8x8 (News - Alert), Inc. announced today it has reached an agreement with a VoIP service provider soon to be leaving the market that will make 8X8’s Packet8 service the exclusive recommendation as the replacement service for all its current subscribers.

 

“We look forward to welcoming these VoIP consumers to the Packet8 family of subscribers,” said Huw Rees (News - Alert), 8x8 VP of Sales & Marketing. “8x8 has been providing VoIP services since 2002 and, unlike many competitors, has established a strong business model providing subscribers with solid assurance that our service will be operational for the long term and that our reputation for quality and reliability will be maintained.”

 

As dictated by the new agreement, only Packet8 will be promoted to the approximately 12,000 subscribers soon to be without VoIP phone service one the company ceases operations. 8x8 is offering these subscribers a specially-priced monthly service plan, as well as a free month of service, free activation, free shipping and a free Uniden 165P 5.8 GHz cordless phone.

 

The move is reminiscent of what happened just two months ago, when SunRocket (News - Alert), the second largest independent VoIP provider, closed down its service and referred its more than 200,000 subscribers to Packet8. 8x8 is now the #2 standalone voice and video provider, and was recently awarded its 69th patent for proprietary VoIP technology. In addition to residential service, 8x8 also provides more than 8,000 small businesses with its Packet8-hosted iPBX complete business phone solution.