Plano, Texas,  December 12/17/2024 — Clearspan announced today that TMC, a global, integrated media company, has named Clearspan Cloud as a recipient of the 2024 Unified Communications Excellence Award presented by TMC’s INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine. 

Clearspan Cloud elevates business communications by providing traditional and mobile business calls, video meetings, messaging and more through a customizable, scalable, integrated, reliable, and easy-to-use platform.  “We are honored to have Clearspan Cloud recognized by TMC for our innovation and dedication in providing customizable solutions to meet our customers’ needs.” said Jim Machi, Chief Product and Marketing Officer at Clearspan. “Innovation is behind every success story with each customer we serve. We’ve had some interesting Microsoft Teams integrations with our Clearspan Cloud UCaaS solution, and many customers are utilizing our desktop and mobile client, PING, and replacing existing clients so they can have a more personal user experience and often save money.  That’s one of the many reasons Clearspan is the choice solution for large-scale or multi-location organizations, such as Enterprise, SLED, and FED, as we evolve with them fulfilling their specific needs.” 

“Every year, I am amazed by the innovation and quality represented on the Unified Communications Excellence Award winners list. And I am so impressed with Clearspan’s commitment to addressing the real needs of the marketplace,” said Rich Tehrani, CEO, TMC. “It’s inspiring to see such commitment to excellence, and I look forward to seeing future innovation from Clearspan.” 

About Clearspan 

Clearspan is an innovative communication and collaboration company that delivers superior client experiences and operational efficiency at scale, offering cloud-based phone & collaboration solutions for enterprises of all sizes. With special focus on the education, enterprise, and government sectors, Clearspan helps transform the way people work and the way administrators provision, manage, and support. Learn more at www.clearspancloud.com and follow Clearspan Communications on LinkedIn. 

About TMC 

TMC provides global buyers with valuable insights to make informed tech decisions through our editorial platforms, live events, webinars, and online advertising. Leading vendors trust TMC, thought leadership, and our events for branding, thought leadership, and lead generation. Our live events, like the ITEXPO #TECHSUPERSHOW, deliver unmatched visibility, while our custom lead generation programs and webinars ensure a steady flow of sales opportunities. Display ads on trusted sites generate millions of impressions, boosting brand reputations. TMC offers a complete 360-degree marketing solution, from event management to content creation, driving SEO, branding, and marketing success. Learn more at www.tmcnet.com and follow @tmcnet on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X. 

Clearspan Contact: 

Kayla Swanson 
Kayla.swanson@clearspancloud.com 

TMC Contact:  
Michelle Connolly 

Senior Marketing Manager 
203-852-6800, ext. 170 
mconnolly@tmcnet.com 

The Role of POTS Replacement 

POTS replacement solutions bridge the gap for legacy analog devices still prevalent in many industries. These include emergency phones, security systems, elevator communication systems, and even outdated modems. While their presence may be surprising in today’s digital landscape, these systems often play critical roles in ensuring safety and operational continuity. 

Benefits of Integrating POTS Replacement with UCaaS 

1. Enhanced Redundancy and Reliability: By connecting analog endpoints through a UCaaS-integrated POTS replacement system, businesses can ensure consistent performance, even as legacy systems are decommissioned. Modern networks like LTE or Ethernet replace aging copper circuits, offering cost savings and improved reliability. 

1. Streamlined Management: Integrating analog devices with a centralized UCaaS platform simplifies management. IT teams gain a unified dashboard for monitoring and troubleshooting, reducing downtime and ensuring compliance with communication regulations. 

1. Advanced Features: While POTS lines handle basic functions like calls and alarms, UCaaS introduces advanced capabilities, including mobility, real-time collaboration tools, and third-party integrations. These features not only enhance communication but also future-proof businesses against technological shifts. 

Practical Transition Steps 

• Audit Existing Systems: Identify all analog endpoints still in use. Many, like emergency or elevator phones, are often overlooked by IT teams. 

• Leverage Expertise: Collaborate with providers experienced in POTS-to-UCaaS transitions. Solutions like Clearspan’s POTS replacement systems are designed to integrate seamlessly with existing UCaaS platforms, ensuring minimal disruption during the transition. 

• Focus on Compliance: Regulatory requirements often dictate the need for reliable communication systems. UCaaS platforms meet these standards more effectively than aging POTS lines. 

A Real-World Example 

Clearspan has successfully transitioned numerous businesses from legacy systems to modern UCaaS solutions in collaboration with partners like AT&T. By integrating analog devices into the UCaaS framework, these businesses have unlocked new efficiencies while maintaining the functionality of their critical systems. 

As the telecom landscape continues to evolve, embracing solutions like UCaaS isn’t just a technological upgrade—it’s a strategic decision that ensures operational continuity, cost-efficiency, and scalability for years to come. 

Interested in learning how Clearspan can help your business make the shift? Contact us to explore tailored POTS replacement solutions that integrate seamlessly with modern UCaaS platforms. 

What is Centrex? 

Centrex, or Centralized Exchange, was essentially a remote PBX (Private Branch Exchange) housed in a telephony carrier’s facility instead of on-premises at the enterprise. First introduced by AT&T in the 1960s, Centrex was a precursor to today’s Cloud Unified Communications (UC) and UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service). 

In its heyday, Centrex was a game-changer, offering businesses a way to manage telephony without maintaining physical PBX equipment onsite. At one point, the U.S. boasted over 15 million Centrex lines deployed. 

Why Transition Away from Centrex? 

While Centrex served its purpose well for decades, it was built on outdated infrastructure that can’t keep up with modern business needs. Many enterprises have already moved on to on-premise PBX systems or UCaaS, but some still rely on Centrex. 

Here’s the catch: service providers are actively encouraging customers to transition by raising prices and reducing support for Centrex systems. Why? Because modern solutions are more efficient, cost-effective, and equipped to meet today’s communication demands. 

What’s Next? Modern Solutions for Centrex Users 

The natural upgrade path for Centrex users is UCaaS. Functionally, it’s a familiar experience—with phones on desks and PBX functionality managed offsite—but the similarities end there. UCaaS solutions like Clearspan deliver far more than traditional call control features: 

• Mobility: Seamless communication across devices—desk phones, smartphones, and laptops. 

• Collaboration Tools: Presence, chat, video calling, file sharing, and more for a connected workforce. 

• 3rd Party Integrations: Effortless connections with CRMs, productivity apps, and management tools. 

• Scalability and Flexibility: Tailored to meet the evolving needs of any organization. 

With UCaaS, businesses are not just replacing old technology—they are embracing a future-ready communication ecosystem. 

Good question.  First of all, there is nothing mandating you as a business owner to upgrade your internal systems.  You can decide what you want to do with your business communications infrastructure.   I am just pointing out that the networks these analog end points communicate on or with have been or are soon going away, or are going to cost you a lot to operate. 

So, you can certainly just leave everything alone and hope that everything still works.  That is certainly an option – one that if you have not done anything yet about is the course you are on.  If you choose this option, you may run afoul of some compliance issues at some point, or as I wrote above the system may just not work someday.  If you have an analog door alarm, and it doesn’t work, what would that mean to your business? 

You can also replace your analog communication systems.  If you had a PBX circa 1998 and you replaced it, then you replaced one of your analog systems.  Like a full-scale replacement, including getting new phones, or even eschewing new phones and moving to desktop/mobile clients instead.  You may have done this with other systems as well, maybe bringing in e-fax type solutions as an example.  What other analog communication systems are still in use?  You could choose to swap them out too. 

I’m guessing in your business, you have over the years swapped out some of your most important communication systems, but that you still have a few more to go.   

This is where a POTS replacement solution would work best.  You can utilize modern POTS replacement gateway solutions to keep the current analog endpoints still in use, but get them to communicate with modern networks, thereby enabling you to rid yourself of POTS lines.  

Secondly, I believe knowledge worker type businesses are also asking this question.  And I believe this since I see this in the Clearspan customer base.  We typically sell to large enterprises and large school systems.  These customers might already have a video or collaboration type client in use (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Webex).   And while they use that internally to collaborate, they want to use a “better” call control system / PBX to handle the outgoing/incoming phone calls.  And so, we can integrate our system with those clients to make that happen.  In that case, these customers also just want a basic phone system because they are connecting it to something else. 

Let’s answer that question first.  Yes, it is.  All UC systems, while offering all kinds of ways to communicate (voice, video, chat, collaboration, etc.) offer PBX functionality.  If you just want voice / PBX, you’ll still get the other stuff since most systems include that.  However, if you only just want voice / PBX stuff, I would urge you to go with a vendor (like Clearspan!) who has their roots in voice.  Not roots in video.  Not roots in collaboration.  And I say that only because these systems will have much more mileage on them, and functionality, related to PBX. 

And let’s get to another issue “behind” the question.  Why are these kinds of questions coming up in the first place?  I believe there are at least two reasons which we’ll cover in next week’s blog post. 

Figuring out how to keep the analog endpoints (i.e. not have to replace them) but still use the newer networks is a hot topic now.  So, if the business cannot utilize POTS lines like it used to, what to do?  They need to communicate on the newer wireless / VoIP networks.  Which means there needs to be a mechanism for the protocols used by the analog endpoints to convert to protocols understood by the newer networks.

That is basically a POTS replacement solution.

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POTS replacement solution work by putting in a gateway that converts an analog signal to the VoIP/internet signals.  This way, the older analog end points (they could be phones, alarm systems, fax machines, point of sale devices, etc.) can stay and a business would not have to re-architect its entire communication system.

And this is not necessarily expensive.   Vendors, such as Clearspan, provide a monthly recurring model for each analog port, that does not have any upfront costs.  And Clearspan also provides optional wireless if you want to use the wireless network to connect out to the world.  Clearspan has already deployed POTS replacement solutions for thousands of analog endpoints.  We know how to do this.

But there are many endpoints in businesses that use POTS lines (i.e. are analog) such as phones, alarms, faxes, etc.  So, for a business to fully move to the newer networks, all the analog endpoints would need to be updated to be compatible with the newer networks.   This is not feasible from a cost perspective and re-architecture of your business perspective.   This is just not as simple as replacing the analog endpoint either.  In many cases, there are “systems” behind the endpoint, and it would also mean changing out the system.  This spells Cost and Aggravation.

In next week’s blog, I will go over how to avoid re-architecture aggravation.

1. Flexibility for Growth: Adapt swiftly to changing business demands. Scalable UCaaS solutions like Clearspan allow companies to expand operations and scale resources seamlessly. 

1. Cost Efficiency: Scale resources up or down as needed without additional infrastructure costs. With Clearspan’s flexible pricing models, businesses optimize spending and maximize ROI. 

1. Operational Agility: Handle seasonal fluctuations and unexpected growth without disruptions. Clearspan’s scalable UCaaS ensures uninterrupted communication and collaboration across teams. 

1. Global Expansion: Support international operations with ease. Scalable UCaaS features enable companies to extend their reach without compromising on communication quality or reliability. 

1. Future-Proofing: Prepare for future growth and technological advancements. Clearspan Cloud Communications offers scalable UCaaS solutions that evolve alongside your business needs. 

Ready to scale your business with confidence? Discover how Clearspan Cloud Communications empowers companies with flexible and scalable UCaaS solutions tailored to your growth ambitions. 

If you are a Service Provider, UCaaS  is still a core component of your business services.  You should be wondering if you have the right UCaaS provider.  Will it be there for me?  Will it continue to innovate and keep up?  How do you evaluate if you are have the right UCaaS provider.   

Well, first, you have to see if the provider is a “viable entity”.  We have seen Microsoft get into the game with buying Metaswitch and Affirmed Networks. But now we have seen Microsoft get out of the game.  If you have been using Metaswitch, what should you do?  Probably not just stay with them and hope it will get better.   Because it won’t.  You need a new provider. 

Second, you have the see if the provider really has a viable roadmap.  Are they really just putting the minimum into the product, such as just providing security patches and updates to keep up with government regulations?   If so, this is a big red flag.  So ask questions about the roadmap.  Real questions about improving admin, 3rd party integrations, add-on services, optimizations and AI. 

Third, how has the company been doing?  Are they still making money?  Are they still investing in marketing?  Some companies may look like they are growing because they are hiring.  But are they hiring because they are growing, or are they hiring since employees are fleeing?   

Fourth, does the company own their own IP?  If the UCaaS provider is reselling something under the hood, then they are at the mercy of the technology provider under the hood.   

Fifth, can the UCaaS provider meet your specific needs as a Service Provider.   Can the UCaaS platform run in your cloud?  Or does it need to run in their cloud?  Or does it need to run in a public cloud, such as AWS?  While this may be OK in some cases, you as a Service Provider may want your control over uptime, or security so that it meets your standards. You are probably providing UCaaS to large enterprise with as many as 50,000 seats.  They may want customization to make it look like their product – their naming, their colors, etc.  And/or they may have specific back-office integrations.  Can the UCaaS product do that? 

And finally, while this paper did explore that the concept of Unified Communications means all types of communication, such as voice, video, chat, fax, file sharing, presence, and team collaboration, voice is still the most important and prevalent way communication with end-customers happens.  So the UCaaS provider needs to really understand voice – how to route it, how to manipulate it, what real-time really means and importance of that, voice quality, and how to connect.    Is Voice still important for your UCaaS provider?