3 more installations to follow
Webtorials has released the first installation of a sourcebook on cloud/hosted communications service. This latest reader resource is complementary to the state-of-the-market “2011 Unified Communications and Cloud-Based Services Report” that we discussed in one of our February newsletters.
In the first installation of this four-part series, our colleague Gary Audin discusses why organizations should consider cloud-based options for IP telephony (IP PBX), unified messaging (UM), call center and unified communications (UC) services. This first installment also includes a directory of the nearly 50 service providers that provided details about their service offerings in a Webtorials survey.
STUDY: Bias, rivalries can threaten UC deployments
Audin notes in his analysis that among the advantages, these hosted services can: support backup and recovery for remote offices and deliver business continuity at a lower cost, significantly reduce acquisition and support costs and improve service levels. Audin also examines the implications to staffing, software, management, features and functions.
Financial arrangements for access can be by the seat, the feature, usage or unlimited usage and flat fee, although pricing models are still evolving. The promise of lower cost to the enterprise is the major attraction when considering cloud/hosted communications services.
Subsequent installations of this sourcebook will contain:
• information and tables discussing the survey methodology, provider descriptions and market descriptions;
• information and tables discussing service offerings, network access technologies and IP and legacy device support;
• information and tables discussing provider geographic coverage, maintenance and on-site support and market/provider analysis.
Webtorials plans to make a greatly expanded version, “The Ultimate Guide to Hosted and Cloud-Based VoIP and UC Services,” available in the near future.
Our thanks to Fonality and Massergy for sponsoring the first installation of this report, found here.
