3CX, Inc., is a Cyprus-based software development company and developer of the 3CX Phone System.
The 3CX Phone System is a software private branch exchange based on the SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) standard to allow calls via the public switched telephone network (PSTN) or via Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services.
Company history
3CX was founded by Nick Galea in 2005.
In 2006, 3CX released the 3CX Phone System as a free IP PBX for use in a Microsoft Windows environment. The phone system's first commercial edition, v6.0, was released a year later in 2007. Reviews of the product have noted its easy configuration, management, and hardware compatibility.
In the following years, 3CX made a number of acquisitions including eWorks technologies in 2013, the Elastix project and PBX in a Flash in 2016, and Askozia in 2017. In 2019, 3CX acquired WP Live Chat, a free WordPress plugin for live chat integration."3CX Acquires WP-Live Chat to Expand Market Reach"
In September 2016, 3CX announced a partnership with BT Wholesale SIP Trunking platform to serve resellers.
In 2017 "PBX Express" was released, allowing a hosted PBX to be created on any hosted virtual private server. The company would later launch a "Hosted by 3CX" offering.
In 2019, Stefan Walther was appointed as the new CEO of the company. In the same year, 3CX was featured on the internet TV show Hak5.
In 2021 with the launch of version 18, 3CX integrated with Microsoft Teams to allow direct routing through the Microsoft platform.
In June 2022, it was announced Walther would step down as CEO, with Galea returning to the position.
Phone system 3CX produces a telephone system under the same name. The system consists of a number of software-based components. It can be accessed via a Web Client, PWA, Desktop App, Management & Admin consoles, softphone for Windows, and smartphone clients for iOS and Android.
3CX can be used with either SIP phones or the clients, or a combination of the two. It provides unified communications functionality including call recordings, multi-level IVR, call center features, voicemail to email, fax to email, integrated video & call conferencing and omnichannel live chat messaging integration.
Security incident On 29 March 2023, 3CX acknowledged its desktop client, 3CXDesktopApp, had been compromised to distribute malware. Global cybersecurity firm Mandiant were appointed to conduct a full investigation.
On 20 April 2023, 3CX published the investigation's conclusions, revealing the hacking operation was a byproduct of an earlier software hack from an application from financial software company Trading Technologies, accessed through a 3CX employee's PC. The hack was linked to the same North Korean operators that compromised the Trading Technologies app. As a result, 3CX announced a Security Action Plan to minimize risk of future attacks.
Major releases Each major release listed below was followed by multiple maintenance updates.
VersionBuild NumberRelease datev2020.0.0.1620February 2024v1818.0.0.1880August 2021v1616.0.0.158127 March 2019v15.515.5.1694.01 July 2017v15560081 July 2016v14442411 September 2015v12.512.5.37957.88021 October 2014v12 SP132495.3621 September 2013v111 July 2012v1010.191171 March 2011v09 SP19.137631 July 2010v088.0.94142 October 2009v077.0.42494 December 2008v066.0.61223 June 2008 Table created according to the "3CX Phone System Build History".
Awards
2015: 'Price/Performance Value Leadership Award', awarded by Frost & Sullivan 2015: 'Tech Innovator Award''', awarded by CRN 2015: 'Most Innovative Product, awarded by the Innovationspreis - IT 2012: Best Emerging Technology Vendor' awarded by CRN 2011: 'Best Emerging Technology Vendor''' awarded by CRN
See also Voice modem Comparison of VoIP software List of SIP software IP PBX
References