A new cloud-based UC offering based on the Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution (HCS) platform has been rolled out by Node4 targeting the mid-market with voice, video, instant messaging and presence, conferencing, voicemail and integrated messaging, mobility and contact centre.
Node4 is seeking additional partners to bring this solution to market.
A recent Node4 survey of 200 UK IT decision makers showed that cost was the number one complaint regarding UC in the mid-market. And mid-market companies feel that their UC deployments are not reaching their full potential.
Just 18% of mid-market companies rank their UC deployments as being in the top quartile in terms of functionality, and one in five claim to be 'very satisfied' with their UC.
Node4 will offer its Cisco HCS-based solutions to the channel at wholesale prices.
Channel partners will be able to sell licences at a reduced cost compared to direct mid-market sales, and white label the service with their own branding and a powerful self-provisioning tool, said the firm.
"In the last year we've sensed real hunger within the mid-market for the kind of advanced, fully-featured UC systems that, until recently, only the largest enterprises have been able to afford," commented Simon Herbert, Cloud Solutions Development Specialist, Cisco.
"There's an enormous opportunity here. It's only right that more advanced functionality should start to migrate down the chain via a UcaaS model."
Andrew Wilson, Director of Channel Sales, Node4, added: "Our focus is on new customer acquisitions in the mid-market and our channel partnerships form a critical part of our strategy.
"With the expansion of our UC proposition to incorporate Cisco HCS, collaboration solutions are no longer a privilege for the large enterprise. For the first time Node4 is giving its partners the opportunity to offer a UC solution based on HCS to market at a price to suit mid-sized businesses."