MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., June 29, 2011 — Based on its recent analysis of the small and medium businesses (SMB) unified communications (UC) market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Digium® with the 2011 North American Frost & Sullivan Award for Customer Value Enhancement. Digium's Switchvox is a complete UC platform for SMBs.

A true UC system, Switchvox integrates PBX, fixed mobile convergence and mobility, conference bridge, call queues, fax server, instant messaging, unified messaging, presence, video calling, recording and monitoring, as well as reporting and call logging software functions onto a single rack mount or desktop appliance. Key applications can be accessed through the highly customizable Switchboard UC interface that provides every user with a personalized view of their communications environment and tools. The system is also designed to support standards-based SIP phones to provide customers with a wide range of features, price points and sources to purchase their end points.

"Digium stands tall among SMB-focused UC vendors." says Frost & Sullivan research analyst Robert Arnold. "In fact, the revenues from Switchvox represent the fastest growing part of Digium's business; representing more than 30 percent growth in 2010."

Digium's success with Switchvox is commendable when considering intensifying pressures in the SMB UC marketplace in terms of competition and expanded customer choice. Customers expect value and vendors need to deliver that value to stand out. Accordingly, Digium designs its solutions for sophisticated functionality without complex ownership responsibilities. Switchvox is designed to be cost-effective over the lifecycle of the system, including ongoing support and maintenance costs, as well as upgrades.

Switchvox applications are pre-integrated and pre-installed on a single appliance, which reduces power, real estate and hardware requirements when compared to multi-box alternatives with similar functionality. All applications are administered using a common utility, thereby reducing training and time needed to manage it. IP phones can be deployed with auto-provisioning features, decreasing time and complexity of initial setup as well as for ongoing moves, adds and changes. This functionality allows SMB customers to self-manage their UC solution, which may otherwise require outside services.

Furthermore, the integrated Switchvox applications set can be used as tools to drive business efficiency. Built-in mobility that is supported on any phone and connection type, personal presence and call routing enable users to be reached when, where and by whom they need, while unified messaging facilitates organization and prioritization of multiple message types. The pre-built and freely available APIs and plug-ins integrate Switchvox with business applications and web services. This provides users with access to communications capabilities from within Microsoft Outlook and Office applications, from web pages and from CRM software.

"All of these options can save time and improve productivity allowing clients to work where and how they want to work," says Arnold. "Most notably, Switchvox UC is positioned to connect people and information in a contextual way and contextual communications capability is at the heart of unified communications."

Overall, Digium stands out as one of the leading SMB-focused UC vendors when it comes to UC client shipment growth year-over-year. Digium's Switchvox system holds its own in a tightly contested marketplace. Based on these factors, Frost & Sullivan is proud to present Digium with the 2011 North American Customer Value Enhancement Award in the SMB UC market.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has demonstrated excellence in implementing strategies that proactively create value for its customers with a focus on improving the return on the investment that customers make in its services or products. The award recognizes the company's inordinate focus on enhancing the value that its customers receive, beyond simply good customer service, leading to improved customer retention and ultimately customer base expansion.

Frost & Sullivan's Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis and extensive secondary research in order to identify best practices in the industry.