Quick Answer: Six cloud communications providers to consider in New England are Usherwood Office Technology, Blue Mantis, Beacon Telecom, Pioneer, Connecticut Communications, and Rhode Island Telephone. These providers offer options ranging from hosted VoIP and business phone systems to broader UCaaS platforms that combine calling, video, messaging, and collaboration. The best fit depends on your organization’s desired features, integrations, geographic coverage, and level of ongoing support.
The right choice depends on whether your organization needs a straightforward cloud phone system, a broader unified communications platform, local implementation and support, or communications hardware and infrastructure. This list is not a numerical ranking from best to worst. Instead, it compares the providers by the communications capabilities they describe on their websites so you can determine which approach best fits your organization.
What Are Cloud Communications and Unified Communications?
Cloud communications, also known as UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service), brings business communication tools like phone calls, video meetings, messaging, and collaboration together in one cloud-based platform accessible from anywhere on any device.
Here are six cloud communications providers.
Managed and Unified Communications Providers
1. Usherwood Office Technology
Usherwood Office Technology provides managed communications services that combine cloud-based business phone capabilities with implementation, integration, monitoring, and ongoing technical support. Its approach is designed to bring voice, video, messaging, mobile applications, desktop applications, file sharing, and collaboration tools into one easy to use platform.
Its managed communications services include VoIP phone systems, video conferencing, mobile and desktop calling, team chat and SMS, electronic fax, presence indicators, file sharing, CRM integrations, and support for remote employees. Usherwood also works with platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom and provides daily monitoring, quarterly audits, onboarding, training, and technical support.
2. Blue Mantis
Blue Mantis provides unified communications services that help organizations modernize business calling and bring voice, meetings, messaging, collaboration, and contact center capabilities onto connected platforms. Its approach includes evaluating existing communications systems and developing a strategy for replacing or consolidating legacy technology.
Blue Mantis also supports communications environments that use Microsoft Teams for calling, meetings, and messaging.
Best For: Organizations seeking to modernize legacy phone systems while connecting cloud calling, collaboration, and contact center capabilities.
3. Beacon Telecom
Beacon Telecom provides cloud-based unified communications through its Elevate platform, which connects business phones, computers, and mobile devices in one communications environment.
The company works with customers to configure communications systems around their operational requirements and employee workstyles. Its unified communications services include cloud calling, desktop and mobile applications, voicemail transcription, messaging, SMS, auto attendants, hunt groups, call recording, WebFax, video meetings, file sharing, and centralized management for multiple locations.
Best For: Businesses seeking a customizable cloud communications platform with calling, messaging, meetings, file sharing, and provider-led support.
Regional Business Phone and UCaaS Providers
4. Pioneer
Pioneer provides hosted VoIP services that move business calling to the cloud and allow employees to communicate from desk phones, computers, tablets, and smartphones. Its business phone offering is designed to support organizations with office-based, or remote employees.
Pioneer also publishes volume-based pricing for its business phone plan, although organizations should confirm current rates and available features before purchasing.
Best For: Businesses seeking a hosted VoIP phone system with mobile access and straightforward per-user pricing.
5. Connecticut Communications
Connecticut Communications provides cloud, managed, and on-premises communications solutions for businesses evaluating alternatives to traditional phone systems.
Its cloud communications portfolio includes platforms from RingCentral and NEC UNIVERGE BLUE. Its available communications capabilities include business phone service, video, chat, file sharing, contact center technology, remote access, and centralized communications management.
Best For: Businesses seeking guidance on cloud, managed, or on-premises communications, particularly organizations evaluating RingCentral or NEC solutions.
6. Rhode Island Telephone
Rhode Island Telephone provides UCaaS services to businesses in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Its CloudWorx platform is designed to bring calling, messaging, video meetings, electronic fax, and other communications capabilities into one cloud-based system.
Its unified communications services include voice, video, messaging, e-fax, online system management, installation, employee training, system updates, local support, and a business phone rental program. The company also states that it provides 24/7 support and handles system setup for its customers.
Best For: Businesses in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, or Connecticut seeking a regional UCaaS provider with installation, training, and ongoing support.
How Should You Choose a Cloud Communications Provider?
Business communications are increasingly moving to the cloud. As organizations move away from traditional phone systems, cloud communications can bring calling, video, messaging, and collaboration tools into a more connected environment. When comparing providers, consider not only the technology itself but also implementation, integrations, ongoing support, and how easy the platform is for employees to use.
Ask your provider:
- Which communication functions are included in the base subscription?
- What costs extra?
- Can existing phone numbers and equipment be retained?
- Which desktop and mobile devices are supported?
- Does the platform integrate with Microsoft Teams and other applications your organization already uses?
- Who handles deployment, configuration, and employee training?
- Who provides support after implementation?
- Does the vendor directly support every location where your organization operates?
- What redundancy, security, and compliance capabilities are included?
- How does pricing change as users or locations are added?
Getting clear answers to those questions makes it much easier to compare proposals that may look similar at first.
Why Organizations Consider Usherwood for Managed Communications
For organizations looking to bring calling, video, messaging, and collaboration together in one user-friendly environment with ongoing support, Usherwood's managed model provides an all-in-one approach to business communications.
Usherwood's Cloud Communications Platform costs $25 per user a month.
Find the Right Cloud Communications Solution for Your Organization
There isn't one business phone or cloud communications provider that's best for every organization. The right choice depends on your locations, current infrastructure, collaboration tools, required features, internal IT resources, and desired level of ongoing support.
If disconnected phone, messaging, video, and collaboration platforms are making communication harder than it needs to be, explore Usherwood's managed communications services or schedule a technology evaluation to discuss how your current communications environment could be simplified.
