3CX

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.

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.

1. 2023Desktop application supply-chain compromise

   3CX disclosed a compromise of its desktop client and commissioned an investigation by Mandiant.

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2. 2022Founder returns as CEO

   Nick Galea returned to the chief executive role after Stefan Walther stepped down.

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3. 2021Microsoft Teams integration

   Version 18 integrated with Microsoft Teams and supported direct routing through Microsoft's platform.

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4. 2019WP Live Chat acquisition and CEO transition

   3CX acquired WP Live Chat and appointed Stefan Walther as CEO.

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5. 2017Askozia acquisition and PBX Express launch

   3CX acquired Askozia and released PBX Express for streamlined hosted-PBX deployment on virtual private servers.

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6. 2016Elastix and PBX in a Flash acquisitions

   3CX acquired the Elastix project and PBX in a Flash, extending its presence in software-based PBX technology.

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7. 2013eWorks Technologies acquisition

   3CX acquired eWorks Technologies as part of its expansion in communications software.

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8. 2007First commercial edition

   The first commercial edition, version 6.0, was released.

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9. 2006First 3CX Phone System release

   3CX released its initial free IP PBX for Microsoft Windows.

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10. 20053CX founded

    Nick Galea founded 3CX as a software company focused on business IP telephony and communications.

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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.

• 3CX Phone SystemEnterprise IP PBX and unified communications platform2006

  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.

• 3CX AppsDesktop, web, and mobile communications clients

  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 by 3CXHosted business communications service

  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 ExpressPBX deployment tool2017

  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.

• 2023Implement a Security Action PlanOther

  The 3CX Desktop App compromise exposed customers and the company's software-distribution process to a malware supply-chain incident.

  What changed. 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.

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• 2021Integrate version 18 with Microsoft TeamsProduct launch

  Businesses increasingly used collaboration suites alongside dedicated telephony platforms.

  What changed. 3CX added Microsoft Teams integration with direct-routing support.

  Aftermath. The integration enabled organizations to connect 3CX telephony with Microsoft's collaboration environment.

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• 2017Launch PBX ExpressProduct launch

  Cloud and virtual-server deployment were becoming important alternatives to customer-managed hardware installations.

  What changed. 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.

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• 2016Partner with BT Wholesale for SIP trunkingStrategy

  3CX sought to strengthen its reseller ecosystem and connectivity options for customers using its software PBX.

  What changed. 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.

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• 20233CX Desktop App supply-chain compromiseControversy

  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.

  Source

• 2022Nick Galea returns as CEO

  Stefan Walther stepped down and founder Nick Galea returned to the chief executive role.

  Leadership change
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• 20213CX integrates Microsoft Teams with version 18

  Version 18 added Microsoft Teams integration with direct-routing support through Microsoft's platform.

  Product generationProduct launch
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• 2019Stefan Walther appointed CEO

  Stefan Walther became chief executive of 3CX.

  Leadership change
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• 20173CX launches PBX Express

  PBX Express was introduced to simplify deployment of a hosted 3CX PBX on a virtual private server.

  Product launch
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• 20163CX announces partnership with BT Wholesale SIP Trunking

  3CX announced a partnership with BT Wholesale's SIP Trunking platform, supporting its reseller and channel strategy.

  Other
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1. 3CX — Wikipedia
2. 3CX Company Information
3. 3CX Security Incident Update
4. 3CX Security Incident Investigation Update
5. 3CX Official Website