Also: Siemens unveils enhancements to OpenScape UC Suite
Siemens Enterprise Communications recently shared some results of a new study on VoIP and unified communications (UC) deployments among enterprises, and followed the study results with some new upgrades to the company’s UC portfolio. Key findings of the survey touched on savings realized in UC deployments, the effect of mobility, and a key roadblock, while the latest release of the company’s UC portfolio can help it scale to 500,000 users in a single deployment.
The survey was conducted in January 2012, with about 1,000 respondents from the Americas, Europe-Middle East, and Asia-Pacific regions all supplying responses. The survey’s first key learning confirmed that IP-based communications saves money — up to 43% annually. However, most companies leverage a mixed IP/PBX environment, with 91% reporting running an IP communications infrastructure alongside the legacy PBX.
MORE: Siemens improves scalability as communication moves to the cloud
As we have noted in some of our previous newsletters, this survey found that the mobile and distributed workforce is fueling cloud-based UC adoption, especially since the survey respondents typically showed 80% of endpoints outside the headquarters location. As a result, some 45% of respondents plan cloud-based UC adoption in 2012.
The fact that UC is a priority is not surprise, with 90% of companies involved with a UC deployment, but one of the biggest roadblocks was that skills gaps are causing problems: 78% report staff-related challenges.
Our thanks to Siemens Enterprise Communications for sharing their latest survey results.
In a separate announcement, Siemens Enterprise Communications also unveiled enhancements to the company’s OpenScape UC Suite, with availability planned for June 2012. The top three system upgrades include:
• UC scalability improvements, with support for up to 500,000 users per system. The scalability enhancements include feature support for unified presence, messaging, contact and directory integration.
• Advanced mobile UC functionality to user’s device of choice, with open support for all major mobile device operating systems, including UC capabilities for iOS and Android with integrated voice, a fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) handover and a “gesture-driven” touch interface.
• Extending support for interoperability using XMPP federation with other UC, messaging, social media and collaborative solutions including Google cloud-based apps; these are built in and no extra charge.
