As VirtualPBX proudly marks its 27th anniversary, we reflect on a journey that began in 1997 and continues to thrive today. From humble beginnings in a garage in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury district to becoming a leader in business communication solutions. Our story is one of innovation, resilience, and unwavering commitment to our customers.
VirtualPBX: A Pioneer in Cloud Communications
In a special video message, our Chief Operating Officer, Lon Baker, reflects on the origins of VirtualPBX. “We were in the cloud before there was even a cloud,” Lon explains, highlighting the groundbreaking work we accomplished as the first PBX for businesses in 1997. At that time, the term “cloud” wasn’t yet a part of the tech landscape, but we were already providing small businesses with innovative communication solutions that were typically reserved for telecom giants and large corporations.
A Message from Our CEO, Paul Hammond
Our CEO, Paul Hammond, offers a heartfelt message as we celebrate this significant milestone. “As we celebrate our 27th anniversary, it’s incredible to reflect on how far VirtualPBX has come. We’ve grown into a leading provider of communications solutions for businesses of all sizes. Back then, VOIP was still a distant concept, and we were focused on offering small businesses a reliable way to manage multiple inbound calls to a toll-free number.”
Paul goes on to highlight what made VirtualPBX unique from the start. “What set us apart from the start was our commitment to building everything ourselves—from the billing systems to the phone switch and telecom infrastructure. This hands-on approach allowed us to maintain a level of control and flexibility that was crucial to our early success and rapid expansion.”
As VirtualPBX evolved, so did its approach to technology. “Over the years, we’ve evolved with the times, moving away from the burden of maintaining all of our code in-house. Instead, we’ve embraced best-in-class components to build a service that is not only scalable but also reliable and highly available. This shift has allowed us to focus even more on delivering value to our customers, ensuring that our solutions are robust and future-proof.”
Paul also emphasizes the core values that have driven VirtualPBX’s success for nearly three decades: “Our journey has been defined by a relentless focus on three core pillars: customer intimacy, operational efficiency, and product excellence. By staying deeply engaged with the needs of our customers, we’ve been able to deliver products and services that not only meet but anticipate the challenges businesses face in managing their communications. It’s this commitment to excellence that has kept us at the forefront of the industry and will continue to drive our innovation in the years to come.”
Privately Owned, Customer Focused, and Celebrating Our 27th Anniversary
What continues to set VirtualPBX apart is that, even after 27 years, we remain a private company. We answer only to ourselves and our customers—not to outside investors. This independence allows us to stay focused on delivering the highest level of service and innovation for the businesses that rely on us.
To celebrate this special milestone, our VirtualPBX team recently came together to mark our 27th anniversary. With cake and laughter all around, we took a moment to reflect on our journey and eagerly anticipate the future. Here, you’ll find a few snapshots from the celebration, showcasing the incredible people who continue to drive VirtualPBX’s success. Be sure to follow us on social media for more photos of our fantastic team!
Thank you to our customers and team members for being part of our journey. Here’s to many more years of success, innovation, and growth together!
