Free is a word that's commonly beloved for many reasons. Whether it means without something, like charge, fat, or any of a hundred other possibilities, or it's taken in its common meaning of “unencumbered”, “free” is a word that catches attention and lightens hearts. 3CX Phone System users, meanwhile, are about to get a lesson in just how great free can be thanks to a little something special from 3CX that offers up a look at the power of Web-based real time communications (WebRTC).
More specifically, those users who have 3CX Phone System 12.5 are now able to use 3CX WebMeeting for up to 10 participants at a time, at no charge. Along with 3CX WebMeeting, users get access to a range of tools, starting with the lack of extra software and plug-ins required to get it up and operational; as it's WebRTC-based, the extra trouble involved in getting it working is minimal. Those who step up to the full version, meanwhile, can take advantage of low annual payments for unlimited users — no need to be concerned about licenses or unexpected tune-ups — as well as the flexibility of it being available in either an on-premise or as a hosted solution. Meetings can be set up from 3CX Phone, or from the Web as desired, and it can even provide a simpler alternative to many kinds of videoconferencing tools.
However, it's worth noting that, according to word from 3CX, the free WebMeeting access will be for one year, which is still pretty good. Those interested, meanwhile, need only check out a simple set of instructions available at 3CX's website for how to go about it.
3CX's CEO, Nick Galea, offered up some comment around the move, saying “The seamless integration of Web conferencing into the PBX really takes unified communications to a whole new level, enabling every PBX user to quickly organize video conferences. WebRTC makes it easy for participants to join – no plug-ins are required. This is how unified communications was meant to be, and 3CX is offering it today.”
Galea indeed has a point; as more and more users discover the value of WebRTC in terms of keeping businesses communicating both with colleagues and with customers, the demand for WebRTC-related tools is on a significant climb. With recent discoveries making WebRTC a great fit for contact centers, and plenty more such offerings in the making, Galea's move to show users firsthand the kind of capability that WebRTC can muster is likely to be not only be a smart move, but one that's ultimately valuable for the company as the users get ahold of all these useful new tools.
While this is likely to be a well-received measure, only time will tell if it's the start of something truly great, or simply another step along the road. Still, showing 3CX Phone System users what WebRTC can really do should be the kind of move that changes plenty of minds and provides lots of useful education for the rest.
Edited by
Rory J. Thompson
