3CX
{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}{{Short description|Cyprus software company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = 3CX, Inc.
| logo = 3cx logo.svg
| logo_size =
| logo_alt = 3CX Logo
| logo_caption = 3CX
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| image = 3CX-hq-cyprus.jpg
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| image_caption = 3CX building
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| type = Private
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| industry = Software Development
Telecommunications
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| founded = {{Start date and age|2005|11|01}}
| founder = Nick Galea
| defunct =
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| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = Nick Galea (Founder and CEO)
| products = 3CX Software PBX
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| num_employees = 200
| num_employees_year = 2018
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| website = {{URL|3cx.com}}
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}}
3CX, Inc., is a 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. {{cite web|author=Alexis Argent |url=http://blog.voipon.co.uk/why-3cx-interview-with-nick-galea-the-ceo-of-3cx/ |title=VoIP Uncovered » Why 3CX? Interview with Nick Galea, the CEO of 3CX |website=Blog.voipon.co.uk |date=2009-09-30 |access-date=2017-02-28}} 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.{{cite web |date=2015-06-30 |title=Latest Topics | ZDNet |url=http://reviews.zdnet.co.uk/software/enterpriseapplications/0,1000001813,39292653,00.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090618060008/http://reviews.zdnet.co.uk/software/enterpriseapplications/0,1000001813,39292653,00.htm |archive-date=2009-06-18 |access-date=2017-02-28 |website=Reviews.zdnet.co.uk}}{{cite web |date=2008-04-14 |title=3CX - 3CX Phone System for Windows review |url=http://www.itreviews.co.uk/software/s589.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706062128/http://www.itreviews.co.uk/software/s589.htm |archive-date=2008-07-06 |access-date=2018-06-18 |website=IT Reviews |publisher=Unusual Publishing Ltd}}{{cite web |title=Unified Communications |url=http://www.voipplanet.com/solutions/article.php/3789951 |access-date=2017-02-28 |website=Vipplanet.com}}{{cite web |last=Wright |first=Karl |title=3CX Phone System Free Edition [Computer Shopper] |url=http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/broadband/reviews/219474/3cx-phone-system-free-edition.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417213205/http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/broadband/reviews/219474/3cx-phone-system-free-edition.html |archive-date=2009-04-17 |access-date=2018-06-18 |website=expertreviews.co.uk |publisher=Dennis Publishing Limited}}
In the following years, 3CX made a number of acquisitions including eWorks technologies in 2013,{{Cite web |title=Comms Dealer - 3CX to integrate web conferencing technology following e-works acquisition |url=https://comms-dealer.com/industry-news/3cx-integrate-web-conferencing-technology-following-e-works-acquisition |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=comms-dealer.com}} 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"{{cite web |title=3CX Acquires WP-Live Chat to Expand Market Reach |url=https://www.cxtoday.com/contact-centre/3cx-acquires-wp-live-chat-to-expand-market-reach/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110084505/https://www.cxtoday.com/contact-centre/3cx-acquires-wp-live-chat-to-expand-market-reach/ |archive-date=2021-11-10 |access-date=9 November 2021 |website=CX Today}}
In September 2016, 3CX announced a partnership with BT Wholesale SIP Trunking platform to serve resellers.{{Cite web|last=Savvas|first=Antony|date=2016-09-07|title=BT joins forces with 3CX to offer channel software PBXs|url=http://www.channelbiz.co.uk/2016/09/07/bt-joins-forces-3cx-offer-channel-software-pbxs/|access-date=2017-04-03|website=ChannelBiz UK}}
In 2017 "PBX Express" was released, allowing a hosted PBX to be created on any hosted virtual private server. {{Cite news |date=2017-03-18 |title=3CX PBX Central Telefónica IP 3CX Phone System |url=https://accessgeneralcommunication.com/central-telefonica-ip-3cx-phone-system/ |access-date=2017-03-30 |work=AGCOM Blog |language=es-ES}} Retrieved The company would later launch a "Hosted by 3CX" offering.
In 2019, Stefan Walther was appointed as the new CEO of the company. {{cn|date=October 2024}} In the same year, 3CX was featured on the internet TV show Hak5. {{cite web |title=Episode 503 – Build a free VoIP PBX in under 10 minutes – Start programming a USB Dev Board for less than $20 | Technolust since 2005 |url=http://www.hak5.org/episodes/episode-503 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411030552/http://www.hak5.org/episodes/episode-503 |archive-date=2021-04-11 |access-date=2017-02-28 |website=Hak5.org}}
In 2021 with the launch of version 18, 3CX integrated with Microsoft Teams to allow direct routing through the Microsoft platform.{{Cite web |title=Connecting Teams and Customers |url=https://www.itpro.co.uk/marketing-comms/business-communications/361044/connecting-teams-and-customers |website=ITPro}}
In June 2022, it was announced Walther would step down as CEO, with Galea returning to the position.{{Cite web |date=2022-06-21 |title=Nick Galea Returns to the Helm as CEO |url=https://www.3cx.com/blog/news/new-ceo/ |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=3CX |language=en-US}}
Phone system
3CX produces a telephone system under the same name. The system consists of a number of software-based{{cite web |date=2017-04-18 |title=3CX Review | Under the Lid of the Software Revolution |url=https://www.uctoday.com/reviews/3cx/3cx-phone-system-review/ |access-date=2018-04-11 |website=www.uctoday.com}} 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.{{Infobox software
| name = 3CX
| latest release version = Version 18 Update 8
| latest release date = {{release date|2023|09|df=yes}}
| programming language = C++ and .NET
| operating system = Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS, IOS, Android
| genre = Voice over Internet Protocol
| license = Proprietary
| website = {{url|https://www.3cx.com}}
}}
Security incident
On 29 March 2023, 3CX acknowledged its desktop client, 3CXDesktopApp, had been compromised to distribute malware.{{Cite web |title=3CX hack caused by trading software supply chain attack |url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/3cx-hack-caused-by-trading-software-supply-chain-attack/ |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=BleepingComputer |language=en-us}} 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.{{Cite magazine |last=Greenberg |first=Andy |title=The Huge 3CX Breach Was Actually 2 Linked Supply Chain Attacks |language=en-US |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/story/3cx-supply-chain-attack-times-two/ |access-date=2023-10-16 |issn=1059-1028}} The hack was linked to the same North Korean operators that compromised the Trading Technologies app.{{Cite web |last=Kovacs |first=Eduard |date=2023-04-20 |title=Cascading Supply Chain Attack: 3CX Hacked After Employee Downloaded Trojanized App |url=https://www.securityweek.com/cascading-supply-chain-attack-3cx-hacked-after-employee-downloaded-trojanized-app/ |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=SecurityWeek |language=en-US}} As a result, 3CX announced a Security Action Plan to minimize risk of future attacks.{{Cite web |last=Galea |first=Nick |date=2023-04-20 |title=Actions not words - Our 7 Step Security Action Plan! |url=https://www.3cx.com/blog/news/security-action-plan/ |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=3CX |language=en-US}}
Major releases
Each major release listed below was followed by multiple maintenance updates.
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Version !Build Number !Release date |
| v20
|20.0.0.1620 |February 2024 |
| v18
|18.0.0.1880 |August 2021 |
| v16
|16.0.0.1581 |27 March 2019 |
| v15.5
|15.5.1694.0 |1 July 2017 |
| v15
|56008 |1 July 2016 |
| v14
|44241 |1 September 2015 |
| v12.5
|12.5.37957.880 |21 October 2014 |
| v12 SP1
|32495.362 |1 September 2013 |
| v11
| |1 July 2012 |
| v10
|10.19117 |1 March 2011 |
| v09 SP1
|9.13763 |1 July 2010 |
| v08
|8.0.9414 |2 October 2009 |
| v07
|7.0.4249 |4 December 2008 |
| v06
|6.0.612 |23 June 2008 |
Table created according to the "3CX Phone System Build History".{{Cite web |title=3CX Phone System Build History |url=https://www.3cx.com/blog/change-log/phone-system-change-log/ |access-date=2018-05-07 |website=www.3cx.com}}
Awards
- 2015: '
Price/Performance Value Leadership Award', awarded by Frost & Sullivan{{Cite web |date=July 2016 |title=2015 Global Unified Communications Price/Performance Value Leadership Award |url=https://ww2.frost.com/files/7814/6783/1188/3CX_Award_Write_Up.pdf |access-date=30 March 2017 |website=Frost & Sullivan}} - 2015: '
Tech Innovator Award', awarded by CRN{{Cite web |last=jcaponi |title=2016 Tech Innovator Award Winners - Page 1 |url=http://www.crn.com/rankings-and-lists/ti2016.htm |access-date=2017-03-30 |website=CRN |language=en}} - 2015: '
Most Innovative Product', awarded by the Innovationspreis - IT{{Cite web |last=Dudley |first=Jim |date=2015-03-27 |title=3CX Wins "Most Innovative Product" Award |url=https://keeforce.com/2015/03/27/3cx-wins-most-innovative-product-award-2/ |access-date=2017-03-30 |website=KeeFORCE}} - 2012: 'Best Emerging Technology Vendor' awarded by CRN{{Cite news |date=2012-10-23 |title=CRN Recognizes 3CX as an Emerging Technology Vendor |language=en-US |work=CrossRealms |url=http://www.crossrealms.com/crn-recognizes-3cx-as-an-emerging-vector-technology/ |access-date=2017-03-30}}
- 2011: '
Best Emerging Technology Vendor' awarded by CRN