Intermedia Cloud Communications has announced it has entered into a definitive agreement with NEC to assume NEC's unified communications as a service (UCaaS) and contact center as a service (CCaaS) business in North America and NEC's partner relationships in Europe. This transaction marks a significant milestone in Intermedia's global expansion, enhancing its brand presence and leadership position in the cloud communications space.

This transition will be seamless for NEC customers and partners, as they are already utilizing NEC-branded versions of Intermedia's unified communications, collaboration and cloud contact center solutions.

NEC will continue to manage its UCaaS and CCaaS business, in partnership with Intermedia, in Japan and Australia.

"As NEC's exclusive cloud communications partner, together, we have successfully grown the UNIVERGE BLUE UCaaS and CCaaS business at an accelerated pace around the globe," said Michael Gold, CEO, Intermedia. "Intermedia is thrilled to announce this transaction and looks forward to welcoming NEC's UNIVERGE BLUE customers and partners directly to the Intermedia family. This evolution in our relationship strengthens our position in the cloud communications market and opens significant new opportunities for growth and innovation."

"Since we began working with Intermedia in 2020, they have been an outstanding partner," said Chris Jackson, corporate senior vice president, NEC, and president & CEO, NEC America and Europe. "This transaction will ensure that UNIVERGE BLUE customers continue to receive the high-quality service they expect. Intermedia's commitment to quality and innovation aligns perfectly with our values, which means channel partners and customers are in capable hands."

Background on the Intermedia & NEC Partnership

The transaction builds on the successful strategic partnership between Intermedia and NEC, which began in 2020. Over the past four years, as businesses have increasingly transitioned from on-premise communications systems to agile cloud solutions, the two companies have collaborated to bring innovative cloud communication solutions to market under the NEC UNIVERGE BLUE brand, benefiting thousands of businesses globally.

Intermedia will continue to provide the same products and service to customers and partners. In addition, at the closing of the transaction, Intermedia will assume responsibility for NEC's existing UCaaS and CCaaS partner and customer contracts, as well as all aspects of NEC's partner relationships, including directly providing comprehensive technical, sales, marketing and billing support to partners and customers.

Customers and partners will benefit from more direct access to Intermedia's innovative teams, solutions, and a comprehensive approach to sales, marketing and technical support. This is designed to ensure a seamless integration and continued excellence in service delivery, with no disruption to existing services or programs.

Innovative Product Suite

The collaboration between NEC and Intermedia has resulted in the development and launch of the NEC UNIVERGE BLUE brand, allowing NEC to provide customers and partners with a full suite of cutting-edge cloud communication solutions. Built entirely on Intermedia's proprietary platform and delivered through its robust and highly reliable network, these Intermedia-branded solutions offer comprehensive unified communications, advanced video conferencing, robust contact center capabilities and tools for seamless cloud transition. The products incorporate advanced AI, multichannel archiving and real-time analytics to help ensure smarter communication, decision-making and data security for businesses of all sizes and industries around the globe.

Highlights of the announcement include:

• Seamless Transition — Intermedia is dedicated to delivering a smooth transition for all NEC customers and partners. NEC customers are already using the Intermedia network and solutions branded as NEC UNIVERGE BLUE. Existing service agreements, contracts and support arrangements will remain in place through the integration to ensure continuity of service.
• No Change to Partnership Models — Whether partners use the Agency, Rev Share (Co-Op) or Customer Ownership (CORE) model, their preferred model will be supported. Partners will continue to benefit from highly attractive economic terms and the ability to maintain ownership of their customer relationships.
• Enhanced Customer and Partner Network — NEC partners will benefit from sales, marketing and technical support, as well as all the tools needed to deliver outstanding value to their customers. Existing Intermedia partners will benefit from a stronger and more expansive network, opening new market opportunities and access to a broader range of resources. This expanded network will facilitate greater collaboration and knowledge-sharing among partners, enhancing overall service delivery and innovation.
• Expanded Global Reach — The integration will open new revenue streams and strengthen Intermedia's competitive edge in the global cloud communications market.
• Award-Winning Products, World-Class Support and Reliability — Intermedia's UC solutions and platform continue to be recognized by leading industry publications and analysts — including PC Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, USA Today, Forbes, UC Today, CRN, Frost & Sullivan and Aragon — for superior performance and support. Intermedia's J.D. Power-certified 24/7 technical support and 99.999% uptime service level agreements will be available to all direct customers and partners, ensuring world-class service and support.
• Path to Cloud Migration for On-Premise Customers — For NEC partners representing the NEC UNIVERGE BLUE business who also have on-premise customers, Intermedia is committed to supporting these partners in facilitating a smooth transition to the cloud. Leveraging the strong relationship developed over years of collaboration, Intermedia will provide the necessary tools, resources and dedicated support to ensure partners can confidently guide their customers through the migration process. This transition allows customers to benefit from the latest in cloud communication technologies with continuity and innovation in mind.

The transaction is expected to close in the United States and Canada at the end of September 2024, with Europe anticipated to follow in the coming weeks. Additional details on the transition will be shared with NEC and Intermedia customers and partners directly in the coming days and weeks.