Grandstream recently introduced the GCC6000 Series of UC + Networking Convergence Solutions.
In this blog, we’re going to unpack the name “UC + Network Convergence Solutions” to let you know why the GCC6000 Series is such a revolution, particularly for SMBs, for companies just getting off the ground, and for businesses migrating from analog or digital phone systems.
The reason that the series has a bit of an obscure name is that each device in the series integrates multiple networking and communications solutions into a single device.
The series currently consists of three models, all of which incorporate an IP PBX, network switch, VPN router, and firewall:
- 5× Gigabit Ethernet ports, four of which support PoE/PoE+ power out with a 36W budget
- 2× 2.5 Gigabit SFP ports
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) access point that supports 2×2:2 MU-MIMO in the 2.4 GHz band and 3×3:3 MU-MIMO in the 5 GHz band
- 5× Gigabit Ethernet ports (no PoE)
- 10× Gigabit Ethernet ports, four of which support PoE/PoE+ power out with a 36W budget
- 2× 2.5 Gigabit SFP ports
All of them support IP PBX, VPN router, and firewall technology.
You might remember the Cisco UC520 or UC540 devices, which were once popular and trusted by many businesses — we sold a ton of them — that provided an all-in-one Cisco UC Manager phone system and network switch solution.
The Grandstream GCC6000 Series pretty much takes up the mantle of those now-obsolete Cisco devices, modernizing them with next-generation firewall technology like advanced firewall filtering/inspection/protection, high-speed VPN capabilities, secure multi-WAN routing, intrusion detection, advanced threat protection, audio/video unified communications support, and more.
In recent years, Grandstream has built out their networking solutions portfolio with exceptional network switches, Wi-Fi access points, and more. Because you can now build a complete networking infrastructure using all Grandstream devices, you don’t need to worry about, for example, your switch playing nice with your access point. Compatibility isn’t an issue.
GCC6000 is another solution that you won’t need to worry about.
Let’s take a look.
Why Buy Grandstream GCC6000 Series Systems
Why, you ask, should you be interested in Grandstream GCC6010 or GCC6011?
The primary advantages of the GCC6000 Series are simplicity and cost-savings:
Simplicity. You don’t need to administrate as many separate devices, so your communications system is more streamlined and simpler to deploy and manage.
Cost-savings. Why pay for multiple devices when you only need to pay for one? And Grandstream already is one of the industry leaders in providing bang for buck while maintaining enterprise-class performance and security.
The stand-out feature of the series is the IP PBX. Out-of-the-box, it supports 12 users and 4 concurrent calls with upgrades for up to 200 users and 24 concurrent calls. You get the full PBX feature-set: call forward/transfer, intercom/paging, emergency calls, and so on. It integrates with the Grandstream Wave app for Android and iOS smartphones.
As we see it, there are three scenarios where the GCC6000 Series really shines:
Start-ups or new businesses. Don’t have any communications structure set up yet and want a simple, cost-effective, and professional solution to start building your business? If you have no existing VoIP equipment, the GCC6000 Series offers all-in-one communications and networking solutions to help you grow and succeed.
Migrating from analog/digital phone systems. If you’re looking to upgrade your existing phone system to VoIP and you don’t have any equipment yet, the GCC6000 Series offers the perfect on-ramp to VoIP. You even use VoIP Gateways and ATAs to extend the lifetime of your existing telephones by bringing them into your new VoIP phone system, as we cover in this blog: Can You Use Analog Phones on a VoIP Phone System?
SMBs. Do you represent a small-to-medium business? You might not need all the big, fancy equipment and you might not want to shell out for a cloud phone subscription. Instead, you could use the GCC6000 Series for an efficient — deployment, management, and budget — solution that covers your needs and gives you long-term communications security.
But What If You Already Have a Switch?
If you, like many businesses, already have a network switch, is the GCC6000 Series worth it? It could be, if you’d like to streamline your communications infrastructure.
But we suggest instead that you look into the Grandstream GCM6300 Series of IP PBXs, which offer on-premise unified communications or audio-only solutions.
We’ve covered the GCM6300 Series extensively in previous blogs. For more information, check out these two blogs in particular: