With the introduction of technologies like voice over IP (VoIP), IT professionals began to look beyond the POTS (plain old telephone system) as the final word on communications. The popularity of VoIP is a driving factor in the evolution of enterprise communications. According to the VoIP Report[i], VoIP users are expected to break one billion and will continue to rise 10% each year until 2021. Meanwhile, 700,000 landlines are cancelled every month. The trend is irrefutable, but VoIP technology alone may no longer be enough to solve the communication challenges of the modern enterprise.

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UC is a complete package containing all the communications tools that businesses use every day. This will undoubtedly include voice and telephony, and perhaps mobile support for companies with a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy. It may also include email and voicemail, key system emulation, audio and video conferencing solutions, presence and instant messaging, or even desktop and thin browser clients. A UC platform will likely also incorporate communications applications, such as integrated contact centers and workstream collaboration tools. All of this is highly customizable and scalable to meet the needs of each individual business

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SCALABLE

In an “as-a-service” model it’s easy to scale the number of users as a business expands. Unlike premises-based communications systems, where additions or changes were often laborious, UCaaS uses a multi-tenant model, which can easily add more users
to existing software in a matter
of moments.

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COST

Unlike premises-based solutions, UCaaS does not require an upfront capital investment (or CAPEX). UCaaS is an operating expense (OPEX) that can ultimately reduce other inefficient operational expenditures. Per-user and per-device carrier models are usually more cost-effective and allow billing to be streamlined across all locations globally. This reduces dependency on admin staff to sort out billing complexities.

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SCALABLE SERVICE MODEL

It’s also easy to scale available services. To add or remove service components in a premises-based UC system, it can require specialized hardware and hours of complicated reconfiguration. With UCaaS, the software package is a collection of applications that work in tandem – scaling this can be as simple as checking a box. This functionality also allows you to stay on the cutting edge of new technology and up to date with existing applications.

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DEDICATIED

Because UCaaS is hosted in the cloud, that also means it comes with an independent support staff to help solve any IT issue. For a global business, this can be an immense support for employees in opposite time zones. This also frees up on-site IT staff to support other critical and strategic business needs

 

MAXIMUM

Cloud-based technology is located offsite in secure facilities, which minimizes risk to the business itself. Even if the company’s local system is compromised, cloud-based
data will be protected, assuring business continuity.

 

DISASTER

With UCaaS, you aren’t in danger of losing mission-critical data in the event your building is affected by a disaster or outage. With built-in redundancies and remote accessibility, UCaaS assures that a business will experience less downtime. DRaaS, or Disaster-Recovery-as-a-Service, can be a perfect complement to a UCaaS solution. It ensures that the process of restoring data goes as smoothly as the process of backing it up.

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Bottom Line;  UCaaS or hosted Unified Communications (UC) is communications integrated to optimize business processes.  UC provides a way to extend consistent communication services to all your employees, whether they are in main campus locations, at branch offices, working remotely, or mobile.  Unified Communications vision is improving access to the people and information you need to do your job better and more efficiently.  Bottom line UC maximizes your ROI!

 

UC uses IP telephony to transmit voice communications over a network using open-standards-based Internet Protocol. It requires installing more components than you can shake a stick at, including schema changes to Active Directory, installation of a Certificate Server & certificates, knowledge of regular expressions for dial plans, deployment of a Mediation Server for connecting to the PSTN, knowledge of VoIP and SIP configuration, and more. 

 

Thanks to Voice Mobility, you can now integrate Google Apps with your unified communications system in your campus or corporate environment.  The Google Apps suite includes Gmail, Google Talk, Google Calendar, Google Docs, Contacts, Mobile apps and other collaboration tools all using the workplace or campus domains.

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Unified Communications  Applications

¨ Telephony-based solutions built on Voice over IP PBX Networks.

¨ Computer telephony integration (CTI).

¨ Season Initiation Protocol -SIP signaling with savings estimator tools

          provide a snapshot of potential savings by factoring in the number of

          employees, network locations and intra-company long distance calls.

          The tool also takes into consideration the multiple cost-savings benefits

          of  Enterprise SIP, including increased network management efficiency

          and lowered operating costs as a result of reducing equipment, local voice

          trunks, long distance and multiple voice and data network charges.

¨ Message-based solutions that build on email servers and clients, including

          and expanding the suite of personal and office software tools, such as

          calendar, contacts and tasks.

¨ Application-based solutions that build on the user interfaces of the applications,

          including PC clients, web browsers mobile wireless devices. and speech interfaces

          to deliver the required elements to the employees at the appropriate point in the process.