8x8 (News - Alert), a provider of cloud communications and computing solutions, has been granted a United States Patent number for its new cloud computing VoIP feature, "Virtual Telephone Extension."
The patent number 8,027,332 relates to call routing to user communication devices. The technology uses a call-routing switch arrangement that uses data in a programmable database to associate or match incoming calls with destination user-communication devices for users employing two or more user identifiers.
The incoming calls are then routed to the destination user-communication devices in response to the match, and in some cases, the user identifiers include local and virtual telephone numbers for a particular user.
The new patented technology is a boon to small businesses leveraging cloud computing to establish presence in different countries. The Virtual Telephone Extension assigns the local number pertaining to a geographical location relating to the user's communication device or to a service via which the user's communication device is connected (e.g., a mobile telephone service), and the virtual telephone number to a different geographical location.
The virtual number, in this context, allows telephone calls to be made to a particular user to give the impression to a caller that the user is located or has offices in a particular geographical location pertaining to an area code in the virtual number.
8x8 provides integrated business communications and cloud computing services including cloud-based VoIP, video, mobile, call center and unified communications solutions.
Cloud computing is emerging as the “future of communications” especially among small and medium-sized (SMB) businesses. Earlier this year, cloud communications company Telesphere (News - Alert) told to TMCnet that “2011 is the year of the cloud.”
To rake in from this opportunity, recently Telesphere formed a partnership with CosmoCom (News - Alert) to bring to market a cloud-based, zero-capital expenditure suite of contact center management services and tools to U.S. businesses. These solutions are designed to enable businesses and contact center operations to easily, cost-effectively and rapidly implement voice, e-mail and chat-based support services for a better customer experience.
Rajani Baburajan is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Rajani's articles, please visit her columnist page.
Edited by Carrie Schmelkin