Are unified communications here at last?
<<<... One of the smallest players, BlueNote Networks, is also one of the most advanced in enabling IP communications as a service that a variety of applications can consume. The company's flagship SessionSuite provides tools for building IP communications Web services and integrates with Active Directory and RADIUS servers. The capability of linking these services to CRM and other business applications is what could make Todd Sharp's example a reality in many organisations. The PBX guys go deep On the other side of this convergence are the traditional IP PBX vendors. An increasing number, including Nortel, Mitel, and Siemens, are moving full speed ahead to build in interoperability with Microsoft LCS and OCS, IBM's Lotus Sametime IM and conferencing package, and good old Outlook. IBM recently announced it would license portions of OpenScape to bring connectivity and a single Sametime user interface to a number of different back-end IP PBX systems.
This enables voice, video, conferencing, presence, and other UC features to be accessed from the software that users already know - leveraging investments IT has already made, rather than forcing migration to Cisco, Avaya, or Mitel software. Like Siemens, Mitel is looking to pull apart its hardware and software, allowing IT to run its PBX and UC solutions on Sun servers. Even Cisco is increasing efforts to integrate its communications solutions with those of its chief UC competitor, Microsoft, as well as IBM. "We recognise that no one vendor or developer can deliver all pieces of the unified communications puzzle," says Rick McConnell, vice president and general manager of Cisco's unified communications business unit. ... more >>>