AstraQom
 | |
| Industry | Telecommunications |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2008 |
Number of locations | 4 |
Area served | Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East & Africa |
Key people | Jonathan Sowah, CEO |
| Products |
Hosted PBX Hybrid PBX Virtual Office SIP Trunking |
Number of employees | 200 |
| Website | AstraQom's Official Web Page |
AstraQom International is a multi-national holding company that serves the telecommunications sector. The company is a provider of VoIP services and integrated communication solutions. The majority of the company's clients are small and medium size businesses. AstraQom currently provides VoIP services in more than 50 countries, covering 3 major regions: the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and the Europe, Middle East and Africa Region.
Background
AstraQom was founded in 2008 as AstraQom Corporation. In 2009, AstraQom Corp amalgamated with Aon Communications (Canada) Inc., a network development provider based in Ottawa.[1]
In August 2011, the company moved its headquarters to Ottawa, Ontario to consolidate its Canadian offices and establish a headquarters.[2] At that time Suzanne Bowen was placed in the position of Vice President of Business Development and Marketing. She was considered an expert in social media and telecommunications and had received several industry awards for her telecommunication innovations. She had collaborated, with AstraQom, in the PinoyKubo social network project.[3][4]
In early 2012, the first subsidiary was created as a Canadian VoIP business provider – AstraQom Canada Corporation – a Federal Canadian corporation with main offices in Ottawa, Ontario. That same year, AstraQom's Immersion in Promoting Industry Peers won the 2011 Kamailio (OpenSER) Award.[5]
In April 2012, AstraQom expanded their [Hosted PBX]] client services with the addition of a Virtual Receptionist service. A virtual receptionist service provides a live answering option to small businesses that cannot afford, or do not need, a full-time receptionist. The service uses a toll-free number that is answered by agents who act as receptionists for various companies. [6]
AstraQom Canada, AstraQom International’s main subsidiary,expanded in December 2013 by acquiring Shi Lian Telecom, a business telephone service provider targeting Chinese-owned businesses in Canada and the United States.
In May of 2014, AstraQom moved its global headquarters to Silicon Valley and opened an office in San Jose, California. [7]
Early in 2015, AstraQom Canada moved its headquarters to the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), opening its second Canadian office and 6th international office. The company’s Ottawa office now serves as its main network hub.
Global expansion of AstroQom has included the opening of offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
Services
AstraQom provides a variety of telecom-related services including: Hosted PBX, E-Fax (incoming faxes at no charge), Virtual telephone numbers (over 50 countries covered), Virtual office, A-Z Termination, Vanity Numbers, SIP Trunking.
Services also include the provision of a Hybrid PBX Solution, which combines a Hosted PBX with backup analog lines, available even in case of Internet or power failures.
Its Computer telephony integrations solutions include CRM, Hotel and Call Center software integrated with AstraQom’s Hosted PBX.
Coverage
AstraQom offers Voice over IP and integrated solutions to the following regions and countries:
| AstraQom Americas | ||
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Brazil | Canada |
| Chile | El Salvador | Mexico |
| Panama | Peru | Puerto Rico |
| USA | Venezuela |
| AstraQom Asia-Pacific | ||
|---|---|---|
| Australia | New Zealand | Singapore |
| Philippines |
| AstraQom Europe, Middle East and Africa | ||
|---|---|---|
| Austria | Belgium | Bulgaria |
| Cyprus | Denmark | Estonia |
| Finland | France | Ghana |
| Germany | Greece | Ireland |
| Israel | Italy | Latvia |
| Lithuania | Luxembourg | Malta |
| Norway | Portugal | Romania |
| Slovakia | Slovenia | Spain |
| Sweden | Switzerland | South Africa |
| UK |
AstraQom partners with Voxbone, a worldwide provider for International Numbers (INum).[8]
Projects and Partnerships
PinoyKubo.com is an online social Networking Site dedicated to Filipino people and businesses all over the world, as well as for people with an interest in learning about the Philippines and its culture. Its content is of specific relevance to those who in addition to games, participate regularly in audio/video chat, videos, and karaoke. The merchant platform allows users to build their entrepreneur store and operate transactions via a safe platform. [9][10]
AstraQom developed its business relationship with DIDX after their joint participation in the 2011 Share Mobile Healthcare project that was presented at the 4GWorld event. The AstraCare solution was announced, and described as a unique compression solution between mobile and wireless VoIP, fax to e-mail and vice versa, data storage and other imperative Internet and mobile-friendly features. The solution was designed for small clinics such as those that provide outpatient and ambulatory care.[11]
In June of 2012, AstraQom partnered with Bios Technologies, a provider of computer and network hardware and services serving the West Quebec and Ottawa areas. Bios became the provider of IP communications solutions to federal and provincial public functions, hospitals and businesses, as a re-seller for AstraQom products and services.[12]
Management
Jonathan Sowah Ph.D - CEO and President
Jonathan Sowah is the CEO and President of AstraQom Canada. Previously he owned and managed several technology and media companies including My World Online in the UK. He holds a Doctorate in Communications Strategy, Masters in E-Business and Media Management.[13]
Mr. Sowah has won awards for his business acumen in telecommunications. He is considered a leader in the Ghanaian diaspora in Canada and promoter of small and medium business development. Among his achievements in the Canadian and global business environment are being named US CEO of the year in 2010, recipient of the 2012 Ghanaian-Canadian Achievement Award for Technical Innovation, and the recipient of the 2014 IN-TAC Impact Award.[14]
References
- ↑ http://www.evolvebrandmarketing.com/#!vender-&-reseller-partnerships
- ↑ http://www.voip-catalog.com/news_item2773.html
- ↑ http://www.pr.com/press-release/348725
- ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=3999987&authType=OUT_OF_NETWORK&authToken=Hj4x&locale=en_US&trk=tyah2&trkInfo=tarId%3A1407167620257%2Ctas%3Asuzan%2Cidx%3A1-2-2
- ↑ http://www.pr.com/press-release/398241
- ↑ http://technews.tmcnet.com/asterisk/topics/asterisk/articles/287346-astraqom-adds-its-cloud-based-communications-service.htm
- ↑ http://www.i-newswire.com/astraqom-international-moves-into/267720
- ↑ http://www.inum.net/what-is-inum-2/inum-providers/
- ↑ http://rapidnewsnetwork.com/niche-social-marketing-is-next-trend/1279/
- ↑ http://www.pr.com/press-release/344655
- ↑ http://www.pr.com/press-release/363052
- ↑ http://www.businessnewsradar.com/bios-technologies-inc-partners-with-astraqom-for-growing-smb-ip-communications-and-technology-demand
- ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=89456212&authType=OPENLINK&authToken=aKlh&locale=en_US&srchid=927302871407166805672&srchindex=1&srchtotal=6&trk=vsrp_people_res_name&trkInfo=VSRPsearchId%3A927302871407166805672%2CVSRPtargetId%3A89456212%2CVSRPcmpt%3Aprimary
- ↑ http://issuu.com/ghanaiannews2012/docs/2012-ghanaian-canadian-achievement-awards/21