New communications technology innovations are being announced all the time, and while each new solution might seem to offer great promise for boosting productivity and getting more out of each day, all too often the real result is that there’s simply one more system to keep track of.

 

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a system that tied all the systems together? That’s the concept behind unified communications: to unify the various communications systems people use into a single interface. Depending on the context, unified communications can mean various things. It might, for example, be used to refer to a phone system that give each user a single number that can be used anywhere, with one central voicemail box.

 

A unified communications system might go even further, tying together voice with other forms of communications like instant messenger and e-mail — allowing the user to manage various types of messages from within a unified desktop or Web-based interface.

 

Essentially, the power behind unified communications is that it actually can make things simpler rather than more complicated. Saving time means saving money, so UC solutions often pay for themselves in short order. In a business setting, a UC system can help achieve objectives like improving customer service or enabling sales staff to make more calls to potential clients.

 

Last year, a lot of excitement was generated when Microsoft (News - Alert) released its Office Communications Server 2007 (OCS 2007) product, a new unified communications platform that touches on the voice over IP (VoIP), aka Internet telephony, space.

 

Microsoft’s vision of UC is that this type of solution has the potential to transform how companies do business. Unified communications, the company indicated with its OCS 2007 release, can make it easier for business employees, partners and clients to communicate with one another. This can be achieved with tools like presence (info about who is located where, when they’re available and through what communications channel, etc.) and calendaring.

 

Products like OCS 2007 can help companies save time and money by more efficiently scheduling meetings, eliminating phone tag, enhancing the security of instant messaging, and simplifying audio and video conferencing.

 

To learn more about UC, please visit the Unified Communications channel on TMCnet.com, brought to you by Iwatsu (News - Alert).