Enterprise communications networks are evolving into business-critical resources delivering real-time, unified communications and collaboration (UC&C) services and applications. Enterprise UC&C infrastructure, services and applications must be protected both from deliberate attacks to steal sensitive information and/or disrupt UC&C services, as well as from non-malicious adverse events that can cripple these services. Take the contact center for example; here privacy is a significant issue due to regulatory constraints and/or the sensitive nature of some contact center communications (e.g., medical records, credit card numbers, etc.). As a result, contact centers will need to encrypt certain sessions (signaling, media or both) end-to-end, or at least the portions of a session that must traverse untrusted IP networks.
Posted by David Yedwab, on March 17, 2010
The industry press has been filled with recent reports about Nortel customers being faced with the challenge of having their legacy Nortel phone systems converted to future Avaya systems. However, what Nortel user organizations are really facing reflects what all enterprise organizations are dealing with today. That is, the new role of “intelligent,” software-based IP Telephony as a foundational component of mobile, multimodal unified communications (UC) that integrate with enterprise applications to “optimize business process performance” and effectiveness. Leading telephony system providers recognize that the flexibility of communication interfaces is becoming critical, and they are converging their new IP Telephony offerings with other text-based communications. One example of this is NEC.
Posted by Art Rosenberg, on March 16, 2010
When I bring up IPv6 as another issue that Enterprises need to deal with as they consider/plan/ implement UC, most Enterprises will likely say, “What is IPv6?” When we run out of IPv4 addresses, all new network elements, including the explosion of data-capable 3G/4G mobile devices, will require IPv6 addressing. Enterprises have not been concerned but they will need to become, at least IPv6 aware.
Posted by David Yedwab, on March 16, 2010
In this podcast, the UCStrategies.com experts discuss the digital shift proposed in Nicholas Negroponte's book, Being Digital, as it relates to unified communications.
Posted by Jim Burton, on March 16, 2010
Today, there are hundreds if not thousands of vendors offering UC products and/or services. The same can be said for consultants and analysts that specialize in UC offerings and technologies. One could easily conclude that Unified Communications is a mature industry. Just one small complication - there is no clear agreement on the definition of Unified Communications. We pretend it is as clear as the Emperor's New Clothes, but no two people can really describe what he's wearing - if anything.
Posted by Dave Michels, on March 16, 2010
This week, Gartner published “Gartner Top End User Predictions for 2010: Coping with the New Balance of Power” (see the report on scribd) which highlights 9 major trends that will redefine and reshape IT (and communications), especially where related to the ultimate markets – the people of the world who are the End Users.
Posted by Marty Parker, on March 11, 2010
Many people have misconceptions about social software. It’s more than just chatting with friends or letting your “followers” know what you did over the weekend. Tools such as social bookmarking, content tagging, wikis, blogs, and microblogs let workers participate in communities where they can build expertise and share knowledge. Social networking and unified communications each have inherent value, but are even more powerful when we can blend social software nonsynchronous communication tools (such as wikis and blogs) with UC’s synchronous communications capabilities (such as click to connect). Integrating unified communications with social software lets workers better network with peers within the organization, identify and connect with experts within the company, collaborate on projects, and help workers feel connected.
Posted by Blair Pleasant, on March 10, 2010
Network Equipment Technologies – NET – is adding even more value to Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 (OCS). In addition to the enhancements now available with the NET VXe Series Voice Switches delivered last October, NET will formally announce its new SmartSIP module to support connection of a wide variety of SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) phones to Microsoft OCS. Availability of SmartSIP is expected almost immediately, in April 2010.
Posted by Marty Parker, on March 10, 2010
How can companies justify investments in unified communications in the current economic conditions? In this podcast, the UCStrategies.com expert team discusses how UC can be used to cut costs.
Posted by Jim Burton, on March 09, 2010
In 2007, Mitel filed suit against ShoreTel alleging patent infringement on the same day of ShoreTel's planned NASAQ IPO. ShoreTel responded by delaying its IPO and filing a counter-suit of patent infringement. Now, prior to Mitel's planned IPO, Mitel filed suit against ShoreTel for making "false or misleading statements about Mitel".
Posted by Dave Michels, on March 08, 2010
Applications for unified communications can take many forms and support many kinds of employees. The popular vision of UC is the executive or knowledge worker on a desktop workstation developing business plans, collaborating on strategies, or creating proposals. However, the impact of these new networking technologies can be much broader, reaching into virtually every corner of the organization.
Posted by Michael F. Finneran, on March 04, 2010
The concept of distracted driving comes up a lot when we think about mobility applications, particularly as applications multiply exponentially every year. At UCStrategies.com, and at the companies we follow within unified communications, we are constantly promoting the benefits of mobility solutions and mobile workers. Rarely do we mention the downside or dark side of UC, which has to be distracted driving, or even walking. For now, let’s focus on distracted driving.
Posted by Nancy Jamison, on March 02, 2010
In today’s economic climate, information has never been more critical to business – information about customers, employees, and about how processes are working or not working. In fact, the very success of an organization can often be tied to how much information it collects and, more importantly, how well it analyzes this information for key trends to drive its business forward.
Posted by Blair Pleasant, on March 02, 2010
In this podcast, the UCStrategies experts discuss how they use social networking in their jobs.
Posted by Jim Burton, on March 01, 2010
Unified Communications is a variety of tools and services intended to improve business processes. But as with all technology, sometimes the results are not what was intended. In Unified Communications there are various issues or "excuses" people use when things go wrong. Communication failures happen with and without technology.
Posted by Dave Michels, on March 01, 2010
Recently I examined the 2010 program of VoiceCon, the major industry conference, and found two sessions that had user representation. This doesn’t imply that the event lacks important material and guidance of value to the CIO, CTO, IT manager and other “users”. Not in the least, quite the contrary. However, the lack of users in lead roles got me thinking. Where are the users and potential users of UC and related advanced communications technologies in the mix?
Posted by Jay Brandstadter, on February 26, 2010
Microsoft added new standards and compliance certifications for the BPOS and introduced a new, dedicated government cloud offering as part of BPOS.
Posted by Blair Pleasant, on February 25, 2010
Talbot Harty, Chief Development Officer and Chief Information Officer for NET, joins Jim Burton for a conversation about recent acquisitions, partnerships, and how NET is adding value to facilitate the migration to unified communications.
Posted by Jim Burton, on February 24, 2010
Bill Durr, Principal Global Solutions Consultant, Verint Systems, and Jim Burton of UCStrategies discuss adapting contact center workforce optimization tools and management concepts to other parts of the enterprise.
Posted by Jim Burton, on February 24, 2010
Back in May of 2008, I briefly examined UC in the federal government in this article: UC in Government-A Walk on the Mild Side. It was referred to as a “walk on the mild side” since attitudes by key federal officials on VoIP remained somewhat skeptical at that time, hence casting doubt on potential UC uptake in the near-term. Recently, I re-encountered Doug Martinez, Director of Government Markets, NEC Corporation America. Doug is an old colleague and he brought me up-to-date on what NEC is learning and doing about the total government (local, state, federal) IT and communications landscape.
Posted by Jay Brandstadter, on February 23, 2010