The Companies That Support Linux: Nextiva

Google’s announcement last week of new work-friendly features in its forthcoming Android L release, along with its big tent foray into the enterprise, underscores just how much businesses are turning to mobile devices and the cloud for operations and communication. Nextiva is right in the thick of this trend as an industry-leading provider of cloud-based business phone services.

“We’re witnessing a tremendous move to cloud-based business communications, which is at the core of our business,” said Josh Lesavoy, Chief Information Officer at Nextiva, via email. “Since the cloud requires scalability and flexibility, it is another reason why we chose Linux. (It) enables us to continuously innovate and provide businesses with the best communication solutions.”

Here, Lesavoy discusses how Nextiva uses Linux, the role of Linux and open source in telecom industry innovation, and why the company recently joined the Linux Foundation as a new corporate member.

Linux.com: What does Nextiva do?

Nextiva is changing the way businesses interact with their phone service by providing cloud-based communications that include business VoIP, mobility services and call center solutions. We help companies move their phone system, as we like to say, “from the closet to the cloud.”

How and why do you use Linux?

We utilize Linux as the operating system on all of our most important servers, and love the service because of it’s efficient use of resources, scalability and security – something that is especially important to our business.

We also use Linux for its open source technology (something we believe strongly in) and for the community it provides. Linux users and engineers make it easy to find solutions and come up with new applications.

Why did you join the Linux Foundation?

I’m impressed by the mission and commitment of the Linux Foundation. Fostering the growth and use of Linux is important to us. We believe that open source technology and the freedom to collaborate is critical for innovation; the Linux Foundation embodies many principles we value highly at Nextiva.

What interesting or innovative trends in the telecom industry are you witnessing and what role does Linux play in them?

We’re witnessing a tremendous move to cloud-based business communications, which is at the core of our business. Since the cloud requires scalability and flexibility, it is another reason why we chose Linux. Your system enables us to continuously innovate and provide businesses with the best communication solutions.

How is your company participating in that innovation?

Nextiva was founded with two goals in mind. First, to help reduce the pain felt by business owners related to traditional, antiquated phone service. And second, to bring Fortune 500-level communication capabilities to businesses of all sizes. While telecom is a 100+ year old industry, there has been very little innovation until recently. Before Nextiva and the rise of cloud business solutions, companies had little choice but to hire inefficient, land line-based phone companies that mandated in-person setup appointments and poor customer service response times. Nextiva’s driven by the mantra “making businesses love their phone system.”

Each one of our past, present and future efforts to drive innovation are supported by Linux.

What other future technologies or industries do you think Linux and open-source will increasingly become important in and why?

We know that Linux is playing a greater role in mobility, and I believe Linux will make it easier to offer a consistent user experience across multiple platforms, which is really important. The open model of Linux is a key element in enabling future technologies to adopt the platform.