Bringing the enterprise mobility dream closer to reality
05/07/08
For several years, we have predicted that this will (finally) be the year enterprise mobility services move beyond simple mobile e-mail. Although we are painfully aware of the slow progress thus far, WebMessenger Tuesday announced a product that may help the enterprise mobility dream move a little closer to reality. WebMessenger announced the commercial availability of WebMessenger Mobile for Microsoft Office Communications Server (OCS). The first-to-market solution extends the Microsoft unified communications platform to BlackBerry and other enterprise mobile devices including those that support Windows Mobile and Symbian. WebMessenger Mobile for Microsoft OCS will be on-display May 13 - 15 at the Wireless Enterprise Symposium in Orlando.

Unifying teams with unified communications
05/05/08
We had a chance recently to talk with Brian Bourne, President of CMS Consulting, about his experiences as a Unified Communications user. CMS Consulting is a boutique firm with about 30 senior consultants, and is a Microsoft Six-Times-Gold Certified Partner focused on a limited number of Microsoft's core server products. Bourne points out one of the biggest challenges they have as an IT consultancy is "if our people are in the office, then they are costing us money and not making money. But then how do you tie the 30 people together into a team?" He adds, "leveraging unified communications helps address issues of a team that is always spread out in the field."

UC challenges: The large enterprise vs. the SME
04/30/08
Today we hear from Rob Arnold, Senior Analyst, Enterprise Communications and Dustin Kehoe Principal Analyst, Telecom Services Central Europe who recently co-authored a Current Analysis advisory report on how the unified communications views, dilemmas, and challenges differ between the large enterprise and the small-medium enterprise (SME) based on surveys and analysis of the European market. The report discusses the different levels of awareness, how buying decisions are made, deployment types, vendor selection, and makes some recommendations to unified communications users and potential users.

Security and management considerations when deploying OCS
04/28/08
We've suggested before that session border controllers (SBC) are necessary within an enterprise network to ensure QoS and security for VoIP and unified communications, and Acme Packet has suggested in a recently published white paper that the need for SBCs is especially acute for Microsoft Office Communications Server (OCS) users. Acme Packet also contends that SBCs are complementary to OCS deployments, and they can improve scalability and reduce total cost of ownership.

A 'swiss army knife' approach to managed services for SMBs
04/23/08
U4EA Technologies last week announced that its Fusion 200 has been certified by Siemens Enterprise Communications for interoperability with its HiPath 8000 V3.1 IP-based SIP softswitch and subsequent use by Telefonica. While the idea of an integrated access device isn't new (we recall IADs had worked with frame relay and ATM many years back), what is interesting to us is the trend for service providers to increasingly focus on providing a managed service using an integrated platform with built-in multimedia gateways that are targeted to the SMB.

Blending unified communications with contact centers
04/21/08
Siemens today announced two new unified communications enabled contact center packages based on its OpenScape Unified Communications Server, and a new voice portal solution. These products target the needs of midsized and large companies that require a distributed contact center.

The merits of femtocell technology for FMC
04/16/08
We recently had a chance to talk with Alan Lefkof, Corporate VP and General Manager for Motorola's Broadband Solutions Group about trends in fixed-mobile convergence and the relative merits of femtocell technology for FMC. Lefkof brings a unique perspective because Motorola has long been supplying a broad portfolio of wireless and wireline broadband network products for carriers, in-home and enterprise networks.

Mobile Next Generation Network solutions
04/14/08
Continuing our highlights from CTIA (held earlier this month), today we'll review convergence-related announcements from Alcatel-Lucent on an extended relationship with Genband for mobile Next Generation Network (NGN) solutions, from NextPoint on Session Border Controller (SBC) capabilities with an IP Mobility Suite, and from Yahoo about enhancements to its mobile search capabilities.

CTIA hooks onto unified communications
04/09/08
CTIA, the international association for the wireless telecommunications industry, held its annual conference in Las Vegas last week and we're happy to report that convergence is now a key focus for the show. Today, we'll highlight announcements made at the conference with news from Verizon on its Enhanced Mobility for a Software-Based PBX, and from Microsoft with its Windows Mobile 6.1 software.

Unified communications from resellers is more than just buying voice and e-mail services
04/07/08
We recently had a chance to talk about the support systems integrators, consultants and value-added resellers provide unified communications deployments, with Steve McDonald, enterprise architect and co-director for the unified communications practice at Optimus Solutions. Optimus provides systems designed to streamline business processes and improve communication in the workplace. The company's 170 employees offer a range of integration and consulting services, as well as hardware, software and storage product offerings.

5 trends for unified communications
04/02/08
Now we've had time to digest the announcements made at VoiceCon 2008, there are five sets of trends that we've observed. These include perspectives on pure-play VoIP, the move from horizontal to vertical to role-based solutions, unified communications and contact center convergence, and the yet-to-emerge importance of mobile VoIP and mobile unified communications.

Unified communications' next stop is the contact center
03/31/08
At VoiceCon 2008 earlier this month, the buzz around unified communications in the contact center was abundant: it seems that almost every unified communications supplier has moved beyond unified communications as a horizontal enterprise application with an eye on the contact center market. One example is Microsoft's partnership with Aspect Software to bring Microsoft’s unified communications and voice platform to contact centers.

Up close and personal with telepresence
03/26/08
One of the most visible interest areas at last week's VoiceCon 2008 conference was the advances in and business uses of telepresence and IP-based video conferencing. While the actual definition of telepresence was as varied as the number of demonstrations, we will loosely define telepresence as interpersonal interactions that give participants the sense they are in the same location; telepresence relies on bi-directional high-quality audio and video systems to create the illusion of proximity.

IBM's top 5 predictions for unified communications: Desktop computers and phones will disappear
03/24/08
VoiceCon 2008 wrapped up in Orlando last week and the conference was jam-packed with news, announcements, and observable trends so we will spend the next several editions reviewing a few highlights. Today, we'll focus on a keynote and related announcements from IBM. In his keynote address, Mike Rhodin, Lotus Software general manager gave five predictions about global unified communications and in a follow-up interview, Larry got the chance to find out how IBM will invest up to $1 billion to help meet the changing business communications requirements.

Getting ready for VoiceCon 2008
03/19/08
With VoiceCon in Orlando opening this week it's been a busy few days for the unified communications sector. Today, we'll highlight a number of the announcements made prior to the show, from companies including Aspect Software, Clarus Systems, CyberData and XO Communications, and next week, we'll update readers with some more in-depth news on some of the additional announcements made at the conference.

NEC releases role-based unified communications platform
03/17/08
NEC Unified Solutions (NEC) unveiled a portfolio of IP-based equipment and software last week that is based on its Univerge360 strategy the company announced last month. The Univerge360 approaches communications from a people perspective, based not only on the nature of their organization's business but on the individual roles people have within the organization.

Useful book for VoIP practitioners
03/12/08
On occasion we point our readers to a topical white paper or other reader resource they may find valuable to better understand VoIP and convergence. Today, we'd like to point readers to a 226-page book on VoIP and IP telephony available via download at no charge. Authored by industry expert Jim Cavanagh (who has guest-authored several newsletters for us over the years), this comprehensive eight-chapter e-book goes beyond the theoretical to provide guidance gained from some of the world's largest enterprise deployments - transforming valuable knowledge into a form you can put straight to work.

Apple adds enterprise apps to iPhone; Cisco releases high-end router; Vertical delivers converged VoIP telephony
03/10/08
Last week was a busy one for new product announcements. Today, we'll recap the announcement highlights from Apple, which is enabling enterprise applications on its iPhone; Cisco's launch of its ASR 1000 router; and Vertical Systems, which launched its converged VoIP telephony system is designed for single- and multi-location small businesses.

Siemens Enterprise Communications cuts jobs as it focuses on software
03/05/08
Siemens Enterprise Communications announced plans to cut 3,800 jobs worldwide as the company shifts its focus from hardware to software and professional services, a transition we covered a few weeks ago.

AT&T targets SMB convergence with Business in a Box
03/03/08
AT&T last week announced a converged voice and data service called "Business in a Box" that, as a managed service, provides either hosted or premise-based options. The service targets small and midsize businesses with between five and 50 employees, and customers can choose from AT&T's enterprise-grade Voice DNA (a hosted VoIP offer) or IP Flexible Reach (a SIP trunking service with integrated access for PBX and key systems) for their voice service. IP VPN services are provided through AT&T Managed Internet Service (MIS) Plus. The associated network services are connected with a T-1 WAN link and include options for a wide range of managed capabilities, such as managed security and call quality monitoring. An analog phone connection is included for emergency back-up.

Session border controls necessary to extend VoIP to connect to other networks
02/27/08
Following our recent newsletter on the need for session border controllers (SBC) capability with VoIP and unified communications applications, we heard back from Matt Edic, director, Enterprise Sales and Product Management at NextPoint Networks. NextPoint is the result of a merger between NexTone Communications, a software-centric SBC and session management provider, and Reef Point Systems, a mobile access universal convergence gateway provider. Edic concurred with our opinion that where an SBC resides is not an issue but that an SBC is necessary for VoIP and unified communications solutions that extend to other locations and connect to other networks.

T-Mobile offers landline VoIP
02/25/08
Last week, T-Mobile added to its HotSpot @Home portfolio a VoIP-based wireline service called Talk Forever Home Phone, released in Seattle and Dallas. The service lets customers make unlimited calls from their home phone. T-Mobile's HotSpot @Home portfolio was launched nationwide in June 2007, when the company rolled out a Wi-Fi-based add-on service for its mobile subscribers (priced at $10 a month). The latest service also marks T-Mobile's entry into the landline market with a VoIP service targeting T-Mobile cellular customers who have a broadband connection and who still want to use a landline voice service at home. The HotSpot @Home service provides unlimited mobile calling from any T-Mobile Hotspot and open Wi-Fi networks - including home and office-based Wi-Fi routers connected to the Internet.

Microsoft, Cbeyond offer e-mail via the desktop or mobile device; Sonus improves access to next-generation multimedia services
02/20/08
Picking up where we left off last time with fixed-mobile convergence-related announcements made at last week's Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona, today we hear from Microsoft and Cbeyond, Sonus Networks, and Tellabs.

Fixed-mobile convergence featured prominently at Mobile World Congress
02/18/08
At the GSMA's Mobile World Congress held last week in Barcelona, more than 55,000 visitors met to do business and debate the future of the mobile phone industry - and convergence featured prominently in the 300-plus show-related announcements and company press releases. Today, we'd like to highlight items from NeuStar, NetIndex, Movial and others that caught our attention.

Why session border controllers are necessary for VoIP and unified communications
02/13/08
When it comes to ensuring quality of service and security for enterprise VoIP, session border controllers are becoming increasingly important. As this Network World test of SBCs explains, a session border controller is a traffic cop that facilitates and mediates VoIP flows in real time, in both directions between private VoIP domains, an enterprise and a VoIP-based service provider, or two service providers. Covergence recently announced "the industry's first SBC delivered as a virtual appliance," according to Rod Hodgman, vice president of marketing at the company.

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