ShoreTel
Former American telecommunications vendor specializing in business IP telephony, unified communications, and cloud-connected communications services.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
ShoreTel was an American business communications company that developed and supplied IP telephony and unified communications systems. The company began in September 1996 as Shoreline Teleworks, founded by Edwin J. Basart and Mike Harrigan, who had previously been co-founders of Network Computing Devices. Shoreline Teleworks shipped its first products in 1998 and adopted the ShoreTel name in April 2004. The company operated in the enterprise communications market, where it competed by combining telephone-system hardware, communications software, unified communications functions, and supporting services. Its portfolio included ShoreGear voice-switch appliances, UC servers, IP desk phones, conference and cordless devices, and software platforms intended to integrate voice communications with business applications. This gave ShoreTel a position between traditional private branch exchange vendors and newer hosted or cloud communications providers. ShoreTel became a public company through an initial public offering on July 3, 2007. During the following decade it expanded both organically and through acquisitions. In 2010 it acquired Agito Networks, adding technology associated with mobile unified communications. In 2012 it purchased M5 Networks, a New York-based provider associated with hosted communications services, for approximately $146 million. In 2016 it acquired Corvisa, strengthening its SIP-trunking capabilities and its ability to connect communications services with third-party applications. The company also moved toward hybrid and cloud-oriented offerings. In August 2015 it introduced the ShoreTel Connect Common UC Platform, and in February 2016 it launched ShoreTel Connect Hybrid Sites, which combined on-premises systems with cloud services. These initiatives reflected the broader transition in business telephony from dedicated premises equipment toward software-defined, hosted, and hybrid communications environments. Don Joos became president and chief executive officer in August 2013 after joining ShoreTel from Avaya in 2011. In August 2016, ShoreTel began examining a possible sale of the company. Mitel acquired ShoreTel in September 2017 for approximately $530 million. Following the transaction, ShoreTel ceased to operate as an independent public company and its products and technology became part of Mitel's broader business communications portfolio. The standalone ShoreTel brand was subsequently phased out, although its product concepts and installed-base technologies remained relevant to Mitel customers and channel partners. ShoreTel is therefore best understood as a defunct standalone corporate brand whose principal historical identity was as a provider of business IP telephony and unified communications.
History
ShoreTel originated in September 1996 under the name Shoreline Teleworks. Its co-founders, Edwin J. Basart and Mike Harrigan, had earlier worked together as co-founders of Network Computing Devices. The new company was established to develop communications technology for business users at a time when enterprise telephony was beginning to move from circuit-switched systems toward IP-based networks. Shoreline Teleworks shipped its first products in 1998, establishing the foundation for a product portfolio that combined telephony hardware with software-based communications management. In April 2004, the company changed its name to ShoreTel. The new identity accompanied its development as a vendor of IP telephone systems and unified communications solutions. Rather than concentrating only on handsets, ShoreTel built an ecosystem that included voice-switch appliances, UC servers, desk phones, conference devices, cordless systems, and software for connecting voice with business applications. Its products were aimed primarily at organizations that wanted enterprise communications functions without relying exclusively on legacy telephone infrastructure. ShoreTel entered the public markets on July 3, 2007, through an initial public offering. As a public company, it continued to expand its capabilities through a mixture of internal product development and acquisitions. On October 21, 2010, ShoreTel announced the purchase of Agito Networks for approximately $11.4 million. Agito's technology complemented ShoreTel's unified communications strategy, particularly in relation to mobility and communications access across different network environments. In 2012, ShoreTel acquired M5 Networks, based in New York City, for approximately $146 million. M5 was associated with hosted business communications, and the acquisition helped ShoreTel broaden its reach beyond traditional premises-based systems. The transaction was significant because the communications industry was increasingly shifting toward managed, hosted, and cloud services. ShoreTel's strategy became progressively more focused on offering customers a choice between equipment installed at the customer's site and services delivered through cloud infrastructure. Don Joos became president and chief executive officer in August 2013. He had joined ShoreTel in April 2011 after working at Avaya, another major business communications company. Under this period of leadership, ShoreTel continued to consolidate its unified communications portfolio and emphasize integrated user experiences. In August 2015, the company launched the ShoreTel Connect Common UC Platform. Connect served as a unifying product family intended to bring together communications functions across ShoreTel's broader ecosystem. The company continued its cloud and integration push in 2016. In January, ShoreTel acquired Corvisa, adding SIP-trunking capabilities and further support for integrations with third-party business applications. In February, it introduced ShoreTel Connect Hybrid Sites, an offering designed to combine on-premises communications infrastructure with cloud services. This hybrid model addressed customers that were not ready to move all communications workloads to the cloud but still wanted access to hosted features and centralized services. In August 2016, ShoreTel began looking into a sale of the company. The review occurred during a period of consolidation in the enterprise communications market, as vendors competed to combine premises telephony, unified communications, mobility, contact-center functions, and cloud services. In September 2017, Mitel acquired ShoreTel for approximately $530 million. The acquisition removed ShoreTel as an independent listed company and placed its products, technology, customers, and channel relationships within Mitel's business communications organization. After the acquisition, ShoreTel no longer operated as an independent corporate brand in the manner described in its earlier public-company period. Its products and installed systems remained part of the historical technology base served by Mitel, while the standalone ShoreTel identity was progressively phased out. The company's history therefore traces the transition from dedicated business IP telephone systems to unified, hybrid, and cloud-connected communications platforms.
- 2017
Mitel acquisition
[1]Mitel acquired ShoreTel in September for approximately $530 million.
- 2016
Corvisa acquisition and hybrid product expansion
[1]ShoreTel acquired Corvisa in January and launched Connect Hybrid Sites in February.
- 2015
ShoreTel Connect Common UC Platform launches
[1]ShoreTel introduced a common unified communications platform under the Connect family.
- 2013
Don Joos becomes chief executive
[1]Don Joos became president and chief executive officer in August.
- 2012
M5 Networks acquisition
[1]ShoreTel acquired M5 Networks for approximately $146 million.
- 2010
Agito Networks acquisition
[1]ShoreTel announced the acquisition of Agito Networks for approximately $11.4 million.
- 2007
Initial public offering
[1]ShoreTel became a public company on July 3 through an initial public offering.
- 2004
Company adopts the ShoreTel name
[1]The company changed its name from Shoreline Teleworks to ShoreTel in April.
- 1998
First products ship
[1]Shoreline Teleworks shipped its first products, beginning its commercial activity as a business communications vendor.
- 1996
Shoreline Teleworks is founded
[1]Edwin J. Basart and Mike Harrigan co-founded the company as Shoreline Teleworks in September.
Products and positioning
A business communications provider focused on integrated IP telephony, unified communications, and hybrid or cloud-connected solutions for organizations seeking an alternative to traditional premises-based telephone systems.
Unified communications platform · 2015
ShoreTel Connect
ShoreTel Connect was the company's principal unified communications family. It was designed to bring business voice, collaboration, communications management, and related integrations together across deployment models. The Connect line represented ShoreTel's effort to unify its premises, hosted, and hybrid offerings under a more consistent platform identity.
Hybrid unified communications · 2016
ShoreTel Connect Hybrid Sites
Connect Hybrid Sites was introduced in 2016 for organizations combining on-premises communications equipment with cloud-based services. The offering addressed customers pursuing a gradual migration to hosted communications rather than replacing all existing telephony infrastructure at once.
Unified communications servers
ShoreTel UC Servers
The UC Server range included models such as UC Server 20, UC Server 25, and UC Server 30. These systems supported ShoreTel's premises-based unified communications architecture and formed part of the infrastructure used to manage business telephony and related communications functions.
IP telephony appliances
ShoreGear Voice Switches
ShoreGear appliances provided the telephony switching and network connectivity layer for ShoreTel deployments. The range included multiple appliance families and configurations, supporting organizations with different capacity, interface, and deployment requirements in premises-based IP telephone environments.
Business IP phones
ShoreTel IP Desk Phones
ShoreTel produced a broad set of business IP desk phones, including the IP100, IP110, IP115, IP210, IP230G, IP420G, IP480G, IP485G, IP530, IP560G, IP565G, and IP655G families. The range covered basic office handsets through more advanced models, with selected G variants providing Gigabit Ethernet functionality.
Cordless business phone
ShoreTel IP930D
The IP930D was a cordless DECT-oriented business phone system. It supported multiple handsets from a single base unit and could be extended with an optional extender, making it suitable for offices requiring mobility within a managed business telephony environment.
Conference phone
ShoreTel IP8000
The IP8000 was a conference phone designed for use within ShoreTel's business IP communications ecosystem. It extended the product portfolio beyond individual desk phones to support group meetings and conference-room calling.
SIP trunking and cloud communications · 2016
Corvisa SIP Trunking
Following the acquisition of Corvisa in 2016, ShoreTel added Corvisa-related SIP-trunking and application-integration capabilities to its broader communications portfolio. These capabilities supported connections between enterprise telephone systems, service-provider networks, and third-party business applications.
Brand decisions
2017
Sell ShoreTel to MitelM&ABackground
After beginning to explore a sale in 2016, ShoreTel operated in a consolidating business communications market where scale across premises, cloud, and unified communications products was increasingly important.
Action taken
Mitel acquired ShoreTel in September 2017 for approximately $530 million.
Aftermath
ShoreTel ceased to be an independent public company, and its products and technology were incorporated into Mitel's portfolio.
Acquisition price. Approximately $530 million (September 2017)
2016
Acquire CorvisaM&ABackground
ShoreTel sought stronger SIP-trunking and third-party application-integration capabilities.
Action taken
ShoreTel acquired Corvisa in January 2016.
Aftermath
Corvisa's capabilities were incorporated into ShoreTel's broader communications strategy.
2016
Launch Connect Hybrid SitesProduct launchBackground
Many business customers were transitioning toward cloud communications while retaining existing premises equipment.
Action taken
ShoreTel launched Connect Hybrid Sites in February, combining on-premises and cloud services.
Aftermath
The offering gave ShoreTel a product aimed at staged migration and mixed deployment environments.
2015
Launch the Connect Common UC PlatformProduct launchBackground
ShoreTel needed a more unified product identity as its portfolio expanded across premises-based, hosted, and integrated communications.
Action taken
The company launched the ShoreTel Connect Common UC Platform.
Aftermath
Connect became a central name in ShoreTel's unified communications portfolio.
2012
Acquire M5 NetworksM&ABackground
ShoreTel pursued a larger presence in hosted business communications as the market moved beyond purely premises-based telephone systems.
Action taken
ShoreTel acquired M5 Networks, based in New York City, for approximately $146 million.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded ShoreTel's capabilities and positioning in hosted communications.
Acquisition price. Approximately $146 million (2012)
2010
Acquire Agito NetworksM&ABackground
ShoreTel sought to broaden its unified communications capabilities and strengthen support for mobile communications use cases.
Action taken
The company announced the acquisition of Agito Networks for approximately $11.4 million.
Aftermath
Agito became part of ShoreTel's expanding unified communications portfolio.
Acquisition price. Approximately $11.4 million (2010)
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