Microsoft seems late to a number of parties going on these days, and unified communications is one of them. And IBM is trying to take advantage of that and gain ground on the Redmond folks. While Microsoft is making announcements of upgraded VoIP, messaging and conferencing in Microsoft Communications Server, IBM is improving its WebShere products to help providers quickly build communications product offerings and get to market quicker. IBM has a pretty good head start in this game.
Is VoIP to be another application that IT takes on or will they rely on VoIP providers to bring them unique and interesting applications. I would imagine it will be some of both but building more complex offerings will likely be left to the service providers in most cases. Again, this is where IBM has a lead and there’s catching up to do for Microsoft.
Converged communications will be most interesting to me when we branch out from the traditional voice applications, and start tapping into geolocation information, social networks, online personas and personal communications. Rather than a phone number, name and a face, what if you were able to see the caller’s Facebook page or LinkedIn page, a link to their contact information (maintained by them, not in your addresss book), and a podcast or blogs they are involved in. That would be interesting.
