By: Jack McCarthy, Content Manager
ShoreTel received the highest rating for its unified communications solutions in the SMB market from the independent research and analysis firm, Gartner, in its MarketScope report.
Gartner said ShoreTel’s UC solutions rated a Strong Positive, the top rank no other vendor achieved.
The report looked at 11 vendors, including Avaya, Cisco, Mitel and Microsoft and focused on the premise-based UC market in North America for SMBs, defined as firms with 29 to 499 employees.
For the August 2012 report, Gartner conducted customer and partner interviews, analyzed UC RFPs from each vendor, conducted vendor interviews and carried out financial ratings of vendors.
In its criteria for evaluation, Gartner said in its report that SMB requirements differ from large enterprises.
“SMBs require UC solutions that are easy to install, configure and manage and that do not increase demands on an already lean IT staff,” Gartner said. “Additionally, SMBs require straightforward pricing and exhibit greater preference for UC solutions that have integrated user and management interfaces.”
Gartner defined the Strong Positive rating thusly:
“Is viewed as a provider of strategic products, services or solutions:
- Customers: Continue with planned investments.
- Potential customers: Consider this vendor a strong choice for strategic investments.”
The results were summarized in the chart below:
Figure 1. Vendor Ratings
Source: Gartner (August 2012)
