22 Oct 2008

Firms 'sophisticated' about unified communications

A greater understanding of unified communications technology is fast emerging among IT businesses, it has been suggested.

Nora Freedman, senior analyst at Enterprise Networks, said firms are demanding better results from unified communications providers because of the opportunities the technology allows for cost-saving and efficiency.

The fifth annual enterprise VoIP survey recently asked US businesses about their definition of unified communications solutions, looking ahead to the future.

It came after a study by the Radicati Group found that the number of firms adopting hosted email technology will increase by about 40 per cent over the next four years.

Some 79 per cent of firms agreed that such a solution would entail a desktop or mobile device capable of combining technologies such as advanced IP telephony management, video conferencing, instant messaging and a common inbox for email, fax and voicemail features.

Ms Freedman said: "End users have become more sophisticated about their understanding of unified communications, as well as having higher expectations about what solutions providers should be able to offer."