8x8, Inc., provider of Packet8 residential, business and video Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone services, announced it has signed a retail agreement with Office Depot/, a leading global provider of office products and services, to offer Packet8 Virtual Office business telecommunications services and equipment.

The agreement grants Office Depot exclusive rights to stock and display Virtual Office in retail locations nationwide. Beginning this month, Office Depot's stores and website will carry the Packet8 Virtual Office business phone service package for $79.99 (after $50 mail-in rebate).

"We are pleased to offer Office Depot's customers the most robust and affordable small business phone service available today," said 8x8 Vice President of Sales and Marketing Huw Rees. "Any customer with an existing high-speed Internet connection can be up and running with Packet8 Virtual Office in minutes."

The Packet8 Virtual Office phone service lets small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) implement a full featured, corporate-class phone system for a fraction of the cost of traditional business phone system alternatives such as Private Branch Exchanges (PBXs), Key Systems or Centrex. In addition to complete PBX functionality, Virtual Office service plans provide unlimited local and long distance calling in the U.S. and Canada for a flat-rate of only $39.99 a month, as well as lower-priced metered plans and international calling at highly competitive rates.

"Businesses everywhere are becoming aware of the cost efficiencies and performance advantages of VoIP phone service," said John Lostroscio, Vice President of Technology Merchandising for Office Depot. "The Packet8 Virtual Office system is a complete VoIP business phone solution that will help our customers save money and increase operational efficiency."

Virtual Office is an affordable, easy-to-use alternative to traditional PBX systems that allows users anywhere in the world to be part of a hosted VoIP virtual phone system. The service includes auto attendants, conference bridges, extension-to-extension dialing, business class voicemail and ring groups, in addition to a rich variety of other business class PBX features.

Additionally, Virtual Office significantly reduces an organization's telecommunications cost of ownership due to a minimal initial investment and unlimited local and long distance business calling in the United States and Canada.