8x8 Solutions Accepted as Supplier on UK G-Cloud 5 Framework

To help further drive adoption of Software as a Service (SaaS) cloud-based unified communications solutions within the public sector, 8x8 Solutions, the UK arm of 8x8 Inc. (NASDAQ: EGHT), today announced that it has been accepted as a supplier by the Crown Commercial Services (CCS) on the CCS’ recently announced G-Cloud 5 framework. G-Cloud is a UK Government initiative to encourage the adoption of cloud services across the whole of the public sector.

“Our proven, reliable and secure cloud-based unified communications, virtual contact centre and collaboration solutions now appear under the SaaS category of G-Cloud 5’s CloudStore, online marketplace,” said Kevin Scott-Cowell, CEO, 8x8 Solutions. “This will help potential customers across the public sector to quickly and easily identify which of our easy to use, cloud-based, managed services will best suit their individual business communications needs. The important thing is, that they can fund deployment out of their operational budgets.”

8x8’s hosted business VoIP solution allows public sector organisations to quickly, easily and safely move their phone systems to the cloud, giving them access to not just a phone and fax service that delivers more functionality than a traditional hardware PBX, but access to online meetings via web and video conferencing plus integrated call centre capabilities at the same time as delivering flexibility and agility through 8x8’s mobile apps.

Additionally, for a public sector organisation which understands the financial and functionality benefits that could be achieved by switching from its existing on-premise VoIP provider, 8x8 can offer a migration path, which utilises the organisation’s existing infrastructure, to 8x8’s hosted cloud-based VoIP solution.

By unifying business communications in the cloud on 8x8’s communications platform, public sector organisations can improve internal communication and collaboration between employees, regardless of their location, to significantly raise levels of productivity and efficiency.

“8x8’s cloud-based unified communications importantly enables public sector organisations to considerably enhance their levels of customer service by putting the tools to improve their external communication and collaboration at their fingertips,” added Scott-Cowell.

G-Cloud 5 supports the Government’s policy to centrally manage the procurement of common goods and services through an integrated procurement function at the heart of government. Suppliers are carefully evaluated during the tender process and pre-agreed terms and conditions offer public sector customers sound contractual safeguards.

“The key difference between G-Cloud 5 and other procurement frameworks is that public sector organisations are able to enter into a contract with 8x8 which enables them to pay for the services they use on a pay-as-you-go basis,” explained Scott-Cowell.

“8x8 and our channel partners look forward to helping public sector customers take advantage of G-Cloud 5’s SaaS solutions to cut their operating costs by avoiding lengthy and often inflexible supplier contracts, saving money on the supply and maintenance of traditional hardware and by paying for just the services they actually use – delivering value for them and for us the taxpayers!” Scott-Cowell concluded.

About 8x8 Solutions/8x8 Inc.

8x8 Solutions is the UK/European arm of 8x8, Inc. (NASDAQ:EGHT) the trusted provider of secure and reliable cloud-based unified communications, virtual contact centre and collaboration solutions to more than 37,000 small, midsize and distributed enterprise organisations operating in over 40 countries across six continents. 8x8's out-of-the-box cloud solutions replace traditional on-premise PBX hardware and software-based systems with a flexible and scalable Software as a Service (SaaS) alternative, encompassing cloud business phone service, contact centre solutions, and web conferencing. For additional information, visit www.8x8.com/UK or connect with 8x8 on Google+, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

About the Crown Commercial Service

The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) works with both departments and organisations across the whole of the public sector to ensure maximum value is extracted from every commercial relationship and improve the quality of service delivery. The CCS goal is to become the “go-to” place for expert commercial and procurement services.