ShoreTel – Brilliantly Simple Solutions to Business Communications
ShoreTel is a global telecommunications firm that specializes in delivering innovative communications and networking solutions for small to mid-sized businesses. Formed in 1996, they were one of the first companies to fully embrace the potential of IP networking, and promote it as an affordable alternative to traditional TDM phone systems. Since its founding, the firm has led the way in developing cost effective networking solutions for the modern workplace, and their introduction of the ShoreTel Connect single server platform has redefined the landscape of business communications. Their dedication to finding simple solutions to complex communications problems has made them one of the most trusted, and respected, telecommunications firms in the industry.
Designed for Simplicity
ShoreTel aims to take the complexity out of office communications, and their business IP phone systems have been designed to integrate seamlessly into any workplace environment. Their phone systems are easy to use, with intuitive features that promote greater efficiency, increasing employee productivity and improving customer satisfaction. The firm’s browser-based ShoreWare Director provides a simple management interface that allows for the control and monitoring of up to 10,000 active users over multiple locations, eliminating the need for costly on-site IT support. The ShoreTel Connect platform is extremely versatile, supporting both desktop terminals and so-called softphones, allowing businesses to expand their communications center into a full featured data network. ShoreTel’s line of office phone systems are highly scalable, delivering the telecommunication solutions businesses need to support their ongoing growth and continued success.
Award Winning Products and Services
ShoreTel’s attention to detail has made them one of the fastest growing telecommunication companies in the industry. Telecom insiders and experts have routinely praised the firm’s product line, giving the company top marks in reliability and customer service, and their business phone systems have won numerous awards, including Interactive Media’s Best in Class for 2015 and the Communications Solutions’ Product of the Year award for 2014, and they have one of the highest customer satisfaction indexes in the industry.
Feature-Rich and Affordable
ShoreTel’s office phone systems are some of the most advanced on the market, offering businesses the type of full featured communications networks they need to succeed in a highly competitive market. Whether on-premise or cloud-based, the company’s unique approach to unified communications provides a feature-rich networking environment that supports improved connectivity within the office and with clients and customers. But for all of their advanced features, ShoreTel’s phone systems remain one of the most affordable options for small to mid-sized businesses, and they have been consistently ranked as having one of the lowest total costs of ownership for telecom services in their class.
Consider the following features, available in both cloud-based and on-premise business phone systems:
- Automated Attendant: Customizable hold music and menu announcements. Assigned ring tones and hold notifications. Calls can be connected by extension number or user’s name.
- Permanent and Virtual Call Forwarding: Calls can be forwarded automatically to a secondary on-site extension, or to a mobile number for employees who are in the field or working from home.
- Call Screening: Specific caller ID’s can be forwarded to a secondary on-site extension, mobile device, or voicemail.
- Advanced Voicemail: Includes general voicemail services via the auto attendant feature, with email and text notifications for unanswered calls. ShoreTel Connect Scribe transcribes voice messages and sends text and WAV files to employee email in-boxes.
- Conferencing and Collaboration: Supports audio and video conferencing, file sharing, instant messaging, and peer-to-peer video chat.
- Advanced Mobility Features: Forward calls to any network phone, including smartphones and other mobile devices. Built in Wi-Fi supports hands-free communications with optional bluetooth enabled headsets.
- Exclusive Calling Features: Includes call monitoring, call recording and call archiving.
- Advanced Security Protocols: Voice and signal encryption protects the network from unauthorized monitoring or recording. Password protected calling features provide greater security for sensitive calls.
Office Phone Systems to Match Your Enterprise
ShoreTel’s patented Voice Switch technology delivers a single server gateway solution to office communications. The firm produces models for every type of business environment, providing support for analog, digital and hybrid phone systems. Their servers are stackable, allowing business owners to expand their office networks as needed with minimal additional costs. They also produce an exclusive line of terminals and handsets specifically designed for improved functionality when combined with the company’s patented Voice Switch servers.
ShoreTel produces a wide range of servers and terminals for office use, and a brief overview of some of their products should provide a better idea of what is available for small to mid-sized businesses:
| ShoreTel Voice Switch ST50A | Supports 50 IP phones, 4 loop trunks, and 4 analog extensions. Compatible with ShoreTel IP phones and softphones | Price varies by supplier, with an average cost of $1500 |
| ShoreTel Voice Switch ST100DA | Supports 100 IP phones, 2 loop trunks, and 6 analog phones. Compatible with digital desktop terminals and softphones | Average cost approximately $4000 |
| ShoreTel Voice Switch ST48A | Supports up to 48 analog extensions | Prices range from $3400 to $4000 |
| ShoreTel Voice Switch 90V | Supports 12 analog extensions and up to 90 IP phones with personalized voicemail | Cost varies by dealer, with an average cost of $2500 |
The firm also produces their own specialized line of business telephones, designed to be both attractive and easy to use in an office environment. Models range from simple desktop terminals to rechargeable cordless handsets.
| ShoreTel IP655 | Ideal for small businesses, and can handle up to 12 active lines | Approximately $500 per terminal |
| ShoreTel BB24 | Better suited to mid-sized businesses. Supports at-a-glance presence, programmable features, and one button access | Cost approximately $250 per terminal |
| ShoreTel IP930D | Ideal for general office use. Cordless handset can handle 3 active lines with 12 hours of talk-time | Average cost $400 – $500 per unit |
Award Winning Support and Service
ShoreTel’s innovations aren’t restricted merely to the tech side of their business, and they have one of the most impressive customer service records in the industry. Technical support is available 24/7 via phone or online chat. Remote support is also available, with technicians ready to access the customer’s desktop interface and/or ShoreTel phone system to troubleshoot and solve any problems they may be experiencing. Further support is available via the company website, in the form of white papers, tutorials, and regular blog posts that provide valuable information on the daily operation and optimization of ShoreTel’s complete line of office phone systems.
ShoreTel has earned their reputation as one of the prime movers in the office telecommunications industry, and their dedication to finding innovative data and networking solutions for business has made them one of the fastest growing companies in the global market. The firm’s expansive line of office phone systems compare quite favorably with those of their major competitors, and their all-in-one Voice Switch technology makes them an ideal fit for small to mid-sized businesses. If the time has come to rebuild your existing office communications network, you owe it to yourself and the success of your business to investigate ShoreTel’s innovative line of office phone systems.