Home > Ask the Unified Communications Experts > Unified messaging and UC with Tony Bradley Questions & Answers > Are unified messaging and instant messaging the same thing? How are they distinguished from one another?
Ask The Unified Communications Expert: Questions & Answers
EMAIL THIS

Are unified messaging and instant messaging the same thing? How are they distinguished from one another?

Tony Bradley EXPERT RESPONSE FROM: Tony Bradley

Pose a Question
Other Unified Communications Categories
Meet all Unified Communications Experts
Become an Expert for this site


News on networking, mobility and voice
Digg This!    StumbleUpon Toolbar StumbleUpon    Bookmark with Delicious Del.icio.us    Add to Google


>
QUESTION POSED ON: 06 October 2008
Are unified messaging and instant messaging the same thing? How are they distinguished from one another?

>
Unified messaging (UM) and instant messaging (IM) are not the same thing. Instant messaging is essentially real-time chat. With instant messaging users generally communicate back and forth 'instantly' with messages somewhere between a mobile phone text message and a full-blown email. It is faster than email (assuming the recipient is available) and much more efficient for quick questions.

Unified messaging is the consolidation of various communications technologies into a single space. Rather than having separate locations for storing voicemail, email, faxes, etc., unified messaging stores them together. Unified messaging subsequently enables users to access all of these communications with a single tool or interface, improving efficiency by providing a single point of contact regardless of the type of communication.

Both instant messaging and unified messaging are components of a comprehensive unified communications solution.


Digg This!    StumbleUpon Toolbar StumbleUpon    Bookmark with Delicious Del.icio.us    Add to Google



RELATED CONTENT
Unified messaging and UC with Tony Bradley
As unified communications moves toward a software-based solution, do you see a demise in use of certain hardware tools, such as the desk phone, in the future?
Does OCS need to be in place before these UM features can be realized via SP1?
Is it better to roll out an entire new unified communications system at once or make the changes gradually?
Will encrypting UC traffic negatively affect availability?
What's the difference between collaboration and web conferencing?
Does an organization have to have an IP PBX in order to have a unified communications system?
Integrating Unified Communications apps into an existing infrastructure.
What is communication-enabled business processes (CEBP)?
IVR and diaster recovery
Comparing and contrasting enterprise 2.0 and web 2.0 within the context of unified communications

RELATED RESOURCES
2020software.com, trial software downloads for accounting software, ERP software, CRM software and business software systems
Search Bitpipe.com for the latest white papers and business webcasts
Whatis.com, the online computer dictionary



Search and Browse the Expert Answer Center
Search and browse more than 25,000 question and answer pairs from more than 250 TechTarget industry experts.
Browse our Expert Advice



Voice and Data Communications Tips
About Us  |  Contact Us  |  For Advertisers  |  For Business Partners  |  Site Index  |  RSS
SEARCH 
TechTarget provides technology professionals with the information they need to perform their jobs - from developing strategy, to making cost-effective purchase decisions and managing their organizations' technology projects - with its network of technology-specific websites, events and online magazines.

TechTarget Corporate Web Site  |  Media Kits  |  Site Map




All Rights Reserved, Copyright 2008 - 2009, TechTarget | Read our Privacy Policy
  TechTarget - The IT Media ROI Experts