Softphones in a unified communications (UC) strategy? Who are UC market leaders?
How would softphone capability fit into an overall unified communications
strategy? Who are the leaders in this segment of the market?
Softphone
capability is one method used by suppliers to facilitate mobility for an end user of voice
infrastructure. The basic premise is to allow an end user to access communications resources
remotely through their desk top computing equipment. The software turns the desktop into a phone
console in many implementations allowing the end user to "connect" to their desk even though they
are not really there. Remote workers or mobile workforce members are a large portion of the users
of softphone capability. Having the capability allows users to gain access to central resources for
voice messaging including in-bound and out-bound calling. Most organizations utilize softphone
capability for productivity enhancement although there is some element of cost savings that can be
achieved. With the advent of more advanced calling plans some of the cost advantages may be
diminishing however.
In a study recently completed by TheInfoPro, Softphone capability ranked second among voice
technologies being considered for use by enterprises in the near term as outlined in TheInfoPro's
Heat Index of voice technologies. The Heat Index is an InfoPro proprietary measurement of end
users' reported spending and implementation plans. Cisco, Avaya and Nortel are among the leaders in
this segment of the market. According to the InfoPro study 34% of Fortune 1000 and midsized
organizations have softphone capability in use, with an additional 36% having it under pilot
programs or in near term or long term consideration.
Current softphone technology can be used as part of an overall unified communications strategy
or as a point solution depending upon the capability of your current voice infrastructure.
This was first published in February 2007
