If my understanding is correct, the UC is the new marketing shit of the communication, it does provides all the function which use to be supplied by a bunch of systems.

The UC it's self is more a marketing concept than any real innovation.

Since all the major vendor are trying to push the UC, then It will be accepted by the enterprise users that they need to upgrade they present system even if the legacy system still works very well.

Telco carrier are another push of the UC system, as UC provide more management capability for they to provide the managed/hosted communication service to the SMB.

Large enterprise will continue to manage they system, but the SMB is more likely to outsource every tough job/expensive job to the carrier.

the uc market player:
CISCO

AVAYA

MICROSOFT

NORTEL

Cisco will not partner with anybody in the market as they are trying to turn themself to a service and mobile solution provider.

Microsoft/Avaya/Nortel is more likely to partner with each other or even 3com

Cisco will becoming very strong in the software division which microsoft may take the advantage for grant.

microsoft finally realize that the ambition of cisco will destory it's position in the enterprise communication market, it need a new partner, probably nortel or 3com is a much better choice.

Avaya/policom/MITEL will have uncertain future if they dont change they strategy.