3CX
3CX is a Cyprus-based software company best known for its software-based IP private branch exchange and unified communications platform.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
3CX is a Cyprus-based software development company and communications technology brand founded by Nick Galea in 2005. Its principal product, 3CX Phone System, is a software private branch exchange built around the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). The platform enables organizations to place and receive calls through SIP trunking, public switched telephone network gateways, and voice-over-IP services without depending on a dedicated proprietary PBX appliance. The company's original proposition was to move business telephony functions onto general-purpose computing infrastructure. Its system can be deployed on supported servers, virtual machines, hosted environments, or cloud infrastructure, and can work with SIP-compatible desk phones as well as software clients. The platform combines core PBX functions—extensions, call routing, transfers, voicemail, auto attendants, interactive voice response, and call recording—with broader unified communications capabilities such as video meetings, conferencing, instant messaging, web-based calling, and contact-center functions. 3CX's product ecosystem includes a web client, progressive web application, desktop application, administration and management consoles, Windows softphone functionality, and iOS and Android applications. The company has also developed integrations for live chat and omnichannel messaging, allowing businesses to connect website visitors and other messaging channels with their communications workflows. Microsoft Teams integration was added with version 18, supporting direct routing through Microsoft's collaboration environment. The business serves organizations that operate communications systems directly and a channel network of resellers, managed service providers, and communications integrators. Its partner-oriented model is reflected in integrations with SIP providers and initiatives such as the 2016 BT Wholesale SIP Trunking partnership. 3CX has also expanded through acquisitions and product additions, including eWorks Technologies, the Elastix and PBX in a Flash projects, Askozia, and WP Live Chat. The company has promoted hosted and cloud-oriented deployment alongside customer-managed installations. PBX Express, introduced in 2017, was designed to simplify the creation of hosted PBX instances on virtual private servers; the company later offered a service branded Hosted by 3CX. Public information about ownership, financial performance, employee numbers, and market share is limited, so no unsupported financial or scale figures are included. In 2023, a compromise of the 3CX Desktop App caused the company to undertake a major security investigation and announce a Security Action Plan.
History
3CX was founded in 2005 by Nick Galea as a software company focused on business telephony and IP communications. In 2006, it released the first 3CX Phone System as a free IP PBX for Microsoft Windows. The product translated functions traditionally associated with hardware telephone exchanges into software that could run on broadly available computing infrastructure. Its first commercial edition, version 6.0, followed in 2007. Product reviews highlighted configuration, administration, and compatibility with a range of telephony hardware. The platform was built around SIP, allowing businesses to connect the system to SIP trunks, VoIP providers, and compatible endpoints. Over time, 3CX broadened the product beyond basic IP-PBX functionality. The system incorporated web and desktop clients, smartphone applications, voicemail, call recording, multi-level IVR, conferencing, video meetings, fax-to-email, voicemail-to-email, call-center features, and website live-chat integration. This expansion placed the product within the broader unified communications and contact-center software categories rather than limiting it to voice telephony. 3CX also expanded through acquisitions and project purchases. In 2013 it acquired eWorks Technologies. In 2016 it acquired the Elastix project and PBX in a Flash, both of which were associated with open-source or software-based PBX deployments. In 2017 it acquired Askozia, another communications software business. In 2019 it acquired WP Live Chat, a WordPress plugin used to connect websites with live-chat functionality. These moves extended the company's reach across telephony, hosted communications, and digital customer engagement. Channel distribution has been an important part of the company's operating model. In September 2016, 3CX announced a partnership with BT Wholesale's SIP Trunking platform aimed at serving resellers. In 2017, it introduced PBX Express, a deployment tool intended to create a hosted PBX on a virtual private server. The company subsequently offered a managed hosting proposition under the Hosted by 3CX name, complementing installations operated by customers or partners. Leadership changed in 2019 when Stefan Walther became CEO. That year, 3CX was also featured on the internet television program Hak5. With version 18 in 2021, the company added integration with Microsoft Teams, including direct routing through Microsoft's collaboration platform. In June 2022, Walther was reported to be stepping down, and founder Nick Galea returned to the CEO position. The company's most significant publicly documented crisis occurred in 2023. On March 29, 3CX acknowledged that its desktop application had been compromised and was being used to distribute malware. Mandiant was appointed to conduct a full investigation. In findings published on April 20, 3CX said the incident was related to an earlier compromise involving software from financial-technology company Trading Technologies, reached through a 3CX employee's personal computer, and associated the operation with the same North Korean operators identified in that earlier compromise. 3CX subsequently announced a Security Action Plan. The incident became a prominent example of a software supply-chain compromise affecting a business communications product. Public sources provide a useful outline of 3CX's product development, acquisitions, leadership changes, and security incident, but do not establish a complete chronology of every release, ownership arrangement, financial result, or geographic market. Those details are therefore not stated as facts here.
- 2023
Desktop application supply-chain compromise
[3]3CX disclosed a compromise of its desktop client and commissioned an investigation by Mandiant.
- 2022
Founder returns as CEO
[1]Nick Galea returned to the chief executive role after Stefan Walther stepped down.
- 2021
Microsoft Teams integration
[1]Version 18 integrated with Microsoft Teams and supported direct routing through Microsoft's platform.
- 2019
WP Live Chat acquisition and CEO transition
[1]3CX acquired WP Live Chat and appointed Stefan Walther as CEO.
- 2017
Askozia acquisition and PBX Express launch
[1]3CX acquired Askozia and released PBX Express for streamlined hosted-PBX deployment on virtual private servers.
- 2016
Elastix and PBX in a Flash acquisitions
[1]3CX acquired the Elastix project and PBX in a Flash, extending its presence in software-based PBX technology.
- 2013
eWorks Technologies acquisition
[1]3CX acquired eWorks Technologies as part of its expansion in communications software.
- 2007
First commercial edition
[1]The first commercial edition, version 6.0, was released.
- 2006
First 3CX Phone System release
[1]3CX released its initial free IP PBX for Microsoft Windows.
- 2005
3CX founded
[2]Nick Galea founded 3CX as a software company focused on business IP telephony and communications.
Products and positioning
A software-first business communications and unified communications platform for organizations, resellers, and managed service providers, emphasizing SIP interoperability, deployment flexibility, and reduced dependence on proprietary telephony hardware.
Enterprise IP PBX and unified communications platform · 2006
3CX Phone System
3CX Phone System is the company's core software PBX and unified communications platform. It uses SIP to connect organizations with telephony providers and endpoints, and supports extensions, call routing, auto attendants, interactive voice response, voicemail, recording, conferencing, video communication, contact-center functions, and messaging. It can be used with SIP desk phones, software clients, or a combination of both.
Desktop, web, and mobile communications clients
3CX Apps
The 3CX client family provides access to organizational communications from web browsers, progressive web applications, desktop computers, Windows softphones, and iOS and Android devices. Depending on the deployment and permissions, users can place calls, exchange messages, join meetings, manage presence, and use other functions delivered by the central 3CX system.
Hosted business communications service
Hosted by 3CX
Hosted by 3CX is the company's managed hosting proposition for organizations and partners that want 3CX communications infrastructure operated in a hosted environment rather than installed entirely on customer-managed equipment. It follows the company's broader effort to support cloud and virtualized deployment models.
PBX deployment tool · 2017
PBX Express
PBX Express was introduced to simplify the creation of a hosted 3CX PBX on a virtual private server. It represented an early step in making cloud-oriented deployment more accessible to customers and channel partners.
Controversies
2023
3CX Desktop App supply-chain compromise
On March 29, 2023, 3CX acknowledged that its desktop application had been compromised and was distributing malware. The company engaged Mandiant to investigate. In an April 20 update, 3CX attributed the incident to an earlier compromise involving a financial-software application accessed through a 3CX employee's computer and linked the activity to North Korean operators identified in that earlier operation. The company announced a Security Action Plan in response.
Brand decisions
2023
Implement a Security Action PlanOtherBackground
The 3CX Desktop App compromise exposed customers and the company's software-distribution process to a malware supply-chain incident.
Action taken
After commissioning a Mandiant investigation, 3CX announced a Security Action Plan intended to reduce the risk of similar future attacks.
Aftermath
The incident prompted public investigation findings and security-related remediation, although the supplied sources do not establish a complete long-term operational impact.
2021
Integrate version 18 with Microsoft TeamsProduct launchBackground
Businesses increasingly used collaboration suites alongside dedicated telephony platforms.
Action taken
3CX added Microsoft Teams integration with direct-routing support.
Aftermath
The integration enabled organizations to connect 3CX telephony with Microsoft's collaboration environment.
2017
Launch PBX ExpressProduct launchBackground
Cloud and virtual-server deployment were becoming important alternatives to customer-managed hardware installations.
Action taken
3CX introduced PBX Express to help create a hosted PBX on a virtual private server.
Aftermath
The tool contributed to 3CX's broader hosted-deployment strategy, later reflected in Hosted by 3CX.
2016
Partner with BT Wholesale for SIP trunkingStrategyBackground
3CX sought to strengthen its reseller ecosystem and connectivity options for customers using its software PBX.
Action taken
The company announced a partnership with BT Wholesale's SIP Trunking platform.
Aftermath
The partnership expanded the available channel and SIP connectivity relationship described in the company's business development materials.
Sources5 sources
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