As more companies deploy technology to allow employees to take advantage of video communications, IT managers should think about implementing a total solution that will deliver the capabilities required by everyone in the enterprise, on a consistent, manageable platform. Just as companies wouldnt focus on telephone handsets before deploying the platform and networks to support them, they shouldnt focus on videoconferencing endpoints when it comes to implementing videoconferencing technology. Instead, they should deploy a total solution that lays down a foundational platform for management, control and performance. That, in turn, will support whatever features and endpoints they, and their end users, need. Continue Reading »

Obviously, I’m a big believer in Enterprise 2.0 technologies, especially the core communications applications: VoIP, IM, presence and conferencing. But it’s still amazes me that even basic conferencing apps often doen’t work as they’re supposed to right out of the gate.

Today I participated in yet another web conference that started 15 minutes late because of problems with the audio bridge. Shortly after we got that solved, the video feed stopped working (mine never worked to begin with, but eventually, everyone else’s dropped, too).

In the end, the meeting went off just fine, but if these next-generation technologies are really going to make inroads into the enterprise, they still need to work out the kinks.

As Irwin notes below, Nortel and Microsoft made a joint announcement today around their Innovative Commuications Aliance (ICA), announcing four new UC solutions. All four help companies deploy a complete UC solution, with telephony from Nortel and various data-related communications from Microsoft.

What struck me as most interesting about the news weren’t the product offerings, but the fact that the vendors have signed more than 600 customers on the platform. How many users are actually licensed within each of those organizations is an open question, but clearly, companies are seeing value in UC. That said, the customer Nortel chose to quote in its press release highlighted the cost-savings benefits, rather than increased productivity. Continue Reading »

Nortel and Microsoft just announced further integration of products and directions in support of their "Innovative Communications Alliance".  The announcement includes interoperability between OCS 2007 and Nortel’s enterprise and service provider platforms without the need for gateways, an enhanced conferencing capability for OCS 2007’s built-in conferencing, and integration of OCS 2007 mediation capabilities with Nortel Secure Router 4134.  Nortel and Microsoft also announced over 600 customer wins.

July marks two years since the announcement of ICA, Nortel and Microsoft continue to execute on a mutually beneficial relationship.

Siemens has announced its new unified communications software platform, OpenScape Unified Communications (UC) Server, available at the end of April. The suite includes OpenScape Voice Application (HiPath 8000 V3.1 R2, enterprise grade voice and IP least cost routing), OpenScape Video (integrated HD, desktop and client video conferencing) and OpenScape UC Application V3 (role-based UC).

The move is meant to highlight Siemens Enterprise Communications transition from hardware manufacturer to software provider, and the UC Server can operate in virtually any existing IT or telephony environment, from any vendor. Siemens has long supported 100% SIP applications, and OpenScape has traditionally been one of the most open UC platforms around. The move is good for customers of both Microsoft and Siemens; it would seem unnecessary for IBM/Siemens shops, since IBM is OEMing Siemens technology for its upcoming Unified Telephony solution. Continue Reading »

I recently learned about acool company that is bridging the communications gap between radio and telephone.The WAVE software application from Twisted Pair allows for the seamless interaction of communications technologies regardless of the type or device: radio to radio, radio to cell phone, etc. It’s currently used by the US Army, US Special Forces Command and a number of three-letter Federal agencies, and now the company is looking to expand into the enterprise market.

I can see where it would translate well into the commercial sector. Imagine, for example, its value to a shipping company where employees are as likely to be on a truck radio as a phone, or a utility where techs in the field use radios to communicate.Suddenly those people can speak to one another as well as managers and co-workers back in the office–and even participate in conference calls–regardless of who’s using a radio and who’s on a telephone.

What’s cool about it is that it can fit into a UC environment, so that, for instance, employees using OCS to detect presence can see the availability states of colleagues on radios, then place calls to them as though they were using a phone. As James Mustarde, the company’s Director of Corporate Marketing, put it, “Knowing where people are is great, but it doesnt get you far if you cant actually communicate with them.”

More and more companies are realizing that to stay competitive in today’s increasingly global marketplace, they must support a virtual workplace in which distributed employees can collaborate, quickly and easily, regardless of where they’re located. That’s certainly what unified communications are all about, as organizations want and need to deliver real-time communications to their employees. It’s also a big reason why vendors are pushing—and companies are buying—telepresence and high-definition video conferencing systems. Now, forward-thinking companies are looking for ways to integrate their UC applications into business processes, to speed transactions and enable quick and informed decision making. But many such organizations forget a critical component of those very same business processes: the human element.

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