South African born Keith has lived in the south of England for most of his life. After graduating from University with a degree in Business Information Systems Management he decided to start Strawberrysoup; a website design company based in West Sussex and Dorset. Keith successfully gained entry into the Southampton University Air Squadron and spent over 12 months training to fly. Since then he has continued to follow his interest in flying and has now began his own training in the form of a Private Pilot's Licence. Keith also spent 13 months working within the Image and Printing Group at Hewlett Packard in Bracknell. Throughout his time there, he was responsible for many activities including events organisation and website design and maintenance.
Most people in business use more than one form of communication, be that telephone, email, voicemail, chat or fax. The concept of unified communications is that all forms of communications are more converged. For example enabling voicemails to be opened and listened to in mailboxes and vice versa.
The key drivers of this technology are the Telephone System manufacturers who are working closely with Microsoft and other software developers to ensure common protocols are used which encourage interoperability.
Telephone systems used to be PBX systems that would have digital or analogue end points, but in recent years telephone system manufactures such as Avaya have realised that connecting to a companies IP network meant that software to support and compliment handsets could be produced and that this would provide them with a USP.
Over time other manufacturers have caught up with Avaya and each has their own suit of supporting software. Although each manufacturer has their own ‘flavour’ of software the concepts are similar allowing users to see real time if another user is available and on what device. In other words it enables all the systems that a person might use to work together real time.
How will this benefit my business?
A key benefit of unified communications is reduced latency. Messages are delivered quicker and therefore actioned quicker. By using a unified communications enabled Telephone System in environments where workers are often on the road or not at their office desk it allows other users to see where a user is working and if they are available.
What’s the future of unified communications?
As data connections including broadband get faster and more reliable, more applications and uses will be added to the unified communications theatre. Video technology is the latest newcomer and is already being rolled out in larger organisations as a standard feature. Both Avaya and Cisco have made large investments in video technology believing this is where the future of communications lies. It is only a matter of time before this technology becomes a more common feature in the software sets available to smaller organisations and home users.
Where can I get this technology?
Telephone system manufacturers tend to sell their equipment and software through value added resellers who can offer line and call packages as well as training and peripheral products. Manufacturers differ in their options for unified communications products and in their ability to integrate with 3rd party software and equipment. Avaya, Cisco, Mitel, Alcatel and Shoretel have the best options and Panasonic, NEC, Siemens and LG have very limited options.
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
- Telephone System Manufacturers – What’s the Difference and Who’s the Best?
- Putting productivity and economy to work with intelligent Business Phone Systems
- Choosing The Right Phone and Voice Mail System
- 8 Dangers Of Using Phone Cards To Call Overseas
- What Do I Do When My Phone Card Expires?
- New and Used Telephone Systems
- Reverse Cell Phone Look Up
- The Advantages of Using Integrated Telephone Systems
What To Get Someone Who’s Got Everything: Efficient Gift Giving 101
By: Oswald Melman | 05/12/2009With the holidays coming around faster and faster each year, or maybe just with a slew of birthdays, special occasions and milestones whizzing by, gift-giving opportunities may have become more than you can handle. Don’t worry; you’re not alone in the gift-giving-spirit slump. With troubling economic times coupled with trying to buy for people who really do have everything, we’re watching dollars flush down the toilet with things like gag gifts, flowers, or simple tokens of appreciation.
Wireless Internet Grows Up
By: Oswald Melman | 05/12/2009If you’re like most people, the internet, and by turns, our mobile devices—laptops, iPhones, netbooks, electronic organizers, PDAs, Blackberries, etc—have become indispensible. We cannot go without them for any extended stretch of time without feeling somehow lost, or deprived. Our modern society thrives on the internet. We shop online, we connect to our friends and family, we get things done via the internet; in fact, entire businesses are operated in virtual space.
What Are You Waiting for to Switch to 4G Wireless?
By: Oswald Melman | 05/12/2009There is nothing more liberating than having an internet connection that lives up to your modern lifestyle, allowing you to lead the kind of life that you know you should be able to lead. Many modern internet users are learning that that means switching on up to the latest in mobile internet access—aka, 4G mobile connections.
What Can a Learning Management System Do for Me and My Company?
By: Helius | 04/12/2009A Learning Management System by definition is an information system that administers instructor-led e-learning courses and keeps track of student progress. Generally used internally by large enterprises for their employees, an LMS can be used to monitor the effectiveness of the organization’s education and training.
Safety First - The Importance of Having a Web Content Filter
By: Jhoana Cooper | 04/12/2009Having a web content filter to screen all the pages that go through your computer is a very important thing. Not everyone will take time to install and set up their own internet filter at home, but this is a very important task to do before you go online. More often than not, there are many problems that can be avoided when you have this in place – especially when there are children – young tots and teenagers alike – around the house who also use the internet.
Usefulness Of Audio Conference In Daily Life
By: Branden Makay | 04/12/2009Audio conference is very important in your daily life. You can control several work by just sitting at home without spending a dime in your conveyance.
Video Conferencing System – A Boon For The Modern World
By: Branden Makay | 04/12/2009Find how you will be benefited from video conferencing system. There are many advantages of installing web video conference set up to stay tuned to the modern world.
Video Conferencing System – A Boon For The Modern World
By: Branden Makay | 04/12/2009Find how you will be benefited from video conferencing system. There are many advantages of installing web video conference set up to stay tuned to the modern world.
Lost luggage still a problem for airlines
By: Keith McGregor | 27/07/2009 | TravelJune 23rd, 2009 Some of the best known national airlines still languish at the bottom of the latest 'lost bags' league table produced by the Association of European Airlines. Iberia has emerged as the European airline most likely to lose a passenger's luggage though the airline blames this on a period of heavy snow in January of this year and an industrial 'work to rule.' Air France came next worst in the survey followed by the Portuguese carrier, TAP.
Nothing more American: Brands of National Identity
By: Keith McGregor | 16/07/2009 | Food & BeverageNothing more American: Brands of National Identity For those thinking of celebrating American Independence Day, why not be really Patriotic and celebrate with America's No.1 Chocolate 'Hershey's' A perfect gift for a Host or Hostess are Hershey's Kisses or Reeses Peanut Butter Cups. If you are hosting a party, here are some recipes using Hershey's Chocolate which will delight your guests.
Keep the Fizz - Popping Candy Recipes
By: Keith McGregor | 15/07/2009 | Food & BeverageThe 70's cult popping candy, what fun they are if used in delicious summer desserts. Here are a couple of recipes you may wish to try Chocolate and Candy Pops This dessert was inspired by a pre dessert served at Les Ambassadors in Paris.
Organising a wedding on the River Thames
By: Keith McGregor | 17/06/2009 | TravelI got married on the River Thames in London last year. Well technically you can't actually officially get married on a boat yet as it is a moving venue so we had the ceremony at the Hilton and then boarded the boat as a unique wedding breakfast venue and then swapped some of the older family members for our more excited friends and ended the day with a Wedding Disco Cruise. It was one of the most special days of my life made even more memorable by sharing it with my friends and family on the Riv
Summer - A perfect time for Thames Boat Charter
By: Keith McGregor | 17/06/2009 | TravelLondoners head for the South Coast in the summer to enjoy the hot weather and get out on the water. Boating is such a part of so many peoples lives and rightly so. What many people forget is that they can get out on the River Thames in London. A Thames Boat Charter has all the pleasures of boating in the Solent without the hustle and bustle and choppy water.
Henley Regatta - Charter your Thames Boat
By: Keith McGregor | 17/06/2009 | TravelGoing to Ascot for a flutter and Wimbledon for the tennis this summer? Another must for your events calendar is one of the most British, the Henley Royal Regatta. Rowing is one of the sports we Brits still dominate the World and where better to watch some of our finest rowers, but at the most well known and visited regatta in the UK at Henley on Thames.
Travel forecast for Bank holiday weekend
By: Keith McGregor | 17/06/2009 | TravelForecasters are predicting the hottest temperatures so far this year over this Bank Holiday weekend but whatever the weather, the usual Bank Holiday getaway is expected to cause gridlock on the roads and bustling air and sea ports. Airport operator BAA said 1.68 million passengers would pass through its seven UK airports in the period from Friday to Bank Holiday Monday.
Tough climate for airlines
By: Keith McGregor | 17/06/2009 | TravelFirst, British Airways announces record losses and then ‘no frills’ airline Ryanair does the same. Now we have Richard Branson announcing that he expects the current economic downturn and decline in business travel will result in the collapse of a major American airline in 2009. His own airline, Virgin, seems to have bucked the trend, doubling its profits in the last twelve months but Virgin does appear to be a rare exception in this difficult market.