Criterionsystems.co.uk Review

Based on checking the website Criterionsystems.co.uk, it appears to be a legitimate business offering Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony services. The site provides a good overview of their “Horizon VoIP” system, detailing its features, benefits, and how it works. However, for a business operating in the digital realm, there are some areas where the website could improve its transparency and user trust signals, especially when viewed through a stringent ethical lens.

Here’s an overall review summary:

Overall Legitimacy: Appears legitimate based on provided content.
Product Offering: Specialises in Horizon VoIP telephony systems for businesses.
Key Benefits Highlighted: Cost savings, scalability, flexibility, unified communications, easy relocation, and future-proofing against ISDN/PSTN switch-offs.
Customer Testimonials: Features several positive testimonials from clients.
Transparency & Trust Signals: Lacks explicit details on pricing, terms of service, privacy policy, and a clear refund/cancellation policy directly on the homepage, which are crucial for full user confidence.
Contact Information: Provides a phone number and a “Contact Us” link.
Ethical Standing: The service itself (business telephony) is permissible and beneficial. The lack of transparent legal documents could be an ethical concern, as users need to understand the full scope of their agreement.

While Criterionsystems.co.uk presents a clear value proposition for businesses looking to upgrade their communication systems, the absence of easily accessible legal and financial disclaimers could be a red flag for those seeking full transparency. In the digital age, users expect to find comprehensive information regarding service terms, data handling, and dispute resolution upfront. Without these, potential customers might hesitate, questioning the full commitment to transparency.

Here are some best alternatives for business communication solutions that uphold strong ethical standards and typically provide robust transparency:

RingCentral
- Key Features: Comprehensive cloud communications platform, encompassing VoIP, video conferencing, team messaging, and contact centre solutions. Offers a vast array of integrations with popular business applications.
- Price or Average Price: Plans vary widely, starting from around £15-£20 per user per month for basic VoIP, scaling up significantly for enterprise features.
- Pros: Highly scalable, feature-rich, reliable, excellent uptime, strong security protocols, extensive app integrations.
- Cons: Can be more expensive for small businesses, complexity may require a steeper learning curve for some users.
8×8
- Key Features: Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) platform providing voice, video, chat, and contact centre functionalities. Known for global reach and robust analytics.
- Price or Average Price: Entry-level plans typically start from £10-£12 per user per month, increasing with advanced features and international calling.
- Pros: Strong international calling capabilities, reliable service, comprehensive analytics, good for businesses with global operations.
- Cons: Interface can be a bit overwhelming for new users, some advanced features might require additional training.
Vonage
- Key Features: Cloud-based communications for businesses, offering VoIP, unified communications, and contact centre solutions. Strong focus on flexibility and customisation through APIs.
- Price or Average Price: Small business plans typically start from £15-£18 per user per month, with options for add-ons and enterprise solutions.
- Pros: Highly flexible with extensive API integrations, good call quality, reliable customer support, suitable for businesses needing tailored solutions.
- Cons: Pricing can become complex with numerous add-ons, some users report occasional glitches with certain features.
Microsoft Teams Phone System
- Key Features: Integrates robust calling capabilities directly into Microsoft Teams, leveraging existing Microsoft 365 investments. Offers advanced call routing, voicemail, and auto-attendant features.
- Price or Average Price: Requires a Microsoft 365 subscription, with phone system add-ons starting from around £6-£12 per user per month for calling plans.
- Pros: Seamless integration with Microsoft ecosystem, familiar interface for existing Microsoft users, strong collaboration tools, scalable.
- Cons: Requires Microsoft 365 subscription, may not be ideal for businesses not already invested in Microsoft products, setup can be complex without IT support.
BT Business VoIP
- Key Features: As a major UK provider, BT offers reliable VoIP solutions tailored for businesses, including flexible calling plans, business continuity features, and local support.
- Price or Average Price: Varies significantly based on package and business size, typically starting from £10-£25 per user per month, often bundled with broadband.
- Pros: Established and trusted UK provider, strong network reliability, dedicated business support, good for businesses preferring a single provider for communications and internet.
- Cons: Can be less flexible or customisable than pure cloud-based solutions, pricing might be higher for standalone VoIP.
Gamma Horizon
- Key Features: A leading cloud telephony platform in the UK, often resold by partners (like Criterion Systems), offering a wide range of call management features, mobile integration, and business continuity tools.
- Price or Average Price: Pricing is typically partner-dependent, but generally competitive for small to medium businesses, often around £10-£20 per user per month.
- Pros: Feature-rich, highly scalable, reliable platform, good for businesses looking for a robust, UK-centric solution.
- Cons: Pricing and support quality can vary depending on the specific reseller, less direct control over the core platform for end-users.
Zoom Phone
- Key Features: Cloud phone system built on the popular Zoom platform, offering seamless integration with Zoom Meetings and Chat. Provides robust call management, voicemail, and auto-attendant features.
- Price or Average Price: Starts from approximately £8-£10 per user per month for basic plans, increasing with additional features and international calling.
- Pros: Excellent call quality, intuitive user interface for existing Zoom users, seamless integration with video conferencing, global reach.
- Cons: Primarily focused on the Zoom ecosystem, less extensive integration with third-party business apps compared to some competitors, may be less appealing for businesses not already using Zoom.

Find detailed reviews on Trustpilot, Reddit, and BBB.org, for software products you can also check Producthunt.

IMPORTANT: We have not personally tested this company’s services. This review is based solely on information provided by the company on their website. For independent, verified user experiences, please refer to trusted sources such as Trustpilot, Reddit, and BBB.org.

Table of Contents

Criterionsystems.co.uk Review & First Look

When you first land on Criterionsystems.co.uk, the immediate impression is one of professionalism, with a clear focus on their core offering: business telephony, specifically Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). They highlight their “Horizon VoIP” system as an evolution in business communications, positioned as a crucial upgrade, particularly with the impending ISDN and PSTN switch-offs in the UK. The site’s layout is clean, with easy-to-read text and a straightforward navigation. It quickly addresses the common pain points businesses face with traditional phone systems – high costs, inflexibility, and outdated technology.

Initial Impressions and User Experience

The website has a modern, responsive design. It loads quickly, and the use of clear headings and descriptive paragraphs guides the user through the benefits of VoIP. The colour scheme is professional, and the imagery is relevant, depicting modern office environments and communication tools.

Visual Appeal: The site is well-designed and easy on the eyes. It uses a consistent brand identity.
Navigation: The main menu includes “Skip to content,” “Services,” “About,” and “Contact Us,” which is fairly standard. Key sections like “Introducing Horizon VoIP,” “How does it work?”, and “Is it right for my business?” are linked directly from the homepage, making information accessible.
Call to Action: Prominent calls to action like “Contact Us” and “Let’s have a chat” are strategically placed, encouraging engagement.

Missing Trust Signals for Comprehensive Review

While the site looks good, a deep dive reveals some critical elements that are often present on highly trusted business websites, which, if absent, can raise a red flag. These include:

No Direct Pricing Information: One of the most significant omissions is the lack of explicit pricing details for their Horizon VoIP service. While business-specific solutions often require custom quotes, a range or base package information would significantly aid in initial evaluation.
Absence of Terms and Conditions: There’s no readily apparent link to a comprehensive Terms and Conditions (T&Cs) or Service Level Agreement (SLA) document. This is crucial for understanding contractual obligations, service uptime guarantees, and dispute resolution processes.
No Dedicated Privacy Policy: Data privacy is paramount. While they mention secure communications, a clear, separate Privacy Policy detailing how customer data is collected, stored, used, and protected is not directly linked or easily found on the homepage.
Lack of Refund/Cancellation Policy: For any service, particularly one that involves ongoing subscriptions, transparent policies on cancellations, refunds, and potential early termination fees are essential. This information is absent.
No Physical Address Displayed Prominently: While a phone number is provided, a physical address, typically found in the footer or contact page, adds another layer of legitimacy. It’s available on their “Contact Us” page but not immediately visible on the homepage.
No Company Registration Number: In the UK, displaying the company registration number is standard practice for legitimate businesses, often in the footer. This was not immediately visible on the homepage.

The absence of these foundational legal and financial documents means a potential customer cannot make a fully informed decision without direct engagement, which might deter some who prefer to research thoroughly before contacting a provider. This lack of transparency, while not necessarily indicating ill intent, falls short of best practices for ethical and trustworthy online businesses.

Criterionsystems.co.uk Features

Criterion Systems heavily promotes their “Horizon VoIP” service as a comprehensive solution for business telephony. The website outlines several key features designed to replace traditional PBX systems and enhance communication efficiency.

Core VoIP Functionality

The primary offering revolves around cloud-hosted Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). This means voice calls are converted into data and transmitted over the internet, rather than traditional copper phone lines.

Cloud Hosting: All information is centrally hosted at their data centres in London and Manchester. This setup is particularly beneficial for multi-site businesses, as all users operate on the same system, sharing directories and simplifying management.
Cost Savings: A significant selling point is the reduction in call costs, especially for long-distance or international calls, as they leverage existing internet connections. They claim typical savings of 30% less expensive than a competitive PBX system over its lifecycle.
Hardware and Maintenance Reduction: By being cloud-hosted, businesses save on physical hardware (PBX boxes) and associated maintenance costs. All that’s typically needed are the VoIP phones and a router.
Scalability: The system is described as highly scalable, allowing businesses to add or remove users and locations much quicker than with traditional setups. New phones or sites can be configured with “a simple software click.”

Enhanced Communication and Flexibility

Beyond basic calling, Horizon VoIP aims to offer a more dynamic and integrated communication experience.

Unified Communications (UC): The system integrates VoIP phone service with other communication methods like email and fax. A key example given is the ability to receive voicemail messages directly via email, which is highly beneficial for remote workers or those frequently on the go.
Remote Work Support: VoIP technology enables seamless business continuity, allowing employees to manage calls from their computers and mobile devices. This includes “softphone” technology, enabling the use of home numbers or business lines from anywhere with an internet connection.
Flexible Phone Numbers: Businesses can use one phone number across all locations. It also offers the flexibility to choose a business phone number’s location, allowing a London number, for example, even if the business isn’t physically there, or an international number in an unestablished location.
Easy Relocation: Moving offices or setting up new branches becomes significantly easier. VoIP phones can be relocated by simply unplugging and replugging them, eliminating the need for cumbersome physical phone systems or line changes. Businesses can also retain their well-promoted phone numbers during a move.

Security and Future-Proofing

Criterion Systems also highlights the security and longevity aspects of their VoIP solution.

Secure Network: The Voice over IP network is described as “completely secure” and usable over the public internet, ensuring data integrity even when employees are working remotely.
Always Up-to-Date: Since the system is largely software-based and hosted by Criterion, businesses don’t need to worry about outdated equipment or manual upgrades. Updates and new features are managed by the service provider, “at the touch of a button.”
ISDN/PSTN Switch-Off Preparedness: The service is positioned as a solution to prepare for the upcoming switch-offs of traditional telephone networks in the UK, ensuring businesses remain connected and operational. This is a significant point for UK businesses.

Criterionsystems.co.uk Cons

While Criterionsystems.co.uk highlights numerous advantages of their VoIP services, a comprehensive ethical review, particularly from an Islamic perspective that values transparency and clarity in dealings, reveals several critical omissions and potential drawbacks. These points are not necessarily indicators of malpractice but rather areas where the website falls short of establishing full trust and clarity for potential clients.

Lack of Transparency in Key Areas

The most significant cons revolve around the absence of crucial information that users expect to find on a reputable business website. Orrellheating.co.uk Review

No Direct Pricing Disclosure: One of the most common complaints for business service websites is the lack of upfront pricing. Criterionsystems.co.uk provides no indicative costs, package tiers, or even a starting price. This forces potential customers to engage directly for a quote, making it difficult to compare services or budget effectively without commitment. In an ethical framework, clarity on financial obligations is paramount.
Missing Terms and Conditions (T&Cs): There is no easily accessible link to comprehensive Terms and Conditions. This document is vital for outlining the legal agreement between the service provider and the client, covering aspects like service scope, responsibilities, liabilities, and intellectual property. Without it, clients enter an agreement without full knowledge of its legal parameters.
Absence of a Privacy Policy: In an era where data privacy is a major concern, the absence of a distinct Privacy Policy is a significant oversight. A robust Privacy Policy details how personal and business data is collected, used, stored, shared, and protected. Its omission can lead to concerns about data handling practices and adherence to regulations like GDPR.
Unclear Refund and Cancellation Policies: For any subscription-based service, clarity on how to cancel, potential cancellation fees, and refund eligibility is fundamental. This information is not present on the website, leaving customers in the dark about their options if they wish to terminate the service or are dissatisfied.
Limited Company Information on Homepage: While contact details are provided, the homepage does not prominently display the company’s full legal name, registration number, or registered address. While this information might be available on deeper pages, its absence from the main landing page reduces immediate trustworthiness for some users.

Potential Information Gaps

Beyond legal documents, other operational details are somewhat vague.

Limited Customer Support Information: While they highlight customer service in testimonials, specific channels, response times, or availability hours for support are not clearly outlined. This makes it hard to gauge the level of post-sales assistance.
No Service Level Agreement (SLA) Details: For a critical service like business telephony, an SLA outlining uptime guarantees, performance metrics, and compensation for service disruptions is crucial. This is not mentioned, which can be a concern for businesses relying heavily on their phone systems.
Generic Case Studies/Examples: While testimonials are present, the website lacks in-depth case studies or detailed examples of how their solution has specifically transformed businesses, beyond broad statements. Concrete examples with measurable results would add more weight.

In essence, while the service itself appears beneficial and ethically sound from a product perspective, the website’s lack of transparent legal and financial disclosures creates a barrier to full trust. For a discerning customer, particularly one who values open and honest dealings, these omissions could be a reason to seek alternatives that provide all necessary information upfront.

Criterionsystems.co.uk Alternatives

When considering alternatives to Criterionsystems.co.uk, the focus remains on ethical, transparent, and highly functional business communication solutions. The alternatives presented here are well-established providers in the UK and global markets, offering a range of features, pricing models, and support structures that cater to various business needs, often with clearer upfront information.

Leading UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service) Providers

These are comprehensive platforms that integrate voice, video, messaging, and sometimes contact centre functionalities into a single, cohesive solution.

RingCentral:
- Why it’s a strong alternative: RingCentral is a market leader known for its robust feature set, high reliability, and extensive integrations with CRM and business applications (e.g., Salesforce, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace). They offer transparent pricing tiers on their website, allowing businesses to easily compare and choose plans. Their focus on enterprise-grade security and compliance is also a significant advantage.
- Key Differentiators: Global presence, powerful analytics, strong mobile app, and a comprehensive app gallery.
8×8:
- Why it’s a strong alternative: 8×8 is another strong contender, particularly for businesses with international calling needs or those looking for an integrated contact centre solution alongside their UCaaS. Their website clearly outlines different service tiers and what’s included, providing a much clearer picture of costs and features upfront. They emphasise security and compliance with various international standards.
- Key Differentiators: Global Voice network, strong contact centre solutions, good reporting and analytics, transparent pricing.
Vonage:
- Why it’s a strong alternative: Vonage offers highly flexible and scalable cloud communication solutions, with a particular strength in API integration for custom development. Their website provides clear pricing for their core UCaaS plans. They are known for good call quality and reliable service, making them a solid choice for businesses prioritising customisation and integration capabilities.
- Key Differentiators: Extensive API platform (Vonage Communications Platform), flexible plans, good for customisation.

Integrated Solutions for Microsoft 365 Users

For businesses already heavily invested in the Microsoft ecosystem, leveraging existing infrastructure can be highly efficient.

Microsoft Teams Phone System:
- Why it’s a strong alternative: If your business already uses Microsoft Teams and Microsoft 365, integrating calling capabilities directly into Teams offers a seamless workflow. Microsoft provides extensive documentation, clear licensing information, and a robust support infrastructure. This approach consolidates communication tools and reduces the need for separate applications.
- Key Differentiators: Deep integration with Microsoft 365, familiar user interface, strong collaboration features (chat, video meetings), backed by Microsoft’s global infrastructure.
Zoom Phone: Blindsforlessyorkshire.co.uk Review
- Why it’s a strong alternative: For businesses already using Zoom for video conferencing, Zoom Phone offers a natural extension for voice communications. It provides an intuitive user experience and high-quality audio, benefiting from Zoom’s proven infrastructure. Their pricing for Zoom Phone is clearly laid out on their website, which is a major advantage.
- Key Differentiators: Excellent call quality, seamless integration with Zoom Meetings, easy to use, global presence, clear pricing.

UK-Specific and Established Providers

For businesses prioritising local support and established UK providers.

BT Business VoIP:
- Why it’s a strong alternative: As a major telecommunications provider in the UK, BT offers reliable VoIP services for businesses, often bundled with their broadband solutions. Their established network and dedicated business support make them a reassuring choice for many UK enterprises. While pricing might require a quote, their overall service transparency is generally high, with public-facing terms and conditions.
- Key Differentiators: Trusted UK brand, extensive network, dedicated business support, often bundled with other BT services.
Gamma Horizon:
- Why it’s a strong alternative: Gamma is a prominent wholesale provider of cloud telephony in the UK, and their Horizon platform is widely used. While often procured through partners (like Criterion Systems themselves), engaging directly with another Gamma partner or exploring Gamma’s main site for partner directories can lead to options with more transparent pricing and support. The platform itself is highly regarded for its feature set and reliability.
- Key Differentiators: Leading UK cloud telephony platform, extensive features, reliable performance.

These alternatives generally provide more upfront information regarding pricing, terms of service, and privacy policies, which are crucial for informed decision-making and establishing trust from an ethical standpoint. They offer diverse solutions, ensuring businesses can find a provider that aligns with their specific communication needs and values.

How to Cancel Criterionsystems.co.uk Subscription

Based on the information available on the Criterionsystems.co.uk website, there is no clear or direct process outlined for cancelling a subscription. This is a significant point of concern from an ethical and transparency standpoint. Most reputable service providers, especially those offering ongoing business solutions, will have a dedicated section or a direct link to their cancellation policy, procedures, and contact points for termination.

Absence of Online Cancellation Process

The website does not feature:

A “Cancel Subscription” button or portal.
A “My Account” area where users can manage their services.
A dedicated FAQ section addressing cancellations, refunds, or contract termination.
A publicly available Terms and Conditions (T&Cs) document that would typically detail cancellation clauses, notice periods, and potential early termination fees.

Recommended Steps for Cancellation

Given the lack of explicit information on the website, the most logical and ethical approach for a client looking to cancel a Criterion Systems subscription would be to initiate direct communication.

Contact Customer Service Directly:
- Phone: The website prominently displays their phone number: 0161-429 4910. This would be the most immediate way to speak with a representative. When calling, be prepared to provide your account details, business name, and the reason for cancellation.
- Email/Contact Form: The website has a “Contact Us” page (linked at the bottom). Using their online contact form or any provided email address (if listed on the contact page) would create a written record of your request.
- Formal Written Notice: Depending on the terms of your original contract (which is likely a separate document provided during sign-up, not publicly available on the website), a formal written notice via post might be required or advisable. It’s always wise to send such notices via recorded delivery to ensure proof of receipt.
Refer to Your Original Contract/Agreement:
- When you signed up for the Horizon VoIP service, you should have received a contract or service agreement. This document is paramount as it will contain the specific terms and conditions related to subscription length, notice periods for cancellation, and any associated fees.
- Key details to look for:
  - Minimum contract duration.
  - Required notice period for termination (e.g., 30, 60, or 90 days).
  - Penalties or fees for early termination.
  - Procedure for returning or purchasing any leased hardware.
  - Dispute resolution mechanisms.
Document Everything: Budget.co.uk Review
- Keep a meticulous record of all communications: dates, times, names of people you spoke with, a summary of discussions, and copies of all emails or letters sent and received. This documentation is crucial if any disputes arise.

Ethical Implications of Missing Cancellation Information

The absence of clear cancellation policies on a public website can lead to customer frustration and perception of opacity. Ethically, businesses are expected to be transparent about the full lifecycle of their service, including how customers can disengage. It can also create an imbalance of power, as customers might feel locked into a service or face unexpected fees due to a lack of clear guidance upfront. This lack of transparency contrasts sharply with the practices of leading providers who typically make such crucial information readily available to build trust and ensure customer satisfaction throughout their journey, not just during the sales process.

How to Cancel Criterionsystems.co.uk Free Trial

The Criterionsystems.co.uk website, as reviewed, does not explicitly mention or offer a free trial for its Horizon VoIP service. This means there is no published process for cancelling a free trial, as the option itself appears to be non-existent on their public-facing site.

Lack of Free Trial Promotion

There are no visible “Start Free Trial,” “Try Now,” or similar calls to action that would indicate a trial period for their VoIP services.
The content focuses on the benefits and features of a full subscription, rather than a temporary evaluation period.

Implications of No Free Trial

Direct Sales Model: It suggests that Criterionsystems.co.uk operates on a direct sales model where businesses engage for a quote and then commit to a service agreement, rather than offering a self-service trial experience.
No Trial-Specific Cancellation Concerns: Since there’s no mention of a free trial, there are no specific concerns about how to cancel one, expiry dates, or automatic conversion to a paid subscription after a trial period. This eliminates a common pain point for users who often forget to cancel trials and end up being charged.

What if a “Trial” Was Offered Offline?

It is plausible, though not indicated on the website, that Criterion Systems might offer custom, non-publicised trial periods or pilot programmes during direct sales negotiations with larger businesses. In such a hypothetical scenario:

Refer to the Specific Trial Agreement: Any trial period would be governed by a separate, specific agreement or contractual addendum provided directly to the business. This document would outline the duration of the trial, conditions for continuation or termination, and any associated terms.
Communicate Directly: Just like with a full subscription, any cancellation of such a trial would require direct communication with Criterion Systems, likely via phone or a formal written notice, as stipulated in the trial agreement.
Clarify Data Handling: If a trial involved integrating with a business’s systems or handling data, it would be crucial to clarify how that data would be handled or purged upon trial termination.

In summary, as per the website’s public content, the question of how to cancel a Criterionsystems.co.uk free trial is moot, as no such trial is advertised or offered. Businesses considering Criterion Systems should expect to engage in direct discussions for a quote and service agreement, rather than anticipating a self-service trial option.

Criterionsystems.co.uk Pricing

Based on the Criterionsystems.co.uk website, there is no public pricing information available for their Horizon VoIP services. This is a common practice for business-to-business (B2B) service providers, especially for solutions that might require customisation based on the size of the business, number of users, specific features needed, and integration requirements.

Absence of Public Pricing Tiers

The website does not display:

Standard pricing plans or packages.
Per-user pricing.
Tiered pricing structures (e.g., Small Business, Medium Business, Enterprise).
A pricing page or section that outlines the cost components of their service.

Instead, the calls to action on the site encourage direct engagement, such as “Contact Us” or “Let’s have a chat,” implying that pricing is provided upon request after an assessment of a business’s specific needs.

What This Implies for Potential Customers

Custom Quotes: Businesses should expect to receive a tailored quotation after discussing their requirements with a Criterion Systems representative. This approach allows the provider to offer solutions that are precisely aligned with the client’s operational scale and feature demands.
Variable Costs: The final cost will likely depend on several factors, including:
- Number of Users/Extensions: This is typically the primary driver of VoIP costs.
- Feature Set: Access to advanced features (e.g., call analytics, CRM integration, contact centre functionalities, advanced auto-attendants) will likely increase the price.
- Calling Plans: Whether the plan includes unlimited local/national calls, international minutes, or pay-as-you-go options.
- Hardware: Costs for physical VoIP phones if purchased through Criterion Systems.
- Installation & Setup: Whether there are one-off setup fees.
- Support & Maintenance: The level of ongoing support included in the package.
Negotiation Potential: In a custom quote scenario, there might be more room for negotiation compared to fixed, published pricing.

Ethical and Practical Implications of Undisclosed Pricing

While common in B2B, the lack of transparent pricing can be seen as a minor ethical concern from a user-centric perspective.

Lack of Initial Budgeting Guidance: Businesses cannot easily gauge whether the service falls within their budget without initiating contact, which can be time-consuming.
Difficulty in Comparison Shopping: It makes it challenging for potential clients to compare Criterion Systems’ offerings with competitors who do publish their pricing, creating an extra step in the due diligence process.
Time Investment: Getting a quote requires an investment of time from the potential customer in a sales discussion before any financial details are known.

From a practical standpoint, businesses seeking VoIP solutions often prefer at least a basic understanding of potential costs upfront to quickly filter options. While Criterion Systems likely justifies this approach by offering highly customised and value-driven solutions, it does place the onus on the customer to actively seek out pricing information. This is in contrast to many leading VoIP providers like RingCentral or 8×8, who provide clear, tiered pricing models on their websites, even if customised enterprise solutions require a direct quote.

Criterionsystems.co.uk vs. Competitors

When evaluating Criterionsystems.co.uk against its competitors in the business telephony market, it’s essential to compare not just features but also the overall business approach, transparency, and market positioning. Criterion Systems offers a specific product, Horizon VoIP, which is a platform often resold by various providers in the UK. This places them in a competitive landscape with other resellers of the same platform, as well as with larger, direct-to-customer UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service) providers. Bmwvehicletuning.co.uk Review

Criterionsystems.co.uk’s Approach

Criterion Systems positions itself as a UK-based provider focusing on the Horizon VoIP platform. Their website highlights:

Localised Service: Strong emphasis on serving UK businesses, with data centres in London and Manchester.
Personalised Approach: The website’s design and testimonials suggest a more hands-on, consultative sales and support model, rather than a purely self-service platform. This is evident by the “Let’s have a chat” calls to action.
Focus on ISDN/PSTN Switch-off: A key selling point is helping businesses transition from legacy systems, positioning them as experts in this specific migration.
Limited Online Transparency: As noted previously, the absence of public pricing, T&Cs, and privacy policies sets them apart from larger, more self-service oriented competitors.

Comparison with Larger, Direct UCaaS Providers (e.g., RingCentral, 8×8, Vonage)

These providers operate on a grander scale, often offering more features and direct online transparency.

Feature Set: Larger providers typically offer a broader suite of UCaaS features, including advanced video conferencing, team messaging, robust analytics, and often integrated contact centre solutions right out of the box, whereas Criterion Systems primarily focuses on VoIP with some UC integrations (email, fax).
Pricing Transparency: Leading providers like RingCentral, 8×8, and Vonage generally publish their tiered pricing plans online, making it easier for businesses to compare costs and features without initial engagement. Criterion Systems requires direct contact for quotes.
Scalability & Global Reach: Global players are designed for massive scalability and offer extensive international calling plans and points of presence (PoPs) worldwide, catering to multinational corporations more readily. While Criterion Systems’ Horizon platform is scalable, its direct market reach is UK-centric.
Integrations: Large providers boast extensive app marketplaces and API capabilities for integrating with hundreds of third-party business applications (CRMs, ERPs, help desks). While Horizon has integrations, the breadth might not be as vast as the top-tier UCaaS players.
Support & Documentation: While Criterion Systems highlights customer support through testimonials, larger providers often have extensive online knowledge bases, community forums, and 24/7 global support options.

Comparison with Other Horizon VoIP Resellers

Since Horizon is a Gamma product, many other UK companies resell it.

Core Product: The underlying Horizon VoIP platform and its core functionalities will be largely identical across different resellers.
Value-Add: The differentiation comes from the reseller’s value-add services:
- Pricing: Resellers might offer different pricing structures or bundles.
- Customer Service: The quality, responsiveness, and availability of customer support can vary significantly between resellers. Criterion Systems highlights positive testimonials in this area.
- Installation & Onboarding: Some resellers might provide more comprehensive installation, training, and ongoing management services.
- Bundling: Resellers might bundle Horizon VoIP with other services like broadband, IT support, or specific hardware.

Ethical Considerations in Comparison

From an ethical standpoint, the key differentiator is transparency. While Criterion Systems appears to be a legitimate provider offering a sound service, their lack of public information on pricing, T&Cs, and privacy policies puts them at a disadvantage compared to competitors who embrace full transparency. In a market where trust is paramount, providing all necessary information upfront helps build stronger, more ethical relationships with clients. Businesses seeking partners who demonstrate this level of openness might lean towards providers with more detailed public documentation.

FAQ

What is Criterionsystems.co.uk?

Criterionsystems.co.uk is a website for Criterion Systems, a UK-based company that provides business telephony solutions, primarily focusing on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services, specifically their “Horizon VoIP” system.

What services does Criterionsystems.co.uk offer?

Criterionsystems.co.uk offers cloud-hosted VoIP telephony services, including low-cost phone calls, unified communications (integrating voice with email/fax), flexible phone numbers, remote work support via softphones, and easy office relocation solutions.

Is Criterionsystems.co.uk a legitimate company?

Yes, based on the information provided on their website, Criterionsystems.co.uk appears to be a legitimate company operating in the business telecommunications sector in the UK, offering established VoIP services.

Where are Criterionsystems.co.uk’s data centres located?

Criterion Systems states that their VoIP service runs on dedicated servers located in London and Manchester, UK.

Does Criterionsystems.co.uk provide pricing information on its website?

No, Criterionsystems.co.uk does not display any public pricing information for its Horizon VoIP services on its website. Customers are encouraged to contact them directly for a tailored quote.

Does Criterionsystems.co.uk offer a free trial?

Based on the current content of the Criterionsystems.co.uk website, there is no explicit mention or advertisement of a free trial for their Horizon VoIP service. Ascocars.co.uk Review

How does Horizon VoIP save businesses money?

Horizon VoIP saves businesses money by converting voice calls into data transmitted over the internet, reducing reliance on traditional, costly copper phone lines, lowering maintenance costs, and eliminating long-distance or international call fees.

Is Criterionsystems.co.uk’s VoIP system secure?

Criterion Systems states that their Voice over IP network is “completely secure” and can be used over the public internet, ensuring secure communications.

What is unified communications as offered by Criterionsystems.co.uk?

Unified Communications (UC) with Criterion VoIP allows integration of phone service with other communications like email and fax, such as receiving voicemail messages directly via email.

Can Criterionsystems.co.uk help businesses with the ISDN/PSTN switch-off?

Yes, Criterionsystems.co.uk positions its Horizon VoIP service as an ideal solution to help businesses transition away from traditional ISDN and PSTN lines, which are being switched off in the UK.

What kind of support does Criterionsystems.co.uk offer?

While customer testimonials praise their helpfulness and great service, specific details about their support channels, hours, or Service Level Agreements (SLAs) are not explicitly outlined on the website.

Does Criterionsystems.co.uk provide Terms and Conditions on its website?

No, there is no readily apparent or directly linked Terms and Conditions (T&Cs) document available on the Criterionsystems.co.uk homepage.

Is a Privacy Policy available on Criterionsystems.co.uk?

A distinct and easily accessible Privacy Policy document is not directly linked or prominently displayed on the Criterionsystems.co.uk homepage.

How easy is it to move office with Criterionsystems.co.uk’s VoIP system?

Criterion Systems states that their VoIP system makes office moves very easy, as phones can be relocated by simply unplugging and replugging them into a new network port, with most configuration being software-based.

What are the main advantages of Criterionsystems.co.uk’s Horizon VoIP?

The main advantages highlighted are low-cost phone calls, unified communications, leveraging existing broadband infrastructure, flexibility in phone numbers, easy office relocation, and an always up-to-date, software-based system.

Who are the “Faces Behind Our Success” mentioned on the website?

The website features a section titled “Meet The Team” with photos and names of key personnel like Lee Smith and Phil Lancake, implying they are the core team behind Criterion Systems. Stevensandnicholls.co.uk Review

Are there customer testimonials on Criterionsystems.co.uk?

Yes, the website includes several positive customer testimonials from individuals like Mick Conway (MD), Jeremy Herz (Director), Sue Jackson (Office Manager), and Elvira Hatch (Practice Manager).

How does Criterionsystems.co.uk compare to a traditional PBX system?

Criterion Systems claims their VoIP system offers significant savings (typically 30% less expensive over its lifecycle), greater flexibility, easier management, and enhanced scalability compared to traditional PBX systems.

Does Criterionsystems.co.uk offer international calling?

Yes, the website implies cost savings on international calls, stating that VoIP allows connection through the internet at a much cheaper rate than traditional landlines or mobile phones.

What kind of businesses is Criterionsystems.co.uk’s VoIP suitable for?

Criterion Systems states their VoIP technology is perfect for businesses looking to cut down call costs, reduce maintenance expenses, network multiple offices and employees, and enable remote work, indicating suitability for various business sizes.