News

Carolina Digital Phone Named Finalist for Best Customer Service Award at BizX 2024

Carolina Digital Phone, a trusted provider of VoIP solutions based in Greensboro, North Carolina, is proud to announce its nomination as a finalist for Best Customer Service at the BizX 2024 Awards. This recognition highlights the company’s commitment to delivering outstanding service and support to its clients—an essential part of its success since its founding in 2000.

Neil Matson September 12, 2024

Carolina Digital Phone: Pioneering the Future of Business Communications

In the dynamic landscape of business communications, Carolina Digital Phone continues to surge ahead, solidifying its position as a trailblazer in the industry. Founded in 2000 by visionary CEO Nicky Smith, this Southeast-based VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) company has consistently demonstrated its commitment to innovation and community support.

Neil Matson August 14, 2024

The UK PSTN switch-off: Is the US next?

The United Kingdom is set to switch off its Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) by 2027, marking a significant shift in telecommunication technology. This move away from traditional copper-based telephone lines to digital, IP-based systems reflects the ongoing global trend toward modernizing communication infrastructure. As the UK transitions, the implications for other countries, particularly the United States, become increasingly relevant. This article explores the reasons behind the UK’s decision, the technological and regulatory landscape in the US, and whether a similar transition could be imminent stateside. Understanding PSTN and Its Role The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) has been the

Eric Lyon June 17, 2024

Newcomb Tech: Reliable IT Solutions and Cybersecurity Expertise

Carolina Digital Phone welcomes Patrick Newcomb and Newcomb Tech as a Channel Partner. With their extensive expertise in IT services and cybersecurity solutions, Newcomb Tech is a valuable addition to our network of trusted providers. We look forward to collaborating with their team to deliver comprehensive technology solutions that empower businesses across Central NC and Southern VA. Together, we will continue to prioritize exceptional service, innovative offerings, and a steadfast commitment to our clients’ success.

Neil Matson June 13, 2024

Navigating Uncertainty: What Avaya’s Second Bankruptcy Means for Customers

Avaya, a leading provider of business communication solutions, has recently emerged from its second bankruptcy filing in just six years. The company, known for its strong presence in the on-premises contact center and PBX markets, has announced a renewed focus on customer experience (CX) as it navigates the challenges posed by its financial restructuring. For Avaya’s extensive customer base, this development raises important questions about the future of their investments, the continuity of support and services, and the potential impact on their long-term communication strategies. As businesses increasingly rely on robust and reliable communication technologies, understanding the implications of Avaya’s

Nicky Smith May 21, 2024

The Campaign Registry Under Scrutiny: Will It Face the Same Fate as TikTok?

The Chinese-owned video app TikTok has faced intense scrutiny in the United States, with concerns ranging from data privacy to national security. As the U.S. government pushes for a ban or forced sale of the app, another foreign-owned entity, The Campaign Registry (TCR), has begun to attract attention. TCR, a database for tracking digital political ads, has some similarities to TikTok in terms of foreign ownership and data access concerns. However, the lack of public information about TCR makes it difficult to predict if it will face the same level of scrutiny as TikTok. TikTok’s Challenges TikTok, owned by the

Nicky Smith May 21, 2024

Man in Green: Trusted Partner for Business Communications

For over a decade, Man in Green has been a trusted partner for businesses seeking reliable and cost-effective phone systems and merchant credit card processing solutions. With a steadfast commitment to outstanding customer service, Man in Green has earned a reputation as one of the most reliable providers in North Carolina and beyond.

Neil Matson May 1, 2024

The Future of Emergency Services: An Update on Next Generation 911 (NG911)

The 911 emergency response system has been a critical component of public safety in the United States for decades. However, as technology has advanced and communication methods have evolved, the need for a more robust and advanced emergency response system has become increasingly apparent. Next Generation 911 (NG911) represents a significant step forward in modernizing emergency services, leveraging cutting-edge technologies to improve response times, enhance situational awareness, and ultimately, save lives. This article explores the current state of NG911 implementation, the role of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in advancing this transition, and the potential impact of NG911 on public

Nicky Smith April 26, 2024

How a Community Server Will Help with Your Cloud-Based Phone System

In the bustling corridors of corporate headquarters, where the rhythm of business pulses ceaselessly, one essential thread binds success: communication. It was here that the tale of Carolina Digital Phone began, a beacon of connectivity illuminating the path to seamless collaboration.

Amidst the cacophony of ringing phones and hurried footsteps, the need for a reliable telephony solution became increasingly evident. Enter Carolina Digital Phone, a herald of efficiency and innovation in the realm of communication infrastructure. With its intuitive software,

Nicky Smith March 27, 2024

AggieTechnologies NC

AggieTechnologies NC Welcome Brian Scott and AggieTechnologies as a Carolina Digital Phone Collaboration Partner In an exciting development for both our companies and our clients, we are thrilled to welcome Brian Scott, the owner of AggieTechnologies North Carolina, as a Collaborative Partner with Carolina Digital Phone. With a shared vision for providing exceptional technology solutions and a commitment to customer-centric service, this partnership promises to bring even greater value to businesses across the region. Brian Scott’s Entrepreneurial Journey Brian Scott brings a wealth of experience and a deep-rooted passion for technology to the table. Growing up as the “child of

Neil Matson March 13, 2024

Do We Need to Buy New Business Phones?

What is a Business Phone? Today, more than ever, effective communication is paramount to success. Business owners understand the significance of staying connected with their customers, employees, and stakeholders. Ensuring seamless information flow, collaboration, and productivity is vital. A business phone is a crucial tool for any business owner or entrepreneur. It facilitates seamless communication among team members and with customers and clients. In recent years, business phones have evolved greatly, moving away from traditional physical phones towards more advanced solutions. At Carolina Digital Phone, we understand the importance of reliable and feature-rich business phone solutions. As a trusted VoIP

Nicky Smith August 3, 2023

$1.5 Billion to NC from High-Speed Broadband Infrastructure Bill

The White House has made a historic investment to bridge the digital divide by announcing the $42.45 billion High-Speed Internet Grant Program. The funding is part of the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill. This program aims to connect every American to affordable and reliable high-speed internet. The bill addresses the disparities that exist in underserved communities. Key takeaways from this announcement are: Digital Divide The passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act brings with it renewed hope for closing the digital divide that has long plagued communities across the country. The bill brings a historic investment in high-speed broadband

Neil Matson June 28, 2023

Rural Health Care Telecom Program Funding

The Rural Health Care Telecommunications (Telecom) Program is a federal initiative launched to provide funding and support to health care providers in rural communities across the United States. Improving the quality of medical care in underserved areas by increasing access to advanced telecommunications and broadband services while reducing rates for eligible healthcare providers is the program’s primary goal. Through this program, rural healthcare providers can access two subprograms: the Health Care Connect Fund Program and the Telecommunications Program. The Health Care Connect Fund Program is designed to help rural healthcare providers build and maintain broadband networks, while the Telecommunications Program

Nicky Smith June 12, 2023

Phone Number Spoofing

FCC Introduces New Rules to Fight Robocall Spoofing As part of its ongoing effort to combat illegal robocalls, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced on March 16, 2023, it is enhancing and expanding service provider obligations to implement the STIR/SHAKEN caller ID authentication framework. The move builds on the FCC’s implementation of a framework used to trace back, block, and identify originators of illegal spoofed robocalls. How Spoofing Works Scammers find phone number spoofing an increasingly popular technique. They know people are wary of answering unwanted calls with unfamiliar or toll-free numbers. As a consequence, they use spoofing to trick

Mitchell Smith April 10, 2023

Hosted PBX VoIP Trends

The Hosted PBX VoIP Market should reach Multimillion USD by 2028, according to a new study. This growth is attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. The demand for Hosted PBX solutions increases, as a result. Businesses want ways to keep their employees connected and productive and improve cost savings. This need became critical during the pandemic. Companies relocated workers to remote locations, and that need remains important. The report examines the competition, supply, and demand trends. Additionally, key factors contribute to its changing demands across many markets. Company profiles and product examples of selected competitors are provided for the market year

Neil Matson April 6, 2023

Justice Served! Over $300 Million in Biggest FCC Robocall Fine Ever

In a huge victory against robocall scammers, the FCC has proposed a $300 million fine against Cox/Jones Enterprise. This is the largest ever proposed fine against an auto warranty scammer. If approved, this fine will send a clear message to scammers that robocalling will not be tolerated!

Neil Matson December 21, 2022

Moore County Schools Power Outage did not affect Cloud Telephone Service

At Carolina Digital Phone, we understand the importance of being prepared for any emergency, be it terrorist attacks, natural disasters, or other potential threats. That’s why we continuously work to improve our services to provide a secure connection even during any emergency. Our commitment to safety and security is unwavering, and we always strive to keep our customers safe during any kind of power outage or another unexpected event.

Nicky Smith December 6, 2022

AT&T ditches directory assistance

Goodbye operator, hello self-service AT&T has given customers advance notice that it will end its Operator and Directory Assistance services on January 1, 2023. The company attributes this decision to cutting-edge technology, such as online directories and voice recognition software. AT&T decided to change its policy in response to the rising popularity of online search engines and digital directories. Customers can now only access directory information by using voice recognition software on mobile devices or through AT&T’s online directory. Although this may be an inconvenience for some, AT&T will still provide operator services for emergency calls and collect calls. Who

Neil Matson October 31, 2022

Carolina Digital Phone Customer Spotlight – Davidson County

Davidson County, like many municipalities, had an issue that was slowing its progress. Their legacy telephone system – a combination of a digital system and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) integrated system – was almost 25 years old. The antiquated system was extremely complex and difficult to work with. Because of the complicated setup, to make any changes or do most anything within the phone system required special training and special expertise. Davidson County Was Just Done With It While the phone system was technically still operational, Joel Hartley, Chief Information Officer for Davidson County, identified that it was woefully

Neil Matson June 24, 2022

Carolina Digital Phone Customer Spotlight – Kellin Foundation

Most of us are busy in our daily and work lives. Dr. Kelly Graves, Executive Director of the Kellin Foundation is no exception. So busy that the non-profit organization she co-founded in 2013 has grown 500% in the last five years! If you are not familiar with the Kellin Foundation, it is a Guilford County-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that strengthens resilience among children, families, adults, and communities through trauma-informed behavioral health services focused on prevention, treatment, and healing. The organization was also recognized as a National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) clinic, one of only two in North Carolina. Better

Neil Matson May 17, 2022

North Carolina On A Winning Streak in Economic Development

Yet another indicator that across North Carolina, the work being done by economic development organizations is paying off. For the second year in a row, North Carolina was announced as the winner of Site Selection magazine’s Prosperity Cup. The magazine is the official publication of the Industrial Asset Management Council. The Prosperity Cup recognizes state-level economic development agency success based on a 10-point index of criteria derived largely from capital investment project activity the previous calendar year. Watching North Carolina Bloom The fact that North Carolina has been selected two years running is not lost on Site Selection’s senior editor,

Neil Matson May 12, 2022

alert - 3rd round of FCC Emergency Connectivity Funding

FCC Announces a Third Round of Emergency Connectivity Funding

The Federal Communications Commission has announced a third application filing window for its Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF). The fund is a $7.17 billion program funded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. It was created to help schools and libraries support remote learning. The Program will provide funding to schools and libraries for the reasonable costs of laptop and tablet computers; Wi-Fi hotspots; modems; routers; and broadband connectivity purchases for off-campus use by students, school staff, and library patrons. During the new filing period, the FCC intends to award at least $1 billion in Emergency Connectivity Fund support. The

Neil Matson April 20, 2022

Carolina Digital Phone Customer Spotlight – Granville Vance Public Health

Meet David Jones – IT Manager of Granville Vance Public Health In 2020 Granville Vance Public Health had a problem. They needed an update to their telephone system. They were using an older Mitel in-house hosted phone system that just didn’t give them the features they required. Of course, upgrading with Mitel was one option. However, upgrading an old, outdated on-premise system would have cost them a significant amount of money. And even then, David Jones, Granville Vance Health IT Manager says, the system would still not offer the flexibility and ease of use they were seeking. Seemingly simple tasks

Neil Matson March 29, 2022

The human race - sponsered by the volunteer center

Carolina Digital Phone Customer Spotlight – The Volunteer Center of The Triad

The Human Race has been around for roughly some 200,000 years. In Greensboro, North Carolina, The Human Race has been around since 1994 and is back live and in-person on April 2, 2022. Of course, we’re talking about The Volunteer Center of the Triad’s annual fundraiser 5K where participants walk, run, or roll to support their favorite charity. After two years of being run virtually thanks to the pandemic – the event, now in its 28th year, moves to LeBauer Park in downtown Greensboro. In the past, the race has been hosted at the Greensboro Coliseum and before that, at

Neil Matson March 21, 2022

Carolina Digital Phone Lunch Break – Mythos Grill

As the owner of Carolina Digital Phone, I like to keep in touch with every facet of my business. Since I am busy with meetings and other business-related duties, I am not in the office every day. Like so many people nowadays, I work remotely much of the time. However, I make it a point to work from our offices in the historic Guilford Building on Elm Street a couple of times a week. In particular, I look forward to being in the office every Friday that I can. On Fridays, I like to take a couple of different employees

Nicky Smith March 7, 2022

Carolina Digital Phone Customer Spotlight – Progress Printing Plus

Business As Usual at Progress Printing Plus Tom Thornton says it’s “business as usual” at Progress Printing Plus where he is Director of Informations Services. However, for a business that is the largest privately held printer in the state of Virginia with a plant sitting on nearly seven acres in Lynchburg, their business is anything but usual. Progress Printing Plus was founded in 1962 by T.D. Thornton as Progress Printing. The plus was added in 2012 because the company now offers so much more than just printing to its 700 coast-to-coast clients. They like to say that the “Plus” in

Neil Matson February 28, 2022

Carolina Digital Phone Customer Spotlight – J Hyatt Hammond Associates

How did Mandi Clift decide to become an architect working for J Hyatt Hammond Associates? “Funny story,” she says with a smile, “When I was in high school, I was just enjoying being a high schooler.” That was until a guidance counselor asked her what she wanted to go to college for. Her father told her she should tell the guidance counselor “architecture,” which she did. The counselor proceeded to tell her that she couldn’t just go to college from high school without first going to community college for a few years and developing a portfolio. “You can’t get into

Neil Matson February 14, 2022

Carolina Digital Phone Customer Spotlight – Greensboro Urban Ministry

In our continuing Customer Spotlight series, we are focusing on The Greensboro Urban Ministry. Assistant Executive Director Mark Sumerford was kind enough to take a few minutes out of his busy day to speak with us. Feeding Those In Need In North Carolina, over 15% of the population don’t know where their next meal is coming from. Greensboro Urban Ministry offers free meals daily and gives out emergency groceries four days a week. The Potter’s House Community Kitchen provides a hot, nutritious lunch every day, including holidays. In addition to the community lunch, Potter’s house also provides breakfast and dinner

Neil Matson January 24, 2022

Carolina Digital Phone Customer Spotlight – Steve Worrell – CPA, P.A.

Steve Worrell, Owner of Steven W. Worrell CPA, P.A., consults with various companies on accounting, technology, and management projects ranging from strategic planning to full system implementations. He also maintains a strong concentration of tax compliance services for his client base. Steve is one of many Carolina Digital Phone customers with a story to tell. Outside of work, Steve is a Boy Scout Leader and a rock ‘n roller at heart. He has been playing in the same rock band since his days as an undergrad at UNC-Chapel Hill in 1979. As a freshman living in Morrison Dorm, he and

Neil Matson January 17, 2022

Carolina Digital Phone Customer Spotlight – Ross Cox – ActionCOACH Business Coach

It’s no secret that many businesses have had a tough go of things for almost two years due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. But even during the best of times, as a business owner, you may be struggling. No matter where you may be in your journey, there are always questions and challenges. And, just like in our personal lives, we all can benefit from trusted advice and guidance from someone we respect. This is where ActionCOACH comes in. Meet Ross Cox. With 50 years of experience as a business leader and his desire to help people, ActionCOACH was born.

Neil Matson December 20, 2021

Nicky Smith, President & CEO, of Carolina Digital Phone and Laura Way, President & CEO of ArtsGreensboro

Carolina Digital Phone Customer Spotlight – Arts Greensboro

Laura Way became CEO & President of Arts Greensboro in April of 2019. She was clearly the right choice for the position. Having served as Executive Director and CEO at the GreenHill Center for North Carolina Art, as well as a member of the Greensboro Cultural Arts Master Plan Task Force, Way is intimately connected to the Greensboro and Triad arts scene. A year later, when Covid-19 turned the world upside down, she was there to help navigate the crisis and to look beyond it to see a promising future for the arts in the community. The pandemic was the

Neil Matson December 13, 2021

City of Lexington, NC – Success Story

Like most government agencies, the City of Lexington, North Carolina needed to bring its phone system into the 21st Century. Their Mitel phone system was aging, and the city was looking to have some redundancy outside of their facility. Systems Administrator Lindsay Hedrick, who has been with the city for 6 years, opted to take their communications to the cloud! Previously, all of their hardware was on-site. Now, The City of Lexington has moved its telephone services into the cloud with Carolina Digital Phone. Before the move, he says, they relied on their telephone vendor heavily for support – all

Neil Matson October 29, 2021

“Killware” is the New Ransomware

If you thought ransomware was scary, now the world of cybersecurity is contending with an even more diabolical threat – killware. No, we’re not talking about SkyNet, the self-aware AI computer security network from the Terminator movies hell-bent on destroying all humans. But the idea of cyberattacks actually designed to kill people is, apparently, all too real. After the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack in the Spring of 2021 – which disrupted a major fuel delivery pipeline and resulted in the company paying a $4.4 million ransom – companies large and small are on edge. And with good reason, according to

Neil Matson October 15, 2021

It’s the Personal Touch that Makes a Difference

When French West Vaughan in Raleigh, NC – the nation’s 15th largest independently-held public relations and integrated marketing agency – needed to replace their 20-year old phone system they started doing some research. They had an outdated Nortel system that FWV’s Executive Assistant Sharon Kemp says just needed to go. Not only was it getting increasingly difficult to get replacement parts, but the cost was also outrageous. But what sold FWV on Carolina Digital Phone wasn’t just the hundreds of included features that make our phone systems extremely flexible or the money they saved moving their phones to the cloud.

Neil Matson September 14, 2021

Customer Service Above & Beyond

Fleet-Plummer is a family business that was founded in 1949 as a hardware store in Greensboro, North Carolina, and remains one of the Triad’s oldest retail stores. Over the years, Fleet-Plummer has grown into an eclectic lifestyle retail destination that offers anything you need for gracious living with Southern style. While Fleet-Plummer offers everything from grills and patio furniture to greeting cards and jewelry, the one thing that Fleet-Plummer was lacking was a dependable telephone system and provider. So, when their telephone system was down for three days, they were desperately trying to find a solution. After a Google search

Nicky Smith July 13, 2021

A Non-Profit Moves Into The 21st Century

Mark Ledford, Director of Facilities at Christ United Methodist Church, a non-profit in Greensboro, NC, is singing the praises of Carolina Digital Phone. When it came time for the church to advance into the 21st Century and move its IT system to the cloud, it only made sense to include cloud-based telephones. That’s when the church chose to work with Carolina Digital Phone. Outside of working to provide the best possible digital phone system with 99.9% uptime and hundreds of free features plus unparalleled customer service, Carolina Digital Phone Owner/CEO Nicky Smith has always had a big heart for the

Neil Matson June 28, 2021

No Longer Tied to a Desk

Crystal Wright is the Office Manager at LDR & Co. Building Technologies which is actually multiple companies. One business, AirCon Carolina, is a leading design and build mechanical engineer firm. They specialize in biotech and pharmaceutical facilities, cleanroom technologies, and mission-critical sites. LDR Technologies is a licensed full-service mechanical contractor that specializes in providing industrial, commercial, and institutional service and unit replacement in North Carolina. While they provide HVAC installation and service, they are more specialized to work with hospitals and labs. Prior to coming to LDR & Co., Crystal worked at a construction company and said “We need to

Neil Matson June 8, 2021

Carolina Digital Phone Introduces STIR/SHAKEN Robocaller Protection

Greensboro, NC — Carolina Digital Phone, a knowledgeable local leader in a cloud-based communications industry, continues to innovate with the implementation of STIR/SHAKEN technology to battle robocalls. In an effort to restore integrity in the United States public telephone system, the FCC is helping us fight against robocalls through a new set of rules and regulations: STIR/SHAKEN. Simply put, the new regulations help service providers verify whether the number the displayed on the Caller ID is accurate. Helping the callee trust that the call is not a spoofed call. A recent report from Truecaller reveals phone scams cost Americans over

Nicky Smith May 3, 2021

Carolina Digital Phone Now Offers Professional Voice Recordings

Here’s a fantastic service for anyone looking for professionally recorded business telephone system prompts, greetings, and more. Carolina Digital Phone has partnered with Snap Recordings, the leading online provider of professional voice recordings for business telephone systems. You can now order custom voicemail greetings, promotional on-hold messages, announcements, prompts, or any other type of telephone recordings directly from our website. Professional Voices Using the online wizard, create professional-quality telephone recordings, and establish instant credibility with your callers. Simply register for a free account, choose your voice talent and music, type or paste your script into our message editor, and pay

Neil Matson September 2, 2020

Segra Acquisition of North State Communications

Why North State’s Merger with Segra is Great News for Shareholders — but Probably Awful News for Workers and Customers On December 9th, High Point, NC-based North State Telecommunications Corp. announced that it has agreed to merge with a subsidiary of MTN Infrastructure TopCo, Inc., which together with its other subsidiaries does business as Segra. This seems to be a classic case of a small, family-owned business selling to a much larger enterprise. As usual, there is a financial story, a worker story, and a customer story. The Financial Story: “We’re in the Money!” Charlotte, NC-based Segra has agreed to

Nicky Smith December 11, 2019

Carolina Digital Phone Installs Hosted Cloud Phone System for North Carolina’s Graham County Schools

PRESS RELEASE – AUGUST 16, 2019 – Carolina Digital Phone a leading hosted cloud and telecommunications firm that serves businesses, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and academic institutions nationwide, is proud to announce that it has installed a state-of-the-art hosted cloud phone system for Graham County Schools, a K–12 graded school district serving Graham County, North Carolina. The installation included a total of 120 seats in Graham County Schools’ central administrative office, and across its roster of schools including Robbinsville Elementary School, Robbinsville Middle School, Robbinsville High School, and The Academy. Commented Chris Villa, Major Account Director at Carolina Digital Phone:

Nicky Smith August 14, 2019

Worldwide VoIP Market Projected to Hit $55 Billion by 2025 with North America Leading the Way

A new report from market research firm Global Market Insights is projecting that the worldwide VoIP market will reach $55 billion by 2025. This represents a 175% increase from the current level of $20 billion. Analysts also predict that by 2025, the IT and telecom market will comprise more than 25% of the VoIP industry, with growth in North America leading the way. Key factors that will continue to convince businesses to migrate from traditional PSTN networks to cloud-based telephone systems include: Substantial year-over-year cost savings. The need to collaborate and connect with remote/mobile workers and distributed teams. Massive investments

Nicky Smith May 6, 2019

Attention Ex-Windstream Channel Partners: We Want You to Join Our Team!

Windstream, which filed for bankruptcy in February, has noted that it will cut approximately 15 percent of its channel partners. Those affected will immediately see their commissions stop, regardless of how it negatively impacts their operations, cash flow projections, or reputations. Apparently, Windstream has other items on the agenda at the moment than supporting channel partners who have been driving revenues and customers to the telecommunications company for years. According to some current and ex-employees posting at TheLayoffs.com, one of these priorities is carrying out a “stealth layoff program” that involves handing out a small number of pink slips over

Nicky Smith April 22, 2019

BREAKING NEWS: Windstream Files for Bankruptcy

February 27, 2019 News: On the heels of a recent $310 million judgment in favor of bondholder Aurelius Capital Management, Windstream Holdings Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on February 25. The bankruptcy filing, which was widely expected given the recent Aurelius judgement (which Windstream has since appealed), alongside more than $5.8 billion in debts that the rural phone company had racked up over the last several years, means that Windstream will continue operating through a multi-year financial restructuring plan. As with virtually all bankruptcy filings, the only winners in this disaster will be select Windstream executives and managers

Nicky Smith February 27, 2019

Is a Windstream Bankruptcy Filing Imminent?

There is growing speculation that a Windstream bankruptcy and massive downsizing are imminent in the wake of a devastating court ruling, which was handed down by the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York on February 15. The Story So Far The court ruled that in 2015 when Windstream spun out its internally-managed real estate trust Uniti Group, it improperly transferred over $300 million worth of assets that served as security for bonds issued by Aurelius Capital Management LP. Uniti Group is Windstream’s largest customer, with assets that include over 4 million fiber strand miles and around

Nicky Smith February 21, 2019

Big News: We Are Now Offering Enhanced Voicemail-to-Text for FREE

We are thrilled to announce that we are now giving all of our customers enhanced voicemail-to-text for FREE! In case you are unfamiliar with this incredibly useful calling feature, as the name suggests voicemail-to-text automatically transcribes voicemail messages into text messages, which are then sent to recipients via email or SMS. Key benefits of Voicemail-to-Text include: In many cases, employees will save time glancing at transcriptions vs. listening to long voicemails — especially if they are complex and have a lot of detail. Employees can pick up transcribed voicemail messages anytime and anywhere on their smartphone. Employees can prioritize responses

Nicky Smith November 17, 2018

How a Hosted Cloud Phone System is a Future-Proof Investment

It is an all-too-familiar situation: businesses make a major investment in a new phone system, only to discover a few years later that it is obsolete, or is heading fast in that direction. As a result, businesses must choose between two very undesirable options: they either settle for an outdated phone system that cannot support their needs, or they spend tens of hundreds of thousands of dollars on a new system — and run the risk of repeating the cycle all over again in a few years. Fortunately, there is a practical and proven way to solve this common and

Nicky Smith October 10, 2018

Carolina Digital Phone in the Community: Helping the Interactive Resource Center Fight Against Homelessness

Since we launched our company almost 20 years ago, one of our guiding principles has been to give back to our community. It is very rewarding to know that we are making a positive difference in people’s lives — one that will have a lasting impact on their future, and the future of their family. Recently, we had the opportunity to give back and make a difference by helping the Interactive Resource Center (IRC), which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Greensboro, NC. The IRC provides a wide range of services that help individuals experiencing homelessness reconnect with their

Nicky Smith September 21, 2018

URGENT NEWS: HURRICANE FLORENCE UPDATE AND CUSTOMER ADVISORY

Tracking Hurricane Florence The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) upgraded Hurricane Florence to “Category 4” on Monday September 10. As of 2pm Eastern Time on Tuesday September 11, Florence was centered approximately 370 miles south-southwest of Bermuda, and 845 miles east-southeast of Cape Fear, North Carolina. The storm is moving west-northwest at about 17 miles per hour, and is packing maximum sustained winds of around 130 miles per hour. Through Saturday September 15, Florence is expected to produce 15-20 inches of rainfall, with accumulations of up to 30 inches near Florence’s track over portions of North Carolina, Virginia, and northern

Nicky Smith September 11, 2018

North Carolina Public Charter Schools Annual Conference 2018

July 15-17, 2018: DigitalPhone.io is sponsoring the Sunday Night Reception and exhibiting at Sunset Beach NC for the North Carolina Association for Public Charter Schools annual conference this week. Today’s Public Charter Schools and government agencies face increasing pressure to be more efficient, more cost-effective and more innovative. And that’s where our cloud-based telephone services make the difference! Charter schools are independently-operated public schools that have the freedom to design classrooms that meet their students’ needs. All charter schools operate under a contract with a charter school authorizer – usually a nonprofit organization, government agency, or university – that holds

Nicky Smith July 15, 2018

Carolina Digital Phone Adds Key New Talent to Workforce

GREENSBORO, N.C. (PRWEB) MAY 30, 2018 Leading telecommunications firm DigitalPhone.io announced today that it has expanded its workforce in response to strong ongoing demand for its suite of solutions from businesses, government agencies, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations across the country. Joining the DigitalPhone.io operations team are: Samantha Buggé, Project & Provisioning Manager; Marisa Diaz, Account Executive; Lisa Green, Account Executive; Arianna Forgay, Client Support Specialist; and Paige Sullivan, Client Support Specialist. In addition, acclaimed Business and Executive Coach Ross Cox has been hired to assist DigitalPhone.io with strategic development, execution planning, and performance management. Mr. Cox has nearly 50

Nicky Smith May 30, 2018

voip phone systems for financial advisory firms

Cloud PBX Sees Promising Growth: Based on Market Research and Global Market Segmentation

(Market Research Future) May 2018. Cloud technology is gaining popularity among various business sectors and aimed at achieving an effective and cost-efficient means of performing multiple jobs. The communication technology has also been upgrading with the assistance of cloud technology. Cloud PBX can now deliver all the basic elements of a customary PBX and effectively substitutes the on-site PBX hardware. According to Market Research Future report, there has been a growing demand for VoIP and cloud PBX and it is going to be larger than ever in the future. Irrespective of their size, every business seems ready to shift from

Nicky Smith May 10, 2018

Growth Prospects in the SIP Trunking Services and VoIP Access Market of North America

The SIP trunking services and VoIP access market has maintained its pace to become the default source of connection between on-site consumer platform and the PSTN (public switched telephone network). They are also expected to hold their stance prominently in supporting the efforts of a large number of revolutionary businesses towards digital transformation. The next generation voice access services include: Basic VoIP Access Services: These are congregated access lines linking with basic low-end structures or primarily with telephony endpoints usually via ATAs (analog telephone adapters). VoIP Trunking: These are joined access lines linking through TDM (time division multiplexing) enterprise telephony

Nicky Smith May 8, 2018

VoIP and Mobility in your Business

VoIP is changing how businesses deal within the company and outside the company and hence has been successful in increasing the mobility in various businesses. Mobility in business is the ability to support business by working without physically being in the office and from any location at any instant. Such employees use various means like tablets and mobiles to connect to the cloud-based network. Whereas VoIP also called IP telephony and internet telephony is a cloud-based network for managing a large number of phone calls, SMS, and video calls over internet protocol networks. VoIP technology is currently replacing regular Public

Nicky Smith April 11, 2018

Carolina Digital Phone Helps Nonprofits Improve Operations, Lower Costs & Move Ahead

Leading hosted telecommunications firm Carolina Digital Phone has concluded a multi-phase VoIP phone system implementation for nonprofit organizations in the Greensboro, NC area, including: Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro (both main office and ReStore outlet), Housing Consultants Group (multiple locations), Greensboro Housing Coalition, and Community Housing Solutions, respectively. The project, which commenced in late 2017, involved moving the aforementioned nonprofit organizations into a new shared location that had been renovated with a modernized internet and telecommunications infrastructure. Carolina Digital Phone’s in-house team of experts installed 64 seats, 6 fax bridges and 2 sidecars, which are auto-attendant extensions that enhances VoIP phone system functionality and usability. The team also provided on-site testing

Nicky Smith March 19, 2018

Leading Hosted Telecommunications Firm DigitalPhone.io Kicks off 2018 by Expanding Senior Sales and Support Teams

DigitalPhone.io, a leading hosted telecommunications that serves businesses, government organizations and educational institutions across the country, has accelerated its strategic growth plans by significantly expanding its senior sales and support teams. DigitalPhone.io’s new team members include: Account Executives Samantha Shires, Walter Townsend, Chris Villa and Joan Wilkerson; Senior VoIP Engineer Chris Norris; Senior Support Engineer Rob Mitchell; Support Center Manager Steven Hinkle; and New Customer Onboarding Specialist Mitchell Smith. These talented professionals join a leadership team helmed by Founder and CEO Nicky Smith, who launched DigitalPhone.io (formerly Carolina Digital) in 2000, and has since developed the company into a full-service

Nicky Smith January 3, 2018

Carolina Digital Phone Launches Wireless Internet Backup Solution to ensure 24×7 Continuity

Leading Hosted Telecommunications Provider Carolina Digital Phone Launches Wireless Internet Backup Solution to Ensure 24×7 Continuity Carolina Digital Phone, a pioneering hosted telecommunications firm that serves businesses, government agencies, and educational institutions nationwide, has launched a state-of-the-art wireless backup solution that provides customers with 24×7 continuity in the event of an unexpected disruption to their primary internet connection. The new wireless internet backup solution relies on AT&T’s powerful LTE network, and uses a discrete LTE-certified cellular modem manufactured by Cradlepoint. Once installed, the solution immediately switches to a fast, reliable and secure wifi network when the primary internet connection goes

Nicky Smith November 23, 2017

Carolina Digital Phone Restores & Improves Telecommunication Services for Middle River Regional Jail

September 8, 2017 – Leading Hosted Telecommunications Provider Carolina Digital Phone Restores & Improves Telecommunication Services for Middle River Regional Jail Carolina Digital Phone, a pioneering hosted telecommunications firm that serves businesses and educational organizations nationwide, has completed a successful implementation that involved restoring and improving telecommunication services for Middle River Regional Jail in Verona, Virginia. Middle River Regional Jail is a secure adult detention facility that operates under the Virginia Department of Corrections Minimum Standards for Jails and Lockups. Built in 2006 on a 28-acre site, the facility has a 902 bed capacity and is approximately 212,020 square feet.

Nicky Smith September 8, 2017

Carolina Digital Phone Implements Multi-Location Cloud Phone System for Leading Dermatology Practice

August 29, 2017 – Carolina Digital Phone, a pioneering hosted telecommunications firm that serves businesses and educational organizations nationwide, announced that it has wrapped-up a successful cloud phone system implementation for Blue Ridge Dermatology Associates, a leading North Carolina dermatology practice. “We wanted to continue our focus on customer service in the digital age, and felt that VoIP was the technology of the future,” commented Kristy Kearns, Practice Administrator at Blue Ridge Dermatology Associates. “We looked at several vendors and options, and determined that Carolina Digital Phone was the best choice. They also came highly recommended by an IT company

Nicky Smith August 29, 2017

Carolina Digital Phone Solves a “Number Porting Fiasco” at Kentucky’s Oneida Baptist Institute

Carolina Digital Phone, a leading provider of USAC Category 1 eligible hosted telecommunications to K-12 schools in the Southeast U.S., announced that it has completed a successful large-scale number port migration project for Oneida Baptist Institute, an internationally-renowned boarding and day school for students in grades 6-12 founded in 1899, and located in Oneida, KY. Oneida Baptist Institute’s Director of Development John Monday reached out to Carolina Digital Phone earlier this year after the school’s previous cloud phone system carrier repeatedly failed to meet its quality, performance and service obligations. “We had switched to a VoIP phone system in January.

Nicky Smith July 2, 2017

DigitalPhone.io shows at InsurEXPO

/Press Release April 6, 2017/ Annually the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina, Inc. have an expo to expose agents to Agency Management, Marketing, Sales & Social Media, and Technical Resources. Agents have the opportunity to get exposed to expert speakers such as George Robertson who will is speaking on Cyber Insurance which is a concern of many business owners nationwide. George Robertson is an independent insurance agent with Rockingham Insurance Agency based in Eden, North Carolina. The presentation will go over what to the different exposures in cyber crime and the various coverages available. George will also cover in his presentation

Nicky Smith April 6, 2017

DigitalPhone.io Launches New Channel Partner Program to Expand Sales Footprint Nationwide

GREENSBORO, NC (PRWEB) MARCH 28, 2017 DigitalPhone.io, a leading hosted telecommunications firm that serves businesses and educational organizations nationwide, announced that it has launched a new channel partner program to expand its sales footprint nationwide. Consultants and businesses that are approved to participate in the new channel partner program will be authorized to solve their customers’ communication needs by offering them DigitalPhone.io’s leading-edge hosted VoIP platform that delivers: Dramatic cost savings vs. traditional landline phone systems Unprecedented mobility, scalability and flexibility Guaranteed business continuity with 99.99% uptime Multiple built-in disaster recovery methods Advanced unified calling features, such as auto-attendant, automatic

Nicky Smith March 28, 2017

Carolina Digital Phone Awarded New School District Deployments

Carolina Digital Phone, a leading provider of USAC Category 1 E-Rate eligible hosted telecommunications for K-12 schools in the U.S. Southeast, announced that it has been awarded new contracts to install state-of-the art cloud phone solutions at two school systems North Carolina and Georgia, respectively. In April 2017, the Carolina Digital Phone team will deploy 97 SIP trunks for Brunswick County Schools in North Carolina. The installation was given the green light after a highly successful test of 3 SIP trunks in February, which saved the school board over 50 percent vs. their current carrier. Staff were also impressed with

Nicky Smith March 2, 2017

Pioneering Hosted Telecommunications Firm Carolina Digital Phone Welcomes Experienced Financial Management Executive Steve Worrell, CPA as New CFO

As part of its continued growth and expanding nationwide footprint, Carolina Digital Phone, a pioneering hosted telecommunications firm that launched in 2000, announced today that it has welcomed experienced financial management executive Steve Worrell, CPA as its new CFO. Mr. Worrell has over 30 years of experience working with several high-profile organizations, including multiple Fortune 500 enterprises. Throughout his career, he has provided advice and insight and on a wide range of accounting, technology, information management and workforce capital management matters, ranging from strategic planning to full system implementations. In addition, Mr. Worrell has served as faculty member in the

Nicky Smith February 3, 2017

Pioneering Hosted Telecommunications Firm Carolina Digital Rebrands as DigitalPhone.io to Better Represent Nationwide Reach & Reflect Company Growth

Greensboro, North Carolina – Press Release As it approaches its 20-year anniversary, Carolina Digital Phone, a pioneer of innovative hosted phone solutions for businesses and educational organizations, announced that it has rebranded as DigitalPhone.io. The new name represents the company’s nationwide reach and service coverage area, and further captures and conveys key messages that are essential to the company’s brand promise, including: being future-minded, constantly innovating, delivering client results, and focusing on leading-edge services and solutions. “The digital phone piece of our name captures how we help our clients grow their unified messaging capacity,” commented DigitalPhone.io’s CEO Nicky Smith who

Nicky Smith January 21, 2017

Montgomery Community College Installs New Cloud Phone System

Hosted Telecommunications Firm Carolina Digital Phone Awarded Montgomery Community College Contract for New Cloud Phone System Hosted telecommunications firm Carolina Digital Phone announced that it has been awarded a contract by Montgomery Community College to install a state-of- the-art hosted cloud phone system at the school’s campus in Troy, North Carolina. Carolina Digital Phone was selected by Montgomery Community College’s leadership team per a competitive and formal bidding process that lasted several months, and involved multiple vendors. Ultimately, the decision to go with Carolina Digital Phone was based on a combination of the company’s technical expertise, capacity, service commitment, quality

Nicky Smith December 12, 2016

Carolina Digital Phone Expands with Major Investment in Class 4 & 5 Softswitches

Carolina Digital Phone, a leading cloud phone system solution provider for business, schools and government, announced today that it has greatly expanded its call control intelligence capacity due to a major investment in Class 4 and Class 5 softswitches. The investment in NetSapiens’ SNAPsolution supports automatic call switching from both end user SIP-based devices (e.g. IADs, enterprise gateways and ATAs), and carrier side SIP-based trunking interfaces (low/high volume TDM trunking gateways and any certified SIP carrier). The added capacity enables Carolina Digital Phone to provide its growing roster of customers with key innovations and additions, including: Enhanced unified communication tools

Nicky Smith November 17, 2016

Carolina Digital expands with National carrier Inteliquent

Carolina Digital Phone has inked a deal to allow larger footprint and access to over 8,500 rate centers in the US and is using Inteliquent’s newly announced Omni features, further simplifying access to next-generation communications services. Read more about Inteliquent’s new services at their July 22, Press Release About Inteliquent: Inteliquent is a premier interconnection partner for communication service providers of all types. As the nation’s highest quality provider of voice and messaging interconnection services, Inteliquent is used by nearly all national and regional wireless carriers, cable companies, and CLECs in the markets it serves, and its network carries approximately 17

Nicky Smith July 23, 2016

Carolina Digital Uses Change Management Expertise to Ensure Successful Hosted VoIP Phone System Implementation for Augusta County Government Center

/PRESS RELEASE – June 7, 2016/ Carolina Digital Phone, which has more than 15 years of experience serving and solving the communication needs of public sector organizations, credits its change management expertise for successfully completing a major hosted VoIP phone system implementation for the Augusta County Government Center, located in Verona, VA. The implementation, which took several weeks to complete and was part of a procurement process that began in 2015, involved several Augusta County departments and hundreds of employees — including many of whom had never used hosted VoIP phone system technology, hardware or features before. “Even though shifting

Nicky Smith June 3, 2016

VoIP Solutions Provider Carolina Digital “Saves Spring Break” at Arapahoe Charter School

/PRESS RELEASE – April 27, 2016/ Like many IT specialists in the education field, Arapahoe Charter School’s (ACS) network administrator Mark Prescott planned to spend the recent Spring Break taking care of some routine maintenance tasks, and enjoying a well-deserved breather after a busy semester. However, when his school’s on-site private branch exchange (PBX) suddenly went down, he was forced into action and made a quick-thinking decision that turned a potential nightmare into a triumphant success story: he called cloud solutions provider Carolina Digital Phone. To Mark’s amazement, that same afternoon Carolina Digital Phone’s CEO Nicky Smith arrived with a

Nicky Smith April 27, 2016

Hosted Telecommunications Firm Carolina Digital Awarded Johnson County School System Contract for New 4,500 VoIP Phone System

Carolina Digital, a leading provider of USAC Category 1 eligible hosted telecommunications for K-12 schools in the Southeast United States, announced that it has been awarded a contract by North Carolina’s Johnson County School System to install a new 4,500 VoIP phone system. Per the agreement, Carolina Digital will utilize the robust and proven unified communications platform powered by Third Lane Technologies, which supports class-leading customization and versatility. The company will also supply staff across Johnson County School System’s 44 schools and handful of administrative offices with leading edge Yealink Network Technology IP phones, which offer more functions and flexibility than a

Nicky Smith January 9, 2016

pfSense Security Appliance Solutions

Carolina Digital sells and supports pfSense security appliance solutions provide reliable, scalable systems that are unmatched in value and performance for your network and hosted VoIP applications. Because there are no required on-going maintenance or license fees, we provide the lowest total cost of ownership with the most security and connection features in the market today. Benefits: Open Source technology – provides the most flexible feature set with no artificial limitations and multiple configuration options at no extra charge Easy to use – intuitive web interface makes it easy to configure your network security preferences without manually editing rule sets or coding ability Powerful

Nicky Smith December 1, 2015

Yealink Affordable IP Phone with HD voice

Yealink a global leader of unified communications has introduced a new entry level IP phone with an affordable price. In quantities over 20 this new phone can be as low as $85/each breaking the price barrier with features only available on IP-based phones twice this price. The new SIP-T40P is Yealink’s latest T4 series SIP business phone. Optimised for ease of use and delivering superb sound quality, the SIP-T40P’s revolutionary design features 18 on-screen programmable buttons for fast, intuitive call handling. The SIP-T40P, a member of Yealink’s new generation T4 series, is a feature-rich SIP phone designed for today’s business user.

Nicky Smith September 28, 2015

History of North Carolina area codes map

North Carolina Approves Second Area Code 743 for Piedmont Triad

North Carolina State officials approved a second area code for the Piedmont Triad that will overlay the current 336 code. The new area code 743 overlays for the area code will be implemented before all numbers in that area code are exhausted, expected to be in 2016. The North Carolina Utilities Commission announced on Wednesday, August 20th, 2014 that the 743 area code has been approved for use. Local phone providers will provide details later on when the new area code will start, commission officials said. The new area code will mean all local calls will require 10-digit dialing. However,

Nicky Smith August 23, 2015

School installs new phone system to improve safety in the classroom

Bertie County Schools has recently installed a new and improved voice communications system in all of the schools in the school district. This is great news for our community because it provides a safe environment for our children and it did not cost the district or the local taxpayers a dime – in fact, it is saving local taxpayers over the previous system. The new system, provided by Converged Networks, LLC and Carolina Digital Phone is a “Hosted VoIP” system. “VoIP” stands for “Voice Over Internet Protocol” and it uses the existing school data network and the Internet to carry

Nicky Smith August 17, 2015

New FCC Annual Toll Free Annual Regulatory Fee

August 18, 2015 – We may be providing you toll free service today, and may have provided toll free numbers to you as of December 2014. As always, we sincerely appreciate your business and your trust. As you may know, the FCC soon will assess a new annual regulatory fee on toll free numbers. RespOrgs (Responsible Organizations) will make payments directly to the FCC upon receipt of the FCC’s invoice. The FCC will calculate the invoiced annual regulatory fee based on toll free numbers in service as of December 2014. We anticipate that the FCC will invoice us for this annual

Nicky Smith August 10, 2015

The Internet: 20 Years From Now

The evolution of the internet is happening now. More than just its infrastructure, how we use it and where we use it to connect are in a state of continuous change. What will the internet look like in the next 20 years? Explore the possibilities for the future development of the internet and strategies for helping it evolve in the best possible way. Enjoy this short video “The Internet: 20 Years From Now”.https://vimeo.com/56222459

Nicky Smith December 31, 2014

New 844 Toll Free Numbers Available

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced it will release the new 844 toll free prefix on December 7, 2013. The last time the FCC released a new toll free prefix was in October 2010 when they released 855 numbers. Businesses across the US and Canada have already started planning to get their very own 844 toll free numbers. Carolina Digital Phone will make these 844 numbers available to its customers with all the advanced features of a business class phone system. 844 toll free numbers will function exactly the same as any other toll free number. The main advantage here is

Nicky Smith December 7, 2013

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