Important Note: ShoreTel 14.2 support will end on Sept. 30 of 2020,
including VoIP PBX, Enterprise Contact Center, and Mobility

The Teleswitch team is ShoreTel and Mitel’s experts and Mitel’s preferred partner in South Florida. The objective of this post is to keep our customers updated about ShoreTel 14.2 End of Life (EOL) announcements and how Mitel Connect can benefit your organization.

There are a couple of items that are important to note:

• ShoreTel 14.2 support will end on Sept. 30 of 2020. This includes 14.2 Software, Enterprise Contact Center, and Mobility.

• Your investment in ShoreTel Communication platform is protected - No need to replace it.

• Mitel Connect software is available to you and packed with new features and capabilities that will help your business to continue to evolve and grow.

You are covered with support and future enhancements on Mitel Connect while under a valid support agreement with TeleSwitch.

What is Mitel Connect?

Mitel Connect is the new software release that replaces ShoreTel 14.2. Mitel Connect takes your ShoreTel system to new highs with brand-new software, upgraded switches, modernized phones, improved HQ Director, and a new desktop application designed to increase your productivity and communication.

While Mitel Connect introduces new telephones, switches, and applications, most of the ShoreTel telephone models and switches remain fully compatible with the latest software, meaning that customers may not need to upgrade phones or switches. Below you will see the list of telephones and switches that are not compatible with Mitel Connect:

• Switches: SG-40, SG-60, SG-120/24, and SG-T1 (Not T1k)

• Telephones: IP100, IP210, and IP560

No need to worry. If you have any of the devices listed above as part of your phone system, our consultants will work with you to find the most effective way to replace these devices as you migrate to Mitel Connect.

Why upgrade to Mitel Connect?

There are many reasons why our customers are migrating to Mitel Connect. Below are the most popular ones:

1. ShoreTel’s legacy 14.2 software is going End of Support on Sept. 30, 2020. TeleSwitch will continue supporting you but it will be “best-effort” – meaning no escalation to Mitel Engineering team until migrating to Mitel Connect

2. An all-new PC/MAC compatible user application that allows coworkers to IM, conference, and manages phone calls with ease.

3. When migrating to Connect, your licenses will be upgraded free-of-charge to Essentials Bundle for All Extension & Mailbox licenses. You will have extra add-ons like Connect Telephony for Microsoft (Skype for Business integration), Connect for Chrome, Web/App Dialer, Softphone, Google Chrome Extension, and more, with no additional cost.

4. A new and more secure Director portal loaded with additional tools to monitor your system more efficiently.

5. Go beyond the typical capabilities of your CRM with advanced applications and integrations into Google Suite, Chrome Auto-Dialer, and Outlook with Mitel Connect.

6. Mitel Connect is a much more secure VoIP platform and is fully supported on Microsoft Windows Server 2016 and 2019.

Support on Hyper-V and VMWare, including VMWare 6.5 and 6.7.

How to start the process too?

The planning process for the upgrade can take a few weeks, depending on the size of the system. We suggest that you schedule a meeting with your Account Manager to schedule a No-Cost system review and discuss a plan that fits your needs when migrating to Mitel Connect.

What if you don’t want to migrate to Mitel Connect?

For companies that currently have a ShoreTel System, moving to Mitel Connect may be the smartest choice; however, it all depends on the objectives you have for your organization. There are multiple promotions available for customers moving from ShoreTel systems to the Cloud. As a consultant, your account manager will not only go over the plan for migrating to Connect but also discuss options available if you are considering moving your communications to the Cloud.

In summary, with Mitel Connect, you have the chance to extend the value and life of your investment. We have already begun migrating our ShoreTel customer base successfully. Contact your account manager to discuss and to schedule your upgrade to Connect. If you do not have a support agreement, contact us to start evaluating your options now.

TeleSwitch was a ShoreTel partner until the Mitel acquisition when became a Mitel Partner providing continues support to ShoreTel and Mitel Connect Customers. TeleSwitch support not only Mitel Connect but also some other solutions in the Mitel portfolio. 

Also Check:
8 Most Asked Questions about ShoreTel Migration to Mitel Connect