This month, Grandstream released CloudUCM, a cloud-based PBX system that gives SMBs (small-to-midsize businesses) a cost-effective, professional solution for managing their communications.
With scaling plans for up to 200 extensions and 64 concurrent audio or video calls, CloudUCM means you pay for what your SMB actually uses. Here’s a quick breakdown of the currently available (April 2024) annual subscription licenses for Grandstream CloudUCM:
| Plan | Extensions | Concurrent Audio/Video Calls |
Cloud Storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| CloudUCM Startup | 10 | 4 | 1 GB |
| CloudUCM SOHO | 20 | 8 | 1 GB |
| CloudUCM Plus | 50 | 16 | 2 GB |
| CloudUCM Pro | 100 | 32 | 4 GB |
| CloudUCM Business | 200 | 64 | 10 GB |
Going with a cloud-based VoIP phone system like CloudUCM offers several advantages over going with an on-premise phone system. They offer lower up-front costs, because you’re not paying for a hardware PBX appliance. Cloud phone solutions are also more scalable, because you can simply shift to a new plan as your business expands and more users are added.
For more information, check out our clear, detailed VoIP Phone Systems Buyer’s Guide.
In this blog, we introduce CloudUCM.
CloudUCM Is a Professional Cloud PBX System
Grandstream CloudUCM is a SIP phone system that’s based in the cloud.
It’s a very similar solution to the well-loved and trusted Grandstream UCM6300 Series of IP PBXs. That series requires a dedicated UCM6300 PBX appliance to run the phone system. CloudUCM, in contrast, operates over the cloud, so you don’t need to buy a physical UCM6300 appliance or worry about your hardware becoming obsolete over time.
We’ve covered the UCM6300 Series in detail in this blog. See the following posts in particular for more information:
- Grandstream UCM6300 Series IP PBXs: The New Standard for On-Premise Unified Communications
- Meet the Grandstream UCM6300A Series of Audio IP PBXs
CloudUCM supports all the core PBX features you expect, including synced call history across all devices, voicemail, call routing/ring groups, call forwarding/parking, caller ID, automatic call recording, business/personal contacts, T.38 Fax Over IP integration, and much more.
The cloud-based PBX also supports extensive unified communications features like video calls, file sharing, meeting scheduling, escalating 2-person calls to conference calls, online presentations, shared whiteboarding, post-meeting reports, and much more.
For administrators, it’s a complete PBX system management solution with a web-based portal. One real differentiator is that all plans come with a built-in SBC (Session Border Controller), gateway provisioning, and firewall. Among its numerous security features are multi-factor authentication, location-based trusted login, IP blacklisting, and more.
Grandstream includes generous cloud-based storage options, ranging from 1 GB at the Startup level to 10 GB at the Business level.
The Wave App Means Professional Communications Everywhere
Grandstream offers a free app to use with its communications systems: Grandstream Wave. Wave is available for both Android and iOS smartphones and Windows and macOS computers. There’s also a browser-based app.
With Wave, you have access to the CloudUCM system wherever you are.
Wave is a fully professional softphone that supports audio and video calls, chat including group chats, content sharing, shared whiteboards, presence, and more. Chats can be fully end-to-end encrypted to protect your business’s critical communications.
All you need to do to access your work account is to sign into your Wave account. This makes Wave an excellent solution for hybrid workers who split time between home and the office. It’s also perfect ensuring that workers in hot desking and shared workspace environments always have access to their professional accounts.