| ding to research by Springboard Research, adoption | | | | the IP network (if used with an IP phone) and is a |
| of unified communications in Australia is in the early | | | | cheaper alternative to the PSTN. The collaboration |
| stages of development. However the same survey, | | | | and mobility capabilities your business will receive |
| conducted with 469 CIO's and business owners, also | | | | from UC will help to reduce costs while raising |
| states 33% of SMB's are planning on adopting some | | | | productivity and agility. In fact, a recent survey has |
| form of unified communications in 2009. Pundits agree | | | | suggested these key reasons are the most |
| the market is about to boom, but what is all the | | | | important factors cited by SMBs like yours are |
| hype about? | | | | adopting UC. |
| If done right, unified communications is a collaborative | | | | However, the fundamental reasons behind why UC |
| technology that gives users the ability to make the | | | | adoption rates among SMBs are lower remain in |
| connections they want no matter what device they | | | | place, namely the lack of IT expertise as well as |
| happen to be closest to. That's because moving all | | | | tighter budgets. Industry heavyweights such as Cisco |
| communications to the IP network transforms | | | | are doing a fantastic job of overcoming these |
| traditional multimedia end-points, such as PC's, | | | | barriers. Determined to make the communications |
| smartphones and IP telephones into fully functional | | | | revolution common practice among Australian |
| communication devices, allowing you to get what you | | | | SMB’s, Cisco has first acted by reducing the |
| need wherever you are. A good definition offered by | | | | costs of their UC500 systems, and secondly is |
| UniComm Consulting is "communications integrated to | | | | bringing selected channel partners up to speed with |
| optimize business processes". | | | | the technical and sales knowledge required to |
| UC has its roots, and its largest adoption rates, | | | | successfully implement UC solutions in the SMB space. |
| among the enterprise elite. But no longer is it a | | | | If you are interested in a new telephony solution but |
| privilege reserved for the enterprise. Small to | | | | aren't sure what the best approach is, your best bet |
| mid-sized businesses (SMB) are adopting UC in | | | | is to contact an expert to assess the potential ROI |
| droves. One factor fostering SMB UC adoption is | | | | of a new system. It's likely you'll be happily surprised |
| user's increasing comfort with tools such as instant | | | | at the result. But who should you approach? The |
| messaging, social networking and mobility applications, | | | | problem here is UC and IP telephony in particular has |
| said Simon Edwards, UC project director, British | | | | an identity crisis. Not quite a telephony solution that is |
| Telecom (BT). | | | | best left for telephony providers, and not a traditional |
| One of the key factors not yet mentioned is | | | | IT system that can be handled by a standard IT |
| perhaps the most important. Shifting from a | | | | services company, IP telephony solutions require a |
| traditional PABX system to a UC platform enables | | | | mix of both to produce results you’ll be |
| businesses to benefit from cost savings by using | | | | boasting to your friends about. |
| VoIP. VoIP enables SMBs to make phone calls over | | | | |