I started writing this post in July to discuss how 3CX was changing the various editions of the 3CX software. I didn’t have time to finish the post before now, but here we are in August and almost the entire post had to be rewritten because 3CX has changed their software editions again.
Long time 3CXers know how often 3CX likes to change their product lines. This can make quoting, installing, and supporting 3CX difficult, as what you have today may stop existing/working tomorrow (as discussed in a previous post). Starting off Q3 with a bang, 3CX announced their 4 new/rebranded editions of the 3CX software. 1 month later and these editions have been further refined and changed. Putting aside customers using legacy editions for a minute, this is a very good move that should help ease frustrations by many when choosing the correct edition.
The new product line consists of the following:
- Free
- SMB10 / SMB20
- Pro
- Enterprise
Both the Free and the SMB offerings are the former StartUP product line and the Pro and Enterprise are the dedicated product line.
The Free offering is the former StartUP FREE offering, but even more limited. The biggest changes is that 3CX is limiting the ability to use IP Phones with it to just 3 phones, 1 SIP trunk, and 1 DID. You are also restricted to 1 ring group and 1 auto attendant and no SMS support. This offering is only available as a hosted offering by 3CX and is limited to a max of 10 users.
The SMB offering is the former StartUP Pro offering. It’s fairly limited, but its feature-set does grow with every release. You are still limited to 1 SIP trunk in this offering, although you get to have a total of 10 combined ring groups, call queues and auto attendants. This offering is only available as a hosted offering by 3CX and is limited to 10/20 users, depending on what you pay.
Both the Free and the SMB offerings require you to use 3CX approved SIP trunks. Only providers who pay 3CX a kickback are approved, as discussed in this previous post.
The Pro and Enterprise offerings, available in both Hosted or Self-Host/On-Prem, remains the same as it currently is.
While no major differences for the dedicated line has been announced, the limitations around IP Phones, SIP Trunks, and System Extensions on Free will likely drive a large number of consumers to another product or another edition of 3CX. As mentioned, 3CX StartUP FREE was 3CX’s migration path for 3CX FREE users, a product that did not have any of these limitations. We will have to wait and see if that leads to more changes to the current product line offered or not.
Leave a Reply