The VoiceCon Wednesday Keynotes from Cisco and Microsoft both added energy and direction to Unified Communications (UC) industry momentum.

Charlie Giancarlo emphasized the ability of the network to deliver integrated content with data and voice and video and mobility. He demonstrated Cisco’s new presence-enabled mobile client for Nokia and Blackberry devices and also announced plans to develop a new Unified Communication and Collaboration (UC2) client jointly with IBM.

Jeff Raikes emphasized the power of software in accelerating innovation in communications. He announced Microsoft’s publication of the Interoperability Specification for Office Communication Server (OCS) 2007 to enable improved linkage between OCS and other communication systems and between OCS and business process applications. He also threw down a challenge to the industry by forecasting a 50% reduction in cost of office communication systems by 2010.

Both keynotes emphasized that ROI from UC occurs when the communications is integrated into a company’s business processes. Examples were given where UC eliminated the trivial tasks (directory lookup, click to call, or drag-and-drop to form a conference), where UC saved time by cutting out communication steps (automated team conferencing, avoiding voice mail or messaging with presence/IM, or click to call from a document without changing applications), and where UC made the business process better (video collaboration, and information sharing).

But it seemed like customers were also being presented with an “either/or” choice between a PBX-type IP Telephony system, represented by Cisco, or a software-type IP Telephony system, represented by Microsoft. But a half dozen customers I talked to right after the keynotes said they would be taking both paths. The common thread was that they had no need or justification for aggressively swapping out what they already owned. Instead, they would adopt the new UC technologies for the locations, jobs and business processes where it was justified.

For example: A university indicated that the professors were gaining value from laptops using Microsoft Office Communicator for seamless work in their office and from home, but students were served sufficiently by the existing TDM infrastructure. A fast-growing school district is installing new Cisco IP phones in their new schools, but retaining the current satisfactory PBXs for their existing schools. In both cases, the new solutions are interoperating with the existing systems through telephony standard interfaces and gateways.

While the suppliers would love to see wholesale replacements of the installed base of communication systems, the customers will take a practical, gradual and interoperable approach to solving their problems.

The Florida weather outside is a sunny but cool winter day, but the UC weather inside VoiceCon Spring 2007 is definitely HOT!

Marty Parker
Communication Perspectives and UCStrategies.com

Posted in Market Trends, Management, Implementation, Architecture, Marty Parker, Unified Communications |

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