M5 Networks

M5 Networks (now rebranded as m.five) was a pioneering cloud-based unified communications company founded in 2000 in New York City. The company provided hosted VoIP phone systems and business communication applications to small and medium-sized businesses across the United States, earning recognition from Gartner as a leader and visionary in the market for cloud-based phone systems. M5 Networks was among the earliest providers of Software-as-a-Service telephony and UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service), enabling businesses to integrate voice, messaging, and collaboration tools through a single cloud platform without on-premise hardware. The company was acquired by ShoreTel in February 2012 for approximately $146 million, and the combined entity subsequently became part of Mitel.