SMB Free and IP Phones

[digsolpartners]

Buried in the recent blog post about the changes to SMB portal access (and convieniently not notified in an email that would actually be helpful to someone who doesn't check the blog every day to see if there's some bit of news buried in it) is this lovely tidbit:

> Important to note, if you’re using IP phones you will no longer be able to rely on the free 3CX SMB edition.

So, how much time do we realistically have to find a new solution before IP phones magically stop working if we're on the free edition?

 

[Jpeterson.prod]

I just happened to stumble across the blog post as well. So those using 3CX SMB with IP phones for “landline” service what options are there? It’s kind of annoying they just happen to decide to kill it but not send out any notifications.

 

[bitn2]

what options are there?

Use your mobile phone or buy a licence.

 

[SteveITS]

3CX has said they will start directing those accounts to partners who run a multitenant server. Presumably there would be a cost but it’s an option. The new Basic Free license doesn’t include desk phones.

 

[Volkie]

Use your mobile phone or buy a licence.

I have a small setup (8 IP Phones and SIP Trunks with Gradwell).
A few years back, I was paying for the SMB licence (around $210) and using 3CX hosting, then they made it free based on the small setup. Now in a similar situation to others, and will be moved to SMB Free Basic.

The Feature list confirms that 3CX Basic tier includes SIP Phones, and the Pricing page for Basic shows the licence is £250, but does not specify whether this is 3CX Hosted - which is what I'm looking for, as it's worked fine for me up to now.
Can anyone confirm whether 3CX Basic is hosted by 3CX?

 

[bitn2]

I have a small setup (8 IP Phones and SIP Trunks with Gradwell).
A few years back, I was paying for the SMB licence (around $210) and using 3CX hosting, then they made it free based on the small setup. Now in a similar situation to others, and will be moved to SMB Free Basic.

The Feature list confirms that 3CX Basic tier includes SIP Phones, and the Pricing page for Basic shows the licence is £250, but does not specify whether this is 3CX Hosted - which is what I'm looking for, as it's worked fine for me up to now.
Can anyone confirm whether 3CX Basic is hosted by 3CX?

It's not... The 8sc basic ist hosted and cant be. You need at least 16sc to host by 3cx. Anyway you can do somewhere else.

 

[SteveITS]

@Volkie The key distinction is, “Basic” on https://www.3cx.com/ordering/pricing/
is a paid license. Its minimum level is 8SC.

On https://www.3cx.com/ordering/pricing/features/ they have “4SC Free” as the column header but have also referred to that as “4SC Basic” elsewhere.

As a current SMB customer you can stay where you are, get and new-install a 4SC Free license, or get and new-install a 4SC or higher paid license. 3CX will only direct-sell 8 and above as per the price list.

 

[Volkie]

@Volkie The key distinction is, “Basic” on https://www.3cx.com/ordering/pricing/
is a paid license. Its minimum level is 8SC.

On https://www.3cx.com/ordering/pricing/features/ they have “4SC Free” as the column header but have also referred to that as “4SC Basic” elsewhere.

As a current SMB customer you can stay where you are, get and new-install a 4SC Free license, or get and new-install a 4SC or higher paid license. 3CX will only direct-sell 8 and above as per the price list.

Thanks @SteveITS this is very interesting, as I was not aware of the 4SC paid option.
4SC is more than enough for our needs, but I would like to keep our IP desk phones if possible - ultimately this would be based on cost, as I have a very tight budget.
I’m assuming the ‘paid for’ 4SC license supports IP phones?

When you said ‘stay where you are’, did you mean: ‘stay on SMB’? If so, my assumption is that I’ll need to move away from that to keep my IP phones.

Many thanks

 

[Evolute IT]

Thanks @SteveITS this is very interesting, as I was not aware of the 4SC paid option.
4SC is more than enough for our needs, but I would like to keep our IP desk phones if possible - ultimately this would be based on cost, as I have a very tight budget.
I’m assuming the ‘paid for’ 4SC license supports IP phones?

When you said ‘stay where you are’, did you mean: ‘stay on SMB’? If so, my assumption is that I’ll need to move away from that to keep my IP phones.

Many thanks

Paid version does include IP Phones support.

 

[SteveITS]

@Volkie 4SC is available from partners. You can DM me or contact another partner.

Note there isn’t a migration path from/to SMB/multitenant. You’d need to install and start fresh.

And yes desk phone support on SMB is leaving at some point per the blog post. And is not in Free per the feature list.

 

[prfindlay]

Hi all

I'm a pensioner with 2 sip phones at home. I can't afford £300/year for the paid version and I don't have a machine running 24/7 to be able to host it myself anyway. It seems the cheapest option for hosted is £900!

I'm guessing I'm stuck when they retire the SMB version?

So much for "free for life". I suppose technically, they're still offering 3CX for free, but you have to question if it's still a phone system when the core functionality of supporting telephones is no longer there. I mean if it's just working on mobile, then one may as well just use the mobile phone.

 

[tim_s]

I've just set up the free hosted SMB system and added IP phones with no issues. Is this functionality being removed?

 

[bitn2]

I've just set up the free hosted SMB system and added IP phones with no issues. Is this functionality being removed?

This will be removed..