Comments for Unified Communications Strategies Blog http://blog.ucstrategies.com Unified Communications, or UC, is a relatively new technology solution category with a lot of different definitions. This research summary describes several categories of latent cost that are unnecessarily borne by businesses of every industry and size each year. Mon, 21 May 2012 06:32:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on What’s In A Name? “Integrated,” “Unified,” Or “SoMoClo?” by @MobileAberdeen http://blog.ucstrategies.com/index.php/2012/05/02/whats-in-a-name-integrated-unified-or-somoclo/#comment-90753 @MobileAberdeen Thu, 03 May 2012 21:19:58 +0000 http://blog.ucstrategies.com/?p=266#comment-90753 Art, Your line of reasoning regarding UC is well-considered and makes eminent sense. We can agree to disagree regarding the UC vs. IC nomencalture. We began using IC because of the baggage of the industry's unmet expectations regarding UC, and because today's converged IT infrastructure enables the integration of new forms of communication (e.g. social media) that extend the boundaries beyond UC's original intent. We disagree regarding the notion that SoMoClo is just a trendy renaming of Social Mobile and Cloud. Forget the name for a minute - what we're referring to is that social mobile and cloud are now ONE thing, not three things - with cloud as the core, mobile as the edge, and social as the connection from edge to edge through the cloud. This construct, whatever you choose to call it, is both new and familiar; new, because it can transform the way that the organization looks at its internal infrastructure, its business model, and its relationship to its markets and partners; familiar, in that we already live in this converged construct as consumers. It's already become as familiar (and transparent) as the air we breathe in the consumer space, and is just now impacting the enterprise, with the need to make it secure, compliant, and risk-managed. For more information, read my blog and research at www.aberdeen.com, or just visit www.somoclo.com. Art,
Your line of reasoning regarding UC is well-considered and makes eminent sense.
We can agree to disagree regarding the UC vs. IC nomencalture. We began using IC because of the baggage of the industry’s unmet expectations regarding UC, and because today’s converged IT infrastructure enables the integration of new forms of communication (e.g. social media) that extend the boundaries beyond UC’s original intent.
We disagree regarding the notion that SoMoClo is just a trendy renaming of Social Mobile and Cloud. Forget the name for a minute - what we’re referring to is that social mobile and cloud are now ONE thing, not three things - with cloud as the core, mobile as the edge, and social as the connection from edge to edge through the cloud.
This construct, whatever you choose to call it, is both new and familiar; new, because it can transform the way that the organization looks at its internal infrastructure, its business model, and its relationship to its markets and partners; familiar, in that we already live in this converged construct as consumers. It’s already become as familiar (and transparent) as the air we breathe in the consumer space, and is just now impacting the enterprise, with the need to make it secure, compliant, and risk-managed.
For more information, read my blog and research at http://www.aberdeen.com, or just visit http://www.somoclo.com.

]]> Comment on Do Smart Phone Users Need “Smart Communications” or “Smart Applications?” by Art Rosenberg http://blog.ucstrategies.com/index.php/2012/02/28/do-smart-phone-users-need-smart-communications-or-smart-applications/#comment-77043 Art Rosenberg Wed, 29 Feb 2012 07:55:05 +0000 http://blog.ucstrategies.com/?p=258#comment-77043 IBM is upstaging other cloud based service providers with it's own "Smart Cloud" platform for integrating applications as a hosted service. They are particularly emphasizing Social Business usage as well. It looks like "smart" now means "open integrations" of applications with everything over the Internet, which also means it is the ideal environment for "best-of-breed" application software to inter-operate. IBM is upstaging other cloud based service providers with it’s own “Smart Cloud” platform for integrating applications as a hosted service. They are particularly emphasizing Social Business usage as well. It looks like “smart” now means “open integrations” of applications with everything over the Internet, which also means it is the ideal environment for “best-of-breed” application software to inter-operate.

]]> Comment on What’s In A Name? “UC,” “Lync,” and Now “Social Business” by Art Rosenberg http://blog.ucstrategies.com/index.php/2012/01/20/whats-in-a-name-uc-lync-and-now-social-business/#comment-70927 Art Rosenberg Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:34:52 +0000 http://blog.ucstrategies.com/?p=255#comment-70927 A colleague just published an interview that goes into my views on where "UC" came from and where it is really going from several perspectives. Check it out at: http://www.telecomreseller.com/2012/01/24/unified-communications-then-and-now/ A colleague just published an interview that goes into my views on where “UC” came from and where it is really going from several perspectives.

Check it out at:
http://www.telecomreseller.com/2012/01/24/unified-communications-then-and-now/

]]> Comment on Thanksgiving Week Evokes Thoughts of Hospitality in Unified Communications by Art Rosenberg http://blog.ucstrategies.com/index.php/2011/11/26/thanksgiving-week-evokes-thoughts-of-hospitality-in-unified-communications/#comment-62554 Art Rosenberg Sun, 11 Dec 2011 20:18:50 +0000 http://blog.ucstrategies.com/?p=250#comment-62554 Indeed intresting update on what the hospitality vertical market is starting to do for guest communications. However, I see "BYOD" for mobile smartphones requiring support from the hospitality applications as well. Guests won't be doing things only in their rooms nor only when on the premises. What business organizations are going through for their employees and customers will also apply to hotels and their guests. There is still much to be done differently with Mobile UC. Indeed intresting update on what the hospitality vertical market is starting to do for guest communications. However, I see “BYOD” for mobile smartphones requiring support from the hospitality applications as well. Guests won’t be doing things only in their rooms nor only when on the premises.

What business organizations are going through for their employees and customers will also apply to hotels and their guests. There is still much to be done differently with Mobile UC.

]]> Comment on Thanksgiving Week Evokes Thoughts of Hospitality in Unified Communications by Dave Michels http://blog.ucstrategies.com/index.php/2011/11/26/thanksgiving-week-evokes-thoughts-of-hospitality-in-unified-communications/#comment-59199 Dave Michels Sat, 26 Nov 2011 19:11:06 +0000 http://blog.ucstrategies.com/?p=250#comment-59199 Interesting Post Nancy - but I don't typically associate Cisco with hotels and I am not sure I understand if this is a new vertical Cisco is going after. You didn't mention the phones in the rooms. Most hotels are still using analog phones. You mentioned the JW Marriott Indianapolis went all IP (Mitel), but that's the exception. Mitel and NEC hold the majority of the market share in hospitality largely due to broad support for hotel property management systems. I think IP phones make a lot of sense in the rooms as they can double as personal signage as you described. But the hotels seem reluctant to pay for IP phones. It doesn't seem like focusing on video and wireless is a strong strategy for hospitality. Would love to learn more about what you saw as a vertical strategy. Interesting Post Nancy - but I don’t typically associate Cisco with hotels and I am not sure I understand if this is a new vertical Cisco is going after.

You didn’t mention the phones in the rooms. Most hotels are still using analog phones. You mentioned the JW Marriott Indianapolis went all IP (Mitel), but that’s the exception. Mitel and NEC hold the majority of the market share in hospitality largely due to broad support for hotel property management systems.

I think IP phones make a lot of sense in the rooms as they can double as personal signage as you described. But the hotels seem reluctant to pay for IP phones.

It doesn’t seem like focusing on video and wireless is a strong strategy for hospitality. Would love to learn more about what you saw as a vertical strategy.

]]> Comment on Clouds and Sun in Miami – Cisco Collaboration Summit 2011 by Art Rosenberg http://blog.ucstrategies.com/index.php/2011/11/22/clouds-and-sun-in-miami-%e2%80%93-cisco-collaboration-summit-2011/#comment-58655 Art Rosenberg Wed, 23 Nov 2011 08:17:30 +0000 http://blog.ucstrategies.com/?p=248#comment-58655 I guess Cisco still doesn't want to admit to the fact that business communications are "multi-modal!" Maybe because IBM, Microsoft, Avaya, and others are already using that term. I guess Cisco still doesn’t want to admit to the fact that business communications are “multi-modal!” Maybe because IBM, Microsoft, Avaya, and others are already using that term.

]]> Comment on UC Interoperability Responsibilities by UC Interoperability – Technology “Separation of Church, State, and End Users” | Unified Communications News http://blog.ucstrategies.com/index.php/2011/11/20/uc-interoperability-responsibilities/#comment-58490 UC Interoperability – Technology “Separation of Church, State, and End Users” | Unified Communications News Tue, 22 Nov 2011 09:07:22 +0000 http://blog.ucstrategies.com/?p=247#comment-58490 [...] various ways and “interoperability,” a loose term being used to describe a major challenge in supporting UC’s operational growth. For many providers of UC applications and services, interoperability simply means getting old and [...] [...] various ways and “interoperability,” a loose term being used to describe a major challenge in supporting UC’s operational growth. For many providers of UC applications and services, interoperability simply means getting old and [...]

]]> Comment on UC Cutting Corners in the Contact Center by Art Rosenberg http://blog.ucstrategies.com/index.php/2011/10/17/uc-cutting-corners-in-the-contact-center/#comment-56080 Art Rosenberg Sat, 05 Nov 2011 18:58:41 +0000 http://blog.ucstrategies.com/?p=241#comment-56080 Here is an interesting commentary on the above piece I wrote about my wife's experience with traditional call center access. http://ivr.tmcnet.com/topics/ivr/articles/234308-unified-communications-call-centers-they-obsolete.htm Here is an interesting commentary on the above piece I wrote about my wife’s experience with traditional call center access.

http://ivr.tmcnet.com/topics/ivr/articles/234308-unified-communications-call-centers-they-obsolete.htm

]]> Comment on Mobile UC - Smartphones, Tablets, or Both? by Art Rosenberg http://blog.ucstrategies.com/index.php/2011/10/22/mobile-uc-smartphonestablets-or-both/#comment-55148 Art Rosenberg Thu, 27 Oct 2011 07:37:52 +0000 http://blog.ucstrategies.com/?p=243#comment-55148 A recent study by Infonetics Research of the need for shared data plans to mobile subscribers confirms that end users will carry two devices if necessary, to exploit all aspects of broadband access . The handheld smartphone for convenient communication contacts, and a tablet for better entertainment and information viewing http://www.infonetics.com/whitepapers/2011-Infonetics-Research-Whitepaper-The-New-Requirements-of-Shared-Data-Plans.pdf. A recent study by Infonetics Research of the need for shared data plans to mobile subscribers confirms that end users will carry two devices if necessary, to exploit all aspects of broadband access . The handheld smartphone for convenient communication contacts, and a tablet for better entertainment and information viewing

http://www.infonetics.com/whitepapers/2011-Infonetics-Research-Whitepaper-The-New-Requirements-of-Shared-Data-Plans.pdf.

]]> Comment on IIT Real Time Communications Conference - The UC Track by realtime communication system http://blog.ucstrategies.com/index.php/2011/10/12/iit-real-time-communications-conference-the-uc-track/#comment-54325 realtime communication system Fri, 21 Oct 2011 10:37:48 +0000 http://blog.ucstrategies.com/?p=240#comment-54325 It was interesting that while this was the unified communications track, UC was seen as a starting point for some of the new real time communications capabilities, notably collaboration and social media. I was glad to see much of the emphasis, in both the UC track and general sessions, on the user experience. It was interesting that while this was the unified communications track, UC was seen as a starting point for some of the new real time communications capabilities, notably collaboration and social media. I was glad to see much of the emphasis, in both the UC track and general sessions, on the user experience.

]]>