Still on Mitel MiVoice Connect (formerly ShoreTel)? Changes are coming. Mitel has announced an end-of-life plan for MiVoice Connect, which means you will eventually need to move. This guide explains what that timeline means, your two main paths forward, how they compare, why timing matters, and how to plan a low-stress transition.
Here’s everything you need to know.
The MiVoice Connect timeline
- New system sales ended: July 6, 2024
- Add-on hardware and expansion licenses ended: December 31, 2024
- Design support and updates end: December 31, 2025 (After this date you should not expect new patches or features).
- Hardware repair services end: December 31, 2028
- All technical support ends: December 31, 2029
You can keep Connect running for a while, but support will decline and risks will rise once updates stop. Planning now keeps you in control.
Can You stay on MiVoice Connect?
Yes, you can stay on Connect for now if it fits your near-term needs. If you choose this path, set guardrails:
- Document a contingency plan and budget for migration.
- Stock critical spares and confirm vendor coverage through your last support date.
- Tighten change control and monitor security. After December 31, 2025 there are no new patches, so create compensating controls and test failover regularly.
- Revisit the plan at least quarterly. The goal is a calm, staged transition, not a rushed replacement.
This is a short-term strategy. Use the time to evaluate MiVoice Business and UCaaS and line up your next step.
Your Options
Option 1: Upgrade to Mitel MiVoice Business
A modern on-premises or partner-hosted IP-PBX with unified communications, mobility, and contact center options.
Why teams choose it
- Strong feature set for voice, messaging, meetings, and contact center through Mitel add-ons
- Flexible deployment: on-premises, virtualized, or partner-hosted private cloud
- Possible reuse of some existing Mitel phones, depending on models
- CapEx or subscription licensing to match budgeting preferences
What to plan for
- A migration project with new licensing and possibly new hardware
- Admin training or a support agreement with a certified partner
- Ongoing responsibility for upgrades and maintenance unless you use a hosted model
Option 2: Move to a UCaaS platform
A cloud communications suite that includes calling, meetings, chat, mobile apps, and frequent feature releases.
Why teams choose it
- Minimal infrastructure to own or maintain
- Predictable per-user monthly pricing
- Fast to deploy and easy to scale up or down
- Continuous innovation without upgrade projects
- Centralized administration from a web portal
What to plan for
- Change management and user training for new apps and workflows
- Vendor evaluation for reliability, quality, security, and support
- Network readiness for voice and video quality
A Quick Comparison
Cost model
- Connect: legacy CapEx with support contracts, limited expansion options today
- MiVB: CapEx or subscription, still your system will need to be managed by you and/or your partner
- UCaaS: subscription only, minimal upfront costs, provider handles platform updates
Scalability
- Connect: limited by on-site hardware and product retirement. Unable to scale after 12/31/2025
- MiVB: scales with additional licenses or clustering, needs planning
- UCaaS: add or remove users in minutes, new sites come online without a PBX
Deployment speed
- Connect: complex and time-consuming
- MiVB: faster than legacy, still a project
- UCaaS: often days or a few weeks since the core lives in the cloud
Maintenance
- Connect: rising effort over time, no patches after 2025
- MiVB: you or your partner apply updates and handle backups and monitoring
- UCaaS: provider manages upgrades, patches, and redundancy
Admin skills
- Connect: specialized PBX knowledge
- MiVB: Mitel-specific training recommended or rely on a partner
- UCaaS: general IT administration is usually enough, advanced work as needed
Future readiness
- Connect: finite life and no new features
- MiVB: current and supported, steady evolution
- UCaaS: continuous feature releases and integrations
Bottom line: Most organizations will compare MiVoice Business against a leading UCaaS platform. Your decision will come down to functionality requirements, control requirements, compliance needs, budget preferences, and how cloud-forward your technology strategy is.
When to Start Planning
Short answer: now.
Here is why getting a head start helps.
- Security and stability: After December 31, 2025, Connect will not receive patches. Reducing exposure early is smart risk management.
- Avoid the rush: As 2028 and 2029 approach, service partners and migration windows will be in high demand. Booking early protects your timeline.
- Budget timing: Early planning lets you align funding across fiscal cycles or shift more to OpEx if that helps.
- Change management: Pilots, training, and phased rollout go smoother when you are not on a deadline.
A Simple Planning Checklist
- Assess your current environment
Inventory users, locations, devices, call flows, analog needs, and integrations.
- Document requirements
Must-have features, compliance needs, budget model, and preferred deployment approach.
- Compare MiVB and UCaaS
Feature fit, integration options, security posture, management model, and total cost.
- Run a pilot
Test with a small group, collect feedback, and refine call flows and training.
- Stage the rollout
Choose phased or cutover. Align timing with busy seasons and internal communications.
- Train and support
Prepare admins and end users with clear guides and short how-to sessions.
- Retire legacy components
Plan for number porting, device reuse or replacement, and decommissioning.
Download the step-by-step version in our Migration Planning Guide.
Benefits You Gain by Modernizing
No matter which path you choose, expect meaningful, practical improvements.
- Faster rollout
Cloud or virtualized deployments come online quickly, which reduces downtime and speeds time to value.
- Simpler administration
Modern admin portals turn moves, adds, and changes into quick tasks. With UCaaS, the provider also handles upgrades and redundancy.
- Less specialized staffing pressure
You do not need a dedicated PBX expert just to keep phones running. Your team focuses on higher-value work.
- Better user experience
Modern apps consolidate calling, voicemail, meetings, chat, and presence. Adoption is faster and support tickets often drop.
- Consolidated support
UCaaS in particular reduces the number of vendors you juggle for lines, hardware, and maintenance.
Remember to consider both hard costs and soft savings. Reduced admin time, improved resilience, and higher user productivity add up.
Final Takeaway
MiVoice Connect has served many organizations well, and you can stay on it for now with clear guardrails. The chapter is closing, so use this time to evaluate your next step. Whether you prefer the control of MiVoice Business or the agility of UCaaS, the key is to start now so you can move on your terms.
Maverick Networks is supplier-agnostic. Our advisors evaluate your needs, compare suppliers, and map a transition plan that fits your goals. If you want a quick readiness check or a deeper options review, we can help.