VoIP Providers & Business Phone Companies in Westford, MA

Ekaru, LLC is a managed IT and cybersecurity firm headquartered in Westford, Massachusetts, working with small and mid-sized organizations across Greater Boston and the Merrimack Valley, including Lowell, Chelmsford, Billerica, Tewksbury, Andover and Acton. Business phone systems sit within a wider technology practice that also spans helpdesk support, cloud services, data backup and long-range IT planning, so the company suits buyers who would like their voice platform managed by the same people who look after their computers and network.

VoIP and unified communications

On the voice side, Ekaru is a GoTo partner, pairing that vendor's hosted calling platform with installation, user training and continuing service from its own local technicians. The offering is framed around unified communications, meaning calls, video meetings and messaging are brought together instead of living in disconnected tools. Employees can handle calls from a desk handset, a computer or a smartphone app while still showing the main office caller ID, which helps hybrid and remote teams keep answering customers even when weather keeps everyone home.

• Cloud VoIP phone systems delivered through GoTo
• Unified calling, video conferencing and messaging
• Desk phone, desktop and mobile app calling under one business number
• Phone system setup, configuration and staff training
• Ongoing support for voice and network connectivity

A few practical terms are worth noting for anyone comparing providers. Ekaru treats phone deployments as one-time projects rather than multi-year commitments, and a business is not required to buy a full managed IT plan before purchasing a phone system. Go-live can often happen the same day or on the next business day. The service runs over whichever internet connection a company already uses, such as Comcast or Verizon, and continues to function unchanged if the business relocates.

Broader IT services

Beyond phones, the firm offers remote helpdesk assistance by phone and email, on-site visits, round-the-clock monitoring and patching, co-managed arrangements for organizations that employ internal IT staff, and reserved monthly Flex Time hours assigned to a specific Technology Advisor. It also supports Microsoft 365 and core business applications, assesses and strengthens cybersecurity and compliance posture, sets up and regularly tests backups, and acts in the role of an outsourced IT director for budgeting and technology roadmaps.

Background and approach

Ann Westerheim, PhD, launched Ekaru in 2001 following ten years in semiconductor R&D. She holds three MIT engineering degrees and authored the book Cybersecurity for Main Street. The leadership group includes Linda Hanson as Director of Operations and Adam Harte as Director of Technology, while Technology Advisors such as Zac Demmons and Kristian Silva take on VoIP handset projects together with networking and field work. The company stresses a nearby team that knows each client personally, plain-language explanations, advice driven by real needs instead of product sales, and solving root causes so issues do not return. Ekaru says a number of its clients have stayed with it for more than twenty years, and its staff share lessons through daily huddles, weekly strategy sessions and internal tech roundtables.