3CX

3CX is an international VoIP IPBX software developer. Its 3CX Phone System, an open-standards, software-based PBX, was initially only deployable on Windows but as of 2016 can be deployed on Linux and on cloud platforms. 3CX can be integrated with multiple CRM systems.[1]

3CX
TypePrivate
IndustrySoftware Development
Telecommunications
FoundedNovember 1, 2005 (2005-11-01)
FounderNick Galea
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Nick Galea (Founder, CTO, and CEO)
Products3CX Software PBX
Number of employees
200 (2018)
Website3cx.com

History

3CX was founded by Nick Galea in 2005. 3CX's first product release was 3CX Phone System which was developed and released as a free IP PBX in 2006.

In 2007, the company released the first commercial edition of 3CX Phone System, v6.0.

In 2013, 3CX acquired eWorks technologies and launched its first video conferencing feature - an integrated and clientless, WebRTC-based video conferencing solution. This was then followed by the release of 3CX WebMeeting Server in February 2015 which was then discontinued following the release of version 15.[2]

On September 7, 2016, it was reported by Channel Biz UK that 3CX partnered with BT Wholesale SIP Trunking platform to serve resellers.[3]

In 2016, 3CX acquired the Elastix project and PBX in a Flash. With this acquisition the Elastix Distro versioned at 5.0 was switched to a proprietary software on top of Debian with the 3CX platform.

Thereafter in 2017, the company further developed 3CX's compatibility to extend to Linux as well. It also acquired Askozia in the same year and released the Call Flow Designer, a visual app designed to automate call flows and phone related daily work tasks.

In 2019, 3CX acquired WP Live Chat, a free WordPress plugin for Live Chat integration.[4] It also added Facebook and SMS integrations, therefore becoming a full omnichannel solution. The same year, Stefan Walther was appointed as the new CEO of the company.

In 2021 with the launch of version 18, 3CX integrated with Microsoft Teams and allowed direct routing through the Microsoft platform.[5]

On June 21, 2022, it was announced Walther would step down as CEO, with Galea returning to the position.[6]

3CX software compromised by North Korean hackers

In March 2023, 3CX announced that their desktop client had been taken over by hackers and spread malware after a supply chain attack. The company has confirmed on their website and their community forum. Also, cybersecurity technology companies CrowdStrike and SentinelOne wrote about this hack on their websites. Ars Technica reported this was done by North Korean hackers.[7] 3CX initially brushed off user reports for 7 days before finally acknowledging the problem.[8]

Market segments

3CX's first market segment was the Windows market. The company's initial goal was to develop an IP PBX which was compatible with Windows and which could integrate with multiple forms of CRM software.[9]

In 2016, 3CX introduced a Linux version which runs on Debian.

In March 2017, 3CX further expanded their Cloud offering by releasing PBX Express,[10] a service that creates a hosted PBX in minutes using an instance on any hosted virtual private server. 3 years later in 2020, 3CX launched the “Hosted by 3CX” service.

Awards
  • 2020: Business Software of the Year Award Awarded by PC Pro
  • 2017: Business Software of the Year Awarded by PC Pro
  • 2015: Price/Performance Value Leadership Award, awarded by Frost & Sullivan[11]
  • 2015: Tech Innovator Award, awarded by CRN[12]
  • 2015: Most Innovative Product, awarded by the Innovationspreis - IT[13]
  • 2012: Best Emerging Technology Vendor awarded by CRN[14]
  • 2011: Best Emerging Technology Vendor awarded by CRN

Association with sports

On 8 July 2016, 3CX announced that it would will be sponsoring APOEL FC of Nicosia, Cyprus for a period of 3 years. Competing in the Champion's League multiple times.[15] The sponsorship was renewed in 2019.

References
  1. Companies can cut telecommunications costs while improving integration using 3CX's software-based phone system, The Daily Telegraph, archived from the original on 2014-03-02, retrieved 2017-05-04
  2. "3CX WebMeeting goes completely WebRTC based". Comms Dealer. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
  3. Savvas, Antony (2016-09-07). "BT joins forces with 3CX to offer channel software PBXs". ChannelBiz UK. Retrieved 2017-04-03.
  4. "3CX Acquires WP-Live Chat to Expand Market Reach""3CX Acquires WP-Live Chat to Expand Market Reach". CX Today. Archived from the original on 2021-11-10. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  5. "Connecting Teams and Customers". ITPro. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  6. "Nick Galea Returns to the Helm as CEO". 3CX. 2022-06-21. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  7. Goodin, Dan (2023-03-30). "Trojanized Windows and Mac apps rain down on 3CX users in massive supply chain attack". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  8. Goodin, Dan (2023-03-30). "3CX knew its app was flagged as malicious but took no action for 7 days". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  9. Robinson, Daniel. "3CX updates IP PBX with reduced admin requirements and free edition". Incisive Media. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  10. "3CX PBX Express Review: Secure, Free Cloud PBX in Minutes". CommsTrader. 2017-03-18. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
  11. "2015 Global Unified Communications Price/Performance Value Leadership Award" (PDF). Frost & Sullivan. July 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  12. jcaponi. "2016 Tech Innovator Award Winners - Page 1". CRN. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
  13. Dudley, Jim (2015-03-27). "3CX Wins "Most Innovative Product" Award". KeeFORCE. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
  14. "CRN Recognizes 3CX as an Emerging Technology Vendor". CrossRealms. 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
  15. "3CX Επίσημος Χορηγός του ΑΠΟΕΛ για την Ποδοσφαιρική Περίοδο 2016-2019". APOEL FC. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
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