and makes it easier for employees to collaborate.

2. Business-app integration. Having communication and collaboration tools all on one app makes it much easier to integrate with your other business apps and processes. Why? It gives you a single integration point rather than having to integrate with multiple apps in a patchwork solution.

3. Cross-channel communication. A universally compatible platform works, regardless of device or operating system. This lowers the burden on your IT staff to troubleshoot compatibility issues and is another enabler of productivity and collaboration for your employees.

4. Asynchronous and live communication. Real-time communication is sometimes essential. But not every discussion or workstream must, or can, happen in real-time. Asynchronous chat helps everyone stay current between live calls no matter the time zone or hour of the day.

How to Choose the Right UCaaS Solution

Once you’ve decided to move to UCaaS that combines communication and collaboration tools on a single platform, remember that not all of these solutions are created equal.

Here are the must-haves to consider as you evaluate moving to a new UCaaS solution…

  • Ease of onboarding. Is the platform easy to use, with a friendly user interface? Will the vendor help with change management as you migrate?
  • Security. How does the vendor address issues like encryption and authentication? How do they keep your data safe from cyberattacks?
  • Reliability. Does the service have guaranteed uptime? How robust is their customer service in the case of an adverse event?
  • Versatility. Is the solution compatible with the other business programs you use every day? Do they offer a comprehensive suite of integrations and/or API availability to draft your own?
  • Global integration. Will the platform be as reliable and responsive in Europe and Asia as it is in the United States?

Together is Better

If your business is experiencing barriers to working together across the office, remote and hybrid work environments, your local TCI team can help bring your communication and collaboration together. Contact us today: (703) 321-3030 or info@tcicomm.com.