8x8 Continues to Lead Growing UCaaS Market

RENO, NV, June 27, 2013

New data from Synergy Research Group show that between Q1 2010 and Q1 2013, Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) subscribers nearly tripled to reach 1.6 million, and now account for 24 percent of total cloud UC subscribers. This is up from 21 percent three years earlier.

Together, four providers account for nearly half of UCaaS subscribers. 8×8 is the segment’s clear leader, with 19 percent of subscribers. RingCentral, Vocalocity, and ShoreTel follow, with 10 percent, 9 percent, and 8 percent, respectively. 8×8, RingCentral, and Vocalocity are all active in the public UCaaS segment, while ShoreTel provides private UCaaS. The leaders of the UCaaS segment as a whole are determined in large part by their market positions in North America—in fact, each of the top four global UCaaS providers by market share hold the same position in North America. The region accounted for 87 percent of UCaaS subscribers in Q1 2013, followed by the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) region, which had 10 percent of worldwide UCaaS subscribers.

"Thanks to advances in broadband and cloud technology, the UCaaS market continues to grow at a steady pace," said Synergy Research Group’s founder and Chief Analyst Jeremy Duke. "Looking ahead, UCaaS adoption will accelerate around the world as it continues to provide small businesses with a cost-effective alternative to premise-based UC product offerings."