What is Unified Communications?

The term "Unified Communications" has recently become a common phrase and buzz-word in the world of communications, but most people still haven't managed to fully understand the term, whether and why they should be interested and who is really offering a solution that works.

In short, Unified Communications is the integration of multiple real-time communication channels into one manageable tool or solution, allowing an organisation to utilise their traditional methods of communication whilst developing their business with emerging technologies.

What Technologies are Involved?

There are a number of key technologies involved with Unified Communications.

Don't Be Fooled!

No single vendor's product can adequately address all of an organisations unified communication needs, although many organisations claim to have the full unified communications strategy and to be the key vendor for your communication technologies.

Strong partnerships with experts in their own fields is the key to a successful unified comms strategy. VideoCentric invite you to discuss their partnerships developed throughout the last 20 years with our dedicated Unified Communications Executive, sporting over 30 years experience in the industry of telecommunications, video, networking infrastructure, telepresence and voice applications.

So What's the Goal?

The goal of a "Unified Communication" strategy is to reduce the complexity of having multiple devices and multiple interfaces, and removing the barrier of location from communication. Currently your work number is tied to your desk, your mobile number to your pocket and you may have seperate identities for email, instant messaging, video calls and fax. Unified Communications aims to integrate all into a single environment with one identity for you. Unified Comms solutions will have the intelligence to know who is allowed to interupt you if you are busy, send your phone messages in text form, reroute your emails and calls when you are out of the office, allow you to listen to your emails and enable interoperability between all communication manufacturers devices.

Unified Communications also enables employees to be fully productive and improve customer service, integrate better with home and distant workers to improve employee retention, and avoid unnecessary costs associated with interoperability issues.

Images: Salvatore Vuono , jscreationzs, Ambro, Photostock

The following diagram shows the various vendors that are developing unified communication technologies and offerings. Vendors are included if they meet the criteria as follows: On-premises products with significant market presence in multiple areas of communication, significant market share or differentiating innovation, sufficient sales, revenue and operational presence, demonstratable enterprise premises with unified communication portfolios and products, the ability to enable a complete portfolio and the ability to generate significant interest by leading client market segments. (Source - Gartner, 2010)

Leading Vendors

The leading quadrant of the diagram contains three major vendors - Microsoft, Cisco and Avaya - who's unified communication offerings, strategies and strengths are described below.

Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (MSFT) is the world's leader in software, services and solutions and is a well-known and trusted brand to the public. Microsoft's Unified Communication solutions are based on the Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft Lync Server (formerly Microsoft Office Communications Server, OCS) and Microsoft Lync (formerly Microsoft Office Communicator).

Microsoft has a strategic partnership in place with HP, bringing together the strengths of two industry leaders into one Unified Communication solution. Microsoft also has partnerships in place with many IP phones, gateways, audio and video conferencing vendors and integrators such as Polycom and Radvision.

Cisco

Cisco Systems was founded in 1984 and since has become the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. In 2010, Cisco aquired video conferencing leader Tandberg and is increasingly able to provide a complete UC solution. This portfolio includes the Cisco Unified Communications Manager, Unity Connection and Unified Presence alongside many other devices and products that can offer a high quality, highly secure unified communications experience.

Avaya

More than 1 million business worldwide use Avaya solutions for IP telephony, Unified Communications, Contact Centres and Communication enabled business processes. Enterprises of all sizes depend on Avaya for state-of-the-art communications that improve efficiency, collaboration, customer service and competitiveness.

In 2009, Avaya aquired Nortel's Enterprise Solutions business, allowing them to add software solutions to the Avaya Aura platform.

Developing Your Communication Strategy

The change over to Unified Communications is a migration that requires careful planning and an effective strategy. This must consider the current business needs, challenges and improvements that need to be made to move forward, and the overall impact on the company including the cost and time.

VideoCentric have developed Unified Communication solutions and strong partnerships with each of the key Unified Communication vendors, but have also created a planning tool to help businesses and organisations specify their requirements and make the right choices. There are a number of steps which must be followed to successfully migrate to a Unified Communication solution, including:

• Recognising current and future business and technical objectives
• Evaluating and fully understanding the current communication environment
• Developing various solutions including viable alternative solutions
• Create a migration strategy or road map based on the most suitable solution
• Build a business case, including economic analysis
• Implement strategy and develop plans for further improvement