I recently had the opportunity to spend a few days with a Nokia E71 equipped with the latest release of DiVitas Networks' client software. DiVitas is best known for its approach to mobile-to-mobile convergence, allowing both voice and data connections to be handed off between Wi-Fi and cellular networks. But DiVitas has repositioned itself as a mobile unified communications (MUC) supplier, and, while many of us took such functionality for granted when convergence was implemented, the result in this case is an easy-to-use tool that allows a user to bring the office's communications facilities with them wherever they may roam.
The DiVitas client is very easy to use. I'm not a big fan of reading manuals; products must, IMHO, describe their operation to the user. The DiVitas client is so simple and intuitive that no reading or training is required; my only complaint is that the glyphs used to activate particular functions need mouseover labels, and I understand that's in the works. Regardless, DiVitas' approach to MUC (an unfortunate acronym, that) provides access to voice over both cellular and Wi-Fi (which is, BTW, very easy to configure on the E71), single-number reach, abbreviated dialing, IM, Presence (indicating one's status and what types of messages one is willing to receive at any given moment), and of course e-mail. It's an excellent solution that enables one to be in the office even when out of the office, extending enterprise UC to everyone. DiVitas also supports dual persona, which allows two virtual phone numbers on a single device, and thus eliminates the need to carry multiple handsets.
My only wish (apart from a few more features, but what product today is so complete that such is not the case?) is for DiVitas' capabilities to be available as a service so smaller businesses like mine can use it. DiVitas sells client and server software, but small businesses probably won't want to set up a server for just a few handsets. Maybe there's a service bureau out there interested in providing hosted services - such has been done, for example with Exchange already.
It's safe to conclude that convergence and unified communications must be a part of any future mobility solution. I was very impressed with DiVitas' solution, and it's certainly worth your consideration if MUC is in your plans.
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Mathias is a principal at Farpoint Group, a wireless advisory firm in Ashland, Mass.
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MUC as a service
Maybe for MUC as a service, products less enterprise focused would be a more logical choice. Cicero Networks for example. The DV system is good but still lacks robust accounting and features required by carriers.
Small Business...
You raise a good point, but I'm assuming the carriers will ignore the small-business MUC opportunity the same way they ignore small businesses in general. Still, I see this opportunity as huge, so the carriers just might want to get into this game... Assuming they did, I'm sure DiVitas and their competitors would add whatever features the carriers require.
Thanks for the note.
Craig.
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