Recognition of Vonage as a technology industry employer of choice reflects high employee engagement and the company's commitment to delivering a world-class employee experience HOLMDEL, N.J., Dec. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Vonage, part of Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC), today announced that it has been recognized as one of America's Greatest Workplaces in Tech 2025 by Newsweek. The award recognizes Vonage's excellence in employee engagement, workplace satisfaction, and corporate culture. A dynamic organization with ...

Core Insights - RingCentral is a global communications provider with approximately $2.5 billion in revenue and 500,000 customers across various sizes [1] - The company is profitable, generating around $500 million in cash annually while expanding its margins [1] Business Trends - The company emphasizes the critical nature of voice communication, positioning itself at the top of the voice communication pyramid [2] - RingCentral's platform supports both business-to-business and business-to-consumer communications, expanding its use case beyond internal communications [2]

Summary of RingCentral's 2025 Barclays TMT Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: RingCentral - **Industry**: Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) and Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS) - **Revenue**: Approximately $2.5 billion - **Customer Base**: 500,000 customers across various sizes - **Profitability**: Generating around $500 million in cash annually with expanding margins [3][4][31] Key Business Trends - **Voice Communication**: Voice remains mission-critical for businesses, with RingCentral processing tens of billions of minutes and over a billion SMS annually [6][7] - **Product Evolution**: Transitioning from RingCentral 1.0 (cloud PBX) to 2.0 (integrated UC and CC) and now to 3.0 (agentic voice AI) [4][5] - **AI Integration**: Leveraging AI across the product portfolio to enhance customer experiences, reduce costs, and improve efficiency [5][37] Market Position and Differentiation - **Market Share**: RingCentral has maintained its market share despite new entrants due to reliability, security, and rapid innovation [8][46] - **Partnerships**: Over 15 partnerships with global service providers and thousands of channel partners enhance market reach and product innovation [9][46] AI Product Portfolio - **Three A's**: - **Air**: AI receptionist for pre-conversation interactions, starting at $40/month, showing significant ROI for customers [14][15] - **Ava**: Copilot for during conversations, enhancing productivity by transcribing and analyzing discussions [16][18] - **Ace**: Business intelligence tool for post-conversation analysis, providing insights and scoring for agents [18][20] - **Growth Metrics**: All three AI products are experiencing triple-digit growth, with Air growing over 80% quarter-over-quarter [20][21] Financial Performance and Margin Expansion - **Margin Growth**: Margins have increased from over 10% to 22.5% through reducing redundancies, rationalizing vendor spending, and leveraging AI [31][34] - **Free Cash Flow**: Free cash flow has increased nearly fivefold over the past few years, aiding in capital allocation [34] Capital Allocation Strategy - **Focus Areas**: - Investing in innovation - Reducing debt to $1 billion by the end of 2026 - Share buybacks with $400 million authorization remaining - Exploring tuck-in acquisitions [35][36] Market Dynamics and Future Outlook - **UCaaS and CCaaS Growth**: The market is competitive but still has significant opportunities due to the migration of on-prem systems to cloud [24][49] - **Customer Demand**: Customers are seeking transformation systems rather than just communication systems, indicating a shift in purchasing behavior [25][37] - **ARPU Increase**: New products are driving ARPU growth, with RingCX's average ARPU increasing from $65 to over $100 due to AI integrations [41] Competitive Landscape - **AI vs. Human Agents**: AI is seen as a supplement to human agents rather than a replacement, enhancing efficiency and customer experience [42][44] - **Differentiation Factors**: Trust, innovation, and partnerships are key differentiators that help RingCentral capture market share [46][48] Guidance and Future Expectations - **Growth Projections**: Expecting continued growth in small business and GSP segments, with enterprise migration to cloud driving further expansion [48][49] - **Market Share Goals**: Aiming for mid-single-digit market share growth, supported by strong integration with platforms like Teams [49]

Core Insights - Vonage has been recognized as an Established Leader in three reports by Juniper Research, highlighting its innovations in API products and market leadership [1][2][3] Group 1: Market Recognition - Vonage received triple recognition from Juniper Research for its API product innovations in the Network APIs Market, Global Mobile Identity Market, and A2P & Business Messaging [1] - The company is noted for its advanced technologies and tools that enhance digital experiences, reinforcing its market leadership position [4] Group 2: API Innovations - Juniper Research emphasizes Vonage's introduction of Network APIs, such as Silent Authentication and SIM Swap, which address the complexities of APIs and support digital transformation [2] - Vonage's Fraud Prevention APIs are highlighted for providing secure authentication solutions, particularly beneficial for industries like financial services that are prone to fraud [2] Group 3: Communication Solutions - The A2P & Business Messaging Report recognizes Vonage's extensive network reach and its diverse portfolio of Communications APIs, including SMS and rich messaging solutions like RCS and WhatsApp [3] - Vonage's ecosystem partnerships are credited as a significant factor in its market leadership, enhancing its service offerings [3]

Summary of 8x8 FY Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: 8x8 (NasdaqGS:EGHT) - **Industry**: Mid-cap software, specifically focusing on Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) and Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS) Key Points and Arguments 1. **Investment in Innovation**: 8x8 has committed to spending approximately 15% of non-GAAP revenue on R&D to foster innovation, particularly in AI-based products [10][11][12] 2. **Acquisition of Fuze**: The acquisition of Fuze, a company with over $100 million in annual revenue, is nearing completion, with upgrades to the 8x8 platform expected by the end of the calendar year [10][11] 3. **Debt Reduction**: The company has successfully reduced its debt by approximately 41% from a high of $558 million in August 2022 [11][12] 4. **Positive Cash Flow**: 8x8 has generated positive cash flow from operations for 19 consecutive quarters, indicating a strong financial footing [12][13] 5. **Revenue Growth**: After a period of revenue headwinds, the company has reported year-over-year revenue growth in the last two quarters, marking a turnaround from an eight-quarter decline [12][13] 6. **Usage-Based Revenue**: Usage-based revenue has grown to nearly 20% of total service revenue, up from 13% the previous year, driven by new AI-driven products [23][25] 7. **Customer Retention and Stickiness**: Over one-third of annual recurring revenue (ARR) comes from customers using three or more products, enhancing customer retention and revenue growth [29][42] 8. **AI Integration**: The company is focusing on AI-driven products, which are expected to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency [45][50][100] 9. **Market Dynamics**: The UCaaS and CCaaS markets are competitive but healthy, with a noted increase in deal velocity for UCaaS compared to CCaaS [59][81] 10. **Partnership with Microsoft**: 8x8 has a strong relationship with Microsoft, which enhances the attach rate of their contact center solutions to Microsoft Teams users [91][93] Additional Important Insights 1. **Capital Management Strategy**: The company is focused on reducing leverage and has engaged in opportunistic stock buybacks while prioritizing debt reduction to enhance future growth options [121][122] 2. **Internal AI Utilization**: 8x8 is leveraging AI internally for various functions, including deal velocity acceleration and customer interaction analysis, which enhances operational efficiency [128][133] 3. **Future Outlook**: The company anticipates a continued shift towards usage-based revenue and AI integration, which is expected to positively impact gross profit margins over time [110][114] This summary encapsulates the key insights from the 8x8 FY Conference Call, highlighting the company's strategic focus on innovation, financial health, and market positioning.

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1 2026, the company reported revenue of $50.8 million, adjusted EBITDA of $8.3 million with a margin of 16%, and free cash flow of $3.2 million [6][22][24] - Revenue decreased by $8.5 million from Q4, primarily due to the divestiture of the third-party hardware resale business, VoIP Supply [22] - Year-over-year revenue declined by $1.7 million, or 3%, excluding VoIP Supply revenue [22] - Gross profit was $36.8 million, with a gross margin of 72%, compared to 67% in Q4 [23][24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Core revenue, which accounted for 74% of total revenue, decreased by 6% year-over-year, while adjacent revenue increased by 6% [23] - Services now account for 92% of total revenue, reinforcing the company's transformation to a predominantly MRR-driven model [23][25] - Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) bookings grew by 2.4% sequentially and 6.4% year-over-year [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The overall size of the pipeline remained steady, but new pipeline creation increased by 39% quarter-over-quarter [8][14] - The company saw a pickup in its higher-velocity volumetric business, which now represents 62% of the 90-day forward pipeline [8] - Retention remains strong, with blended churn holding near 1% [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is transitioning to a higher-margin recurring revenue model, which now represents over 90% of total revenue [6] - Investments of approximately $2 million in incremental SG&A are planned to accelerate customer acquisition and partner enablement [11][21] - The company is exploring selective AI-driven software acquisitions to strengthen its vertical focus in healthcare, hospitality, retail, and education [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in meeting fiscal FY26 guidance, expecting sequential growth in Q2 and year-over-year growth in Q3 and Q4 [12][26] - The broader SMB market conditions may influence deal timing, but early Q2 activity is encouraging [12] - Management highlighted the importance of larger deal sizes and growing recurring revenue as indicators of entering a new phase of sustainable, profitable growth [12] Other Important Information - The company retired an additional $5.2 million in debt during Q1, ending with total debt of $42.8 million [20] - The capital allocation strategy focuses on leveraging strong cash generation to accelerate organic growth while maintaining flexibility for selective M&A [20][21] Q&A Session Summary Question: Growth investments and timelines for returns - Management indicated that the $2 million investment will focus on increasing field capacity and marketing to enhance brand coverage [30] Question: Pipeline tied to new partner relationships - Management noted a 6% increase in pipeline over the last six weeks and a 39% increase in new pipeline creation [33] Question: Decline in services and future expectations - Management acknowledged the decline in services but expects sequential growth starting in Q2 as older customer contracts complete [37] Question: Optimizations for targeting larger customers - Management highlighted improvements in product roadmap and a disciplined approach to pursuing large opportunities [45] Question: Average revenue per customer growth - Management attributed the 19% year-over-year increase in average revenue per customer to upselling and the effectiveness of the bundling strategy [58] Question: Gross margin expectations - Management indicated that gross margin was impacted by a higher mix of product revenue but expects improvement moving forward [61] Question: Backlog growth - Management stated that backlog was consistent quarter-over-quarter, with expectations for growth in upcoming quarters [69] Question: Large MRR opportunities - Management clarified that large MRR opportunities include both wholesale and bundled solutions, with significant deals already closed [74][75] Question: Total Addressable Market (TAM) expansion - Management confirmed that the new wholesale channel opens up significant TAM opportunities beyond traditional markets [80][81]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1 2026, the company reported revenue of $50.8 million, adjusted EBITDA of $8.3 million with a margin of 16%, and free cash flow of $3.2 million [6][22][24] - Revenue decreased by $8.5 million from Q4, primarily due to the divestiture of the third-party hardware resale business, VoIP Supply [22] - Year-over-year revenue declined by $1.7 million, or 3%, excluding $7.6 million from VoIP Supply [22] - Gross profit was $36.8 million, with a gross margin of 72%, compared to 67% in the previous quarter [23][24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Core revenue, which accounted for 74% of total revenue, decreased by 6% year-over-year, while adjacent revenue increased by 6% [23] - Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) bookings grew by 2.4% sequentially and 6.4% year-over-year [9] - Larger strategic opportunities saw a 39% sequential increase in deals over $10,000 of MRR, which are 72% above the FY25 quarterly average [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The overall size of the pipeline remained steady, but new pipeline creation increased by 39% quarter-over-quarter [8] - The volumetric business now represents 62% of the 90-day forward pipeline, up from 55% in Q4 [8] - The company’s prem business grew over 60% year-over-year, benefiting from larger players exiting the segment [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is transitioning to a higher-margin recurring revenue model, which now represents over 90% of total revenue [6] - A new segment structure has been introduced, dividing revenue into core and adjacent categories to provide greater transparency [10] - The company plans to invest approximately $2 million in incremental SG&A to accelerate customer acquisition and partner enablement [11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in meeting fiscal FY26 guidance, expecting sequential growth in Q2 and year-over-year growth in Q3 and Q4 [12][26] - The management highlighted the importance of larger deal sizes and growing recurring revenue as indicators of entering a new phase of sustainable, profitable growth [12] - The company is exploring selective AI-driven software acquisitions to strengthen its vertical focus in various sectors [10] Other Important Information - The company continues to generate strong cash flow while strategically reinvesting in growth initiatives [10] - The capital allocation strategy includes paying down debt, reducing leverage, and returning value to shareholders through share repurchases [20][21] Q&A Session Summary Question: Growth investments and timing - Management indicated that the $2 million incremental growth spending will focus on increasing field capacity and marketing efforts to enhance brand coverage [28][30] Question: Pipeline tied to new partner relationships - Management reported a 6% increase in pipeline over the last six weeks and a 39% increase in new pipeline creation, indicating significant growth from new paths to market [32][33] Question: Decline in services revenue - Management acknowledged the decline in services revenue due to longer sales cycles but expects sequential growth starting in Q2 as older contracts complete [36][37] Question: Targeting larger customers - Management highlighted improvements in sales cycles and implementation timelines due to a disciplined approach and enhanced product offerings [44][46] Question: Average revenue per customer growth - The increase in average revenue per customer by 19% year-over-year was attributed to upselling and the effectiveness of the bundling strategy [58] Question: Gross margin expectations - Management noted that gross margin was impacted by a higher mix of product revenue but expects improvements as the year progresses [61][62] Question: Backlog growth - Management indicated that backlog remained consistent quarter-over-quarter, with expectations for growth in upcoming quarters [69][70] Question: Large MRR opportunities - Management clarified that large MRR opportunities include both wholesale solutions and bundled offerings, with significant deals already closed [73][74]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q1 2026 was $50.8 million, a decrease of $8.5 million from Q4 2025, primarily due to the divestiture of the third-party hardware resale business [19] - Adjusted EBITDA was $8.3 million, representing a margin of 16%, with a temporary negative impact on free cash flow of $3.2 million due to working capital changes [5][18] - Free cash flow for the quarter was $3.2 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, with a net cash from operating activities of $4.9 million [17][18] - Total debt decreased to $42.8 million from $69.1 million year-over-year, with $5.2 million in debt retired during the quarter [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Core revenue, which accounted for 74% of total revenue, decreased by 6% year-over-year, while adjacent revenue increased by 6% [20] - Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) bookings grew 2.4% sequentially and 6.4% year-over-year, with larger deals over $10,000 MRR increasing by 39% sequentially [7][8] - Average revenue per customer increased by 19% year-over-year, driven by the bundling strategy [15][52] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The overall size of the pipeline remained steady, with new pipeline creation increasing by 39% quarter-over-quarter [6][12] - The blended churn rate held near 1%, indicating stability in the recurring revenue base [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is transitioning to a higher-margin recurring revenue model, which now represents over 90% of total revenue [5] - Investments of approximately $2 million in SG&A are planned to accelerate customer acquisition and partner enablement [10][19] - The introduction of a clearer performance view through two segments: core and adjacent, aims to enhance transparency in revenue mix evolution [9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in meeting fiscal FY26 guidance of $200 million to $210 million in revenue, with expectations for sequential growth in Q2 and year-over-year growth in Q3 and Q4 [24] - The company is optimistic about the growth potential in the wholesale channel and AI-driven software acquisitions to strengthen vertical focus [9][10] Other Important Information - The company continues to generate strong cash flow while strategically reinvesting in growth initiatives and expanding partner ecosystems [9] - R&D investment remained consistent at $11.3 million, with 90% of R&D spend directed towards new product capabilities [23] Q&A Session Summary Question: Update on growth investments and timelines for returns - The $2 million investment will focus on increasing field capacity and marketing efforts to enhance brand coverage and partner recruitment [26][27] Question: Pipeline generation from new partner relationships - The pipeline has increased by 6% in the last six weeks, with significant growth in bookings and a balanced mix of business types [29][30] Question: Decline in services and expectations for sequential growth - The decline was anticipated due to the completion of contracts with smaller customers, with expectations for sequential growth starting in Q2 [33][35] Question: Optimizations for targeting larger customers - The company has improved its product roadmap and established a disciplined approach to pursuing larger opportunities, enhancing efficiency in deal execution [40][41] Question: Changes in the partner ecosystem and ongoing success metrics - The partner program has been realigned to focus on strategic partners, with ongoing training and support to drive growth [46][47]

Core Insights - Sangoma Technologies Corporation reported solid first quarter results for Fiscal 2026, demonstrating the strength of its recurring revenue model and reaffirming its guidance for the fiscal year [2][4]. Financial Performance - Total revenue for the first quarter was $50.8 million, with a sequential growth expected in Q2. Excluding $7.6 million from VoIP Supply, LLC, revenue decreased by 3% year-over-year on a like-for-like basis [5]. - Average revenue per customer increased by 19% year-over-year, and bookings rose by 6%, supporting the growth outlook for the remainder of the year [5]. - Gross profit was $36.8 million, representing 72% of total revenue, an increase from 67% in the previous quarter, driven by a shift towards higher-margin recurring services [5]. - Operating expenses decreased by 9% year-over-year to $38.5 million, reflecting efficiency gains from transformation activities [5]. - The company reported a net loss of $2.3 million, compared to a net loss of $1.9 million in the same quarter last year [5]. - Adjusted EBITDA was $8.3 million, representing 16% of total revenue, consistent with historical seasonal patterns [5]. Guidance and Strategic Direction - Sangoma reaffirmed its guidance for Fiscal 2026, expecting total revenue in the range of $200 - $210 million, compared to $209 million in Fiscal 2025, excluding the contribution from VoIP Supply [4]. - The company is focused on expanding its software and services portfolio and deepening relationships with its global customer and partner base [2]. Shareholder Value and Capital Management - Free cash flow for the first quarter was $3.2 million, with net cash provided by operating activities at $4.9 million, representing 60% of Adjusted EBITDA [5]. - The company has repurchased over 700,000 shares under its Normal Course Issuer Bid, including 195,949 shares repurchased after the end of the first quarter [5].

Core Insights - The collaboration among Vonage, Aduna, Deutsche Telekom, and mBank at the World Banking Forum aims to leverage mobile networks, APIs, and AI to enhance banking security and customer experience [1][3][6] Group 1: Industry Collaboration - The World Banking Forum in Athens gathers senior banking executives and technology leaders to discuss technological innovations in banking [1] - The partnership focuses on the integration of 5G, Network APIs, and AI to improve fraud prevention and redefine customer interactions in financial services [3][4] Group 2: Fraud Prevention and Cybersecurity - The rise of digital channels has led to an increase in fraud, with cybercrime damages projected to reach $11.9 trillion annually by 2026, necessitating advanced fraud protection strategies [2] - The collaboration aims to address current security challenges by embedding mobile network capabilities into banking applications, enhancing customer interactions while reducing fraud [3][4] Group 3: Technological Innovation - Aduna acts as an aggregator of telecom network capabilities, providing banks like mBank access to real-time verified network data, which facilitates seamless customer experiences and fraud reduction [4][6] - Vonage's Network APIs enable developers to create solutions for banks that automate verification processes, enhancing security and transforming customer experiences [6][10] Group 4: Company Profiles - mBank is Poland's fifth largest universal banking group, servicing approximately 4.7 million retail clients and 36.8 thousand corporate clients, with a focus on innovative digital banking solutions [7] - Aduna is a joint venture among leading telecom operators and Ericsson, aimed at accelerating innovation through standardized network APIs [8]