UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service) providers 8×8 and RingCentral tied for the top spot in the North American UCaaS scorecard from IHS Markit, the first first-place tie in the nine years the market research company has been ranking UCaaS vendors.
Providing and managing core IP communications platforms and technology, such as VoIP, videoconferencing and workgroup collaboration, for organizations on an outsourced basis, IHS Markit assesses UCaaS vendors based on a variety of factors, including their service bases (number of seats served), financial stability, market strategy, service capabilities and support options, the market research provider explains.
UCaaS Rankings
The field of UCaaS ´providers in North America is large, diverse and dynamic at this point in time, IHS Markit highlights — characteristics that reflect the fluid, fast moving, evolution of relevant technology and organizations’ use of it. UCaaS vendors, speaking generally, are investing to roll out new service capabilities and options in bids to expand, diversify and sustain their businesses long term.
That said, though there were some shifts in 2017’s ranking as compared to 2016, the market research provider’s top 10 list has changed little over the past few years. Following 8×8 and RingCentral were Verizon, Vonage, West, Comcast, Star2Star, Mitel, Nextiva and Jive.
“For the first time in nine years of publishing this report we have a dead-lock with two companies at the top – 8×8 and RingCentral,” IHS Markit senior research analyst Diane Myers noted.
“8×8 continues its leadership for the fourth year due to its installed base of UCaaS seats, financial position, and continued execution on its market strategy. RingCentral, holder of the largest UCaaS installed base, has continued innovating on the product front and made important strides with financial stability.”
Also of note, Verizon and Vonage gained ground in this year’s rankings. “Verizon made a significant leap with the introduction of its mobile-first UCaaS offering,” Myers highlighted.
Furthermore, “There is nothing else in the US market like the mobile UCaaS service One Talk, which is fully deployed through the mobile network of a provider and brings together natively one number across multiple devices,” she said.
Also noteworthy, Jive cracked IHS Markit’s top 10 for the first time, primarily as a result of growth in its base of installed seats. Fuze, Broadview Networks, NetFortris, Shoretel, Cox, CoreDial and Windstream ranked just outside the top 10.
