New AI Features and Extension Fair Usage

[jhn]

Hi John, I don't understand the question, sorry. 4SC licenses will can have a maximum of 15 extensions....There is no difference to the regular annual ones.

Hi Nick,
thanks a lot for quick response.
And sorry for not being clear enough in my original question.
I was after getting info on FUP max users on 4 SC licenses, so your response was 100% spot on. Exactly what I needed.

 

[N_G]

Hi John, No problem at all I understand you want to be sure. Also you don't really need to do anything at this point (unless you want to of course). From our side we guarantee we will not do any enforcement other then informational updates until 1st April 2026.Even then we will be flexible and go step by step. Think as a first step that you will not be able to add more extensions for example, we don't know exactly yet. However we do ask that customers who will renew their licenses from now onwards are informed about this policy that it might happen. So if that means they prefer to buy something else they should do so.

 

[jhn]

Hi John, No problem at all I understand you want to be sure. Also you don't really need to do anything at this point (unless you want to of course). From our side we guarantee we will not do any enforcement other then informational updates until 1st April 2026.Even then we will be flexible and go step by step. Think as a first step that you will not be able to add more extensions for example, we don't know exactly yet. However we do ask that customers who will renew their licenses from now onwards are informed about this policy that it might happen. So if that means they prefer to buy something else they should do so.

Once again, thanks a lot for all the clarifications. It helps.
We are aware that these changes are in proposal stage (when it comes to timeline) at the moment and more info will follow. Appreciate the assurance of gradual implementation and flexibility.

 

[tronic]

Continue reading the Original Blog Post.

Would this affect MCM as well?

 

[SteveITS]

Yes, see above https://www.3cx.com/community/threads/new-ai-features-and-extension-fair-usage.135454/post-647677

 

[etelecom]

what will be FUP for 4SC license ?

 

[XCON1]

Statement: 3CX Pricing Update – A Titan Partner's Perspective​

---

The 1:3 Principle – Proven for 8 Years​

At XCON, we've been working successfully with the 1:3 ratio between simultaneous calls and extensions for nearly eight years. Our customers – from mid-sized businesses to enterprise corporations – have zero issues with it. Why? Because the model is realistically calculated and reflects actual usage patterns.

The numbers speak for themselves: 192 channels enable up to 1,152 extensions. That's more than generous. Especially large customers with many "dormant" extensions – like a production hall phone that rings twice a week – benefit massively from this policy.

---

AI Integration: The Real Game-Changer​

This is where it gets interesting. 3CX was never built for the "good-enough" crowd. 3CX is made for companies that want to be communicatively superior. That react faster to metrics, make better decisions, and secure measurable competitive advantages.

AI isn't a gimmick here – it's infrastructure:

• Transcriptions directly into CRM – conversations aggregated over months, searchable, analyzable
• AI receptionists natively integrated – no more expensive third-party plugins required
• Automated call scoring, sentiment analysis

What was previously only possible through fragmented, costly add-on solutions becomes part of the platform. That's the absolute killer move.

---

Innovation or Stagnation – A Clear Decision​

When 3CX drives industry innovation forward, the question for customers & partners isn't IF or WHY

– it's only: Are you in, or not?

Standard solutions exist in abundance. Globally and nationally. But whoever wants to be better than the rest does well to stick with those who deliver more. Who lead the way. Who don't just react, but shape the future.

For us as a Titan Partner: Moving forward with 3CX.

Shaping the future of communication.
Together.

To all fellow 3CX partners – let's keep raising the bar.

DAVID W.

 

[bitn2]

what will be FUP for 4SC license ?

15

 

[SweetAction]

These customers should be talking to a partner then

While I agree with you, I'm sure we've all run into companies that do everything they can to avoid talking to their partners. Usually because it's cheaper to not talk to the partner. + 3CX has been heavily marketing the "Zero Admin" for a while now - all boils down to people who use dummy extensions alot

 

[GeorgeV_3CX]

XCON - I'm frustrated by your sentiment. From your website you clearly sell 3CX and Yeastar:

https://xcon.at/cloudfon-telefonanlage/

https://xcon.at/3cx-vs-cloudfon/

3CX representative:

As I brought up in my earlier message, I need specific guidance about whether this is a violation of our 3CX partner agreement.

Hello,

Kindly note that I am your representative and I have sent you an email to arrange a meeting to assist you further with any questions that you may have.

I look forward to speaking with you.

 

[ABerry-CBM]

Thank you George - I've setup a time to talk with you.

 

[Richard10]

While I agree with you, I'm sure we've all run into companies that do everything they can to avoid talking to their partners. Usually because it's cheaper to not talk to the partner. + 3CX has been heavily marketing the "Zero Admin" for a while now - all boils down to people who use dummy extensions alot

Exactly the issue. We have one customer who wants group voicemail to go to a single shared voicemail box, so they create a dummy extension for every group (and they have 40+) which greatly increases users simply because how group voicemail is implemented by default (email everyone in the group). I remember Allworx ran into this issue and created "system extensions" distinct from "user extensions" so that you didn't use user licenses to address call routing which was done through extensions on that platform. Hopefully the need for dummy users can be alleviated, or a new category for "non-user users" can be created.

 

[NatalyS_3CX]

Hello, many of our 3CX customers are hotels. We've always been told from 3CX that in a business environment the proper ratio between SC and extensions was about 1:3, which is near your FUP. But the recommended ratio for an hotel was about 1:10. Is this criteria still valid or do we have to apply FUP to this kind of customers? The price difference will be deal breaking, as an example, there are small family owned hotels with 2 to 5 administrative extensions and between 20 to 80 room extensions. A traditional PBX (which we dont sell) may be more expensive but it uses to be a once in lifetime payment, not a recurring fee.

Hi @Infinitel,

The update aims to ensure fair and consistent use of extensions across all industries, including hospitality. While some hotels previously operated with higher extension ratios, this 1:5 guideline better reflects the complexity of these environments. Hotels typically manage numerous devices, multiple integrations, customizations, and specialized systems that represent significant value and technical demand. Utilizing a small license for installations with hundreds of rooms does not align with their operational scale and can impact system stability, emergency communication handling, and support coverage.

Nevertheless, 3CX remains highly competitive in cost per room, providing modern unified communications, advanced integrations, and security compliant with GDPR and industry standards. This ensures both performance and value for our hospitality clients.

If you wish, we can schedule a meeting to review your clients' current setup and confirm the compliant licensing option under the new fair use policy.

 

[N_G]

Statement: 3CX Pricing Update – A Titan Partner's Perspective​

---

The 1:3 Principle – Proven for 8 Years​

At XCON, we've been working successfully with the 1:3 ratio between simultaneous calls and extensions for nearly eight years. Our customers – from mid-sized businesses to enterprise corporations – have zero issues with it. Why? Because the model is realistically calculated and reflects actual usage patterns.

The numbers speak for themselves: 192 channels enable up to 1,152 extensions. That's more than generous. Especially large customers with many "dormant" extensions – like a production hall phone that rings twice a week – benefit massively from this policy.

---

AI Integration: The Real Game-Changer​

This is where it gets interesting. 3CX was never built for the "good-enough" crowd. 3CX is made for companies that want to be communicatively superior. That react faster to metrics, make better decisions, and secure measurable competitive advantages.

AI isn't a gimmick here – it's infrastructure:

• Transcriptions directly into CRM – conversations aggregated over months, searchable, analyzable
• AI receptionists natively integrated – no more expensive third-party plugins required
• Automated call scoring, sentiment analysis

What was previously only possible through fragmented, costly add-on solutions becomes part of the platform. That's the absolute killer move.

---

Innovation or Stagnation – A Clear Decision​

When 3CX drives industry innovation forward, the question for customers & partners isn't IF or WHY

– it's only: Are you in, or not?

Standard solutions exist in abundance. Globally and nationally. But whoever wants to be better than the rest does well to stick with those who deliver more. Who lead the way. Who don't just react, but shape the future.

For us as a Titan Partner: Moving forward with 3CX.

Shaping the future of communication.
Together.

To all fellow 3CX partners – let's keep raising the bar.

DAVID W.

Thank you for your support!!

 

[fxbastler]

Exactly the issue. We have one customer who wants group voicemail to go to a single shared voicemail box, so they create a dummy extension for every group (and they have 40+) which greatly increases users simply because how group voicemail is implemented by default (email everyone in the group). I remember Allworx ran into this issue and created "system extensions" distinct from "user extensions" so that you didn't use user licenses to address call routing which was done through extensions on that platform. Hopefully the need for dummy users can be alleviated, or a new category for "non-user users" can be created.

It might be possible to set something like this up using an email alias or a CFD app instead of dummy users. I'm not familiar with your scenario in detail.

What we haven't yet come up with a solution for without dummy users is skill-based routing in queues when the same agent needs to be called on multiple levels. This only works with dummy extensions: one dummy user per level, with immediate forwarding/parallel call for each real user. This is the only way to keep the call on hold, ensuring uninterrupted announcement, his place in the queue, no unnecessarily dropped calls in queue and SLA.
It's like this https://www.3cx.com/community/threads/thoughts-on-queues.135478/ point queue groups.

 

[XCON1]

Thank you for your support!!

always and ever.

 

[XCON1]

My personal opinion and experience - and we are just a small 3CX partner. I can't say whether larger partners have similar restrictions. But we don't have any such exclusionary or exclusive contracts with 3CX, and we're free to offer our customers alternatives.

That's our decision, and we have to accept it and be accountable to the customer, our technicians who implement it, and our financial accounting department. If we do something like that, then it's certainly not something to advertise in the 3CX forum. That's not what it's there for. But we're free to do it elsewhere.

Speaking for myself, there's no reason to switch because the current alternatives are simply not viable in many respects.
I'm still waving the flag for 3CX.

Trust me, you're on the right path. Keep delivering, stay loyal – you'll make Titan.

Loyalty and performance are not always seen by others, but always win in the end.

Hugs, David

 

[fxbastler]

Trust me, you're on the right path. Keep delivering, stay loyal – you'll make Titan.

Loyalty and performance are not always seen by others, but always win in the end.

Hugs, David

Danke, schaumermal.
Ich komme vielleicht mal auf einen Kaffee vorbei David, bin mehrmals im Jahr in L und auch nebenan shoppen

 

[XCON1]

Danke, schaumermal.
Ich komme vielleicht mal auf einen Kaffee vorbei David, bin mehrmals im Jahr in L und auch nebenan shoppen

You are very welcome, fxbastler. Always happy to connect with partners who build each other up instead of running character assassination campaigns.

Looking forward to it.

DAVID

 

[ABerry-CBM]

XCcon, I'm happy to delete my posts. As stated earlier, my goal is a fair playing field and understanding from 3CX on what relationships we're allowed to have with other VOIP providers without violating our partner agreement.