CounterPath, EPB Ink UC Business Deal

By David Delony
Contributing Writer

Enterprise unified communications provider CounterPath Corporation has announced that it is teaming up with fiber-to-the-home provider EPB to offer UC to businesses.

"We want to offer our customers solutions that allow them to be as productive, innovative and collaborative as they want to be," Katie Espeseth, EPB vice president of new products. "Now, with the launch of EPB UC Solutions, powered by CounterPath (News - Alert) technology, businesses can offer their employees a full suite of hosted UC services, including VoIP calling, point-of-presence information, instant messaging, and video conference calling, all from an intuitive user interface that is consistent across desktop, tablet and smartphone platforms."

EPB selected CounterPath’s solution based on a competitive tendering process as well as a pilot program with one of its major customers.

The UC offering will be based on CounterPath’s Bria softphone and Stretto Platform. CounterPath specializes in Over-The-Top (OTT) UC services that use a carrier’s branding. Carriers like EPB get to offer UC quickly. By offering UC along with broadband, EPB could reduce the temptation for clients to look elsewhere for UC services. EPB already has the capacity required for VoIP. CounterPath will get access to a new customer base, even if it is under another company’s branding.

If businesses are going to go with OTT solutions, at least the carriers might make some money out of it.

“We are pleased to partner with EPB, a US-based service provider with a large fiber optic network servicing business and retail customers," Todd Carothers, executive vice president of marketing and products at CounterPath, said. “With the launch of advanced UC services, EPB's customers can now launch hosted UC services to increase productivity and reduce costs. We are excited to forge this new relationship with EPB, and will support EPB's business development efforts as they roll-out the new service across their business footprint."