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Approaches to unified communications virtualization
Virtualization is making inroads in the unified communications market, no matter the size of the enterprise customer. Whether as a large scale deployment in an enterprise data center or as a turnkey appliance, unified communications virtualization is... Primer
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Hosted unified communications and managed service providers: UC in the cloud
Enterprises are turning to managed service providers (MSPs) or pursuing fully outsourced hosted unified communications (UC) in the cloud to reap UC's benefits without major risk or investment. Learn the pros and cons of MSPs and hosted UC. Learning Guide
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Top 10 books: Best-selling IP telephony and UC titles
This top 10 list of best-selling IP telephony and unified communications (UC) books includes such hot topics as SIP and SIP trunking, cloud computing, PBXs and IP telephony and is based on sales from VoiceCon 2010. Top 10
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Tutorial: Evaluating and managing telecom carrier services
Without proper telecom services analysis and strategy, telecom carriers can drain your company's budget. This tutorial will help you identify your company's telecom needs, use that data to find the right service provider for you, and more. Tutorial
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Eye on the unified communications market: IBM
This month we're profiling IBM -- taking a look at the company's business model and how it may fit into your unified communications strategy. Feature
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Tutorial: Unified communications strategy
For a smooth unified communications (UC) deployment, a thoughtful UC strategy must be carefully laid out. In this tutorial, we identify key criteria to include in your unified communication strategy. You'll find a best practices check list along with... Tutorial
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Writing solid unified communications RFPs and negotiating with VARs: A complete guide
Read our step-by-step guide to writing and developing an RFP for your unified communications deployment, as well as negotiating witih UC VARs. Tutorial
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VoiceCon 2009 coverage
VoiceCon 2009 was a big conference this year. Check out all of the major announcements and important VoiceCon 2009 coverage from SearchUnifiedCommunications.com, including news and blogs. Feature
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Top 10 unified communications (UC) tips for 2008
With unified communications (UC) doing so well in 2008, we've done our best to keep up with our readers' interests and provide information on the most important UC topics. Check out our top 10 UC tips from the past year, from iPhones in the enterpris... Top 10 tips
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Identifying issues in a multi-site Cisco UC deployment
Deploying Cisco Unified Communications Manager between multiple sites requires an appropriate dial plan, appropriate bandwidth, a quality of service (QoS) implementation and a design that can survive IP WAN failures. This chapter will explain the iss... Chapter Download
- See More: Essential Knowledge on Developing a UC Strategy
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UCaaS Magic Quadrant: Providers not ready for large enterprises
Gartner's latest Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) Magic Quadrant reveals an immature market that is better suited for SMBs than large enterprises. News | 11 Jan 2012
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Microsoft Lync telephony: Ready to be a PBX replacement?
Microsoft Lync telephony features have advanced to the point where the company is touting the UC platform as a potential PBX replacement. Are enterprises buying in? News | 31 Oct 2011
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Building a UC strategy from scratch, with minimal service disruption
Amid a corporate divestiture, one UC pro was told to reconstruct his UC strategy and infrastructure from scratch and with minimal service disruption. News | 08 Sep 2011
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Magic Quadrant for Unified Communications: UC integration improves
Vendors are improving UC integration as they evolve their products from portfolios to integrated suites, says Gartner's latest Magic Quadrant for Unified Communications. News | 01 Sep 2011
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Desktop video conferencing software's Web client ups flexibility
UC pros at a Chicago law firm deployed desktop video conferencing software they call "business-class Skype" to keep up with the demands of their highly mobile workforce. News | 18 Aug 2011
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HD VoIP aids communications in a global economy, but by how much?
Vendors say a global economy drives the need for HD VoIP in multinational companies, as poor call quality exacerbates the ability to understand a colleague's foreign accent. News | 28 Jul 2011
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With enterprise social software, usability matters more than features
No matter how much users love Facebook, they won't automatically flock to enterprise social software. Adoption requires more than meeting a checklist of feature sets. News | 24 Jun 2011
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Unify UC user experience for mobile, bring your own device initiatives
With increasing focus on mobility and bring your own device initiatives, UC pros must ensure that users who juggle multiple devices have a unified user experience. News | 02 Jun 2011
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Unified communications strategy suffers when IT 'civil war' wages
Divisions within IT lead to a splintered unified communications strategy, resulting in poor execution, lackluster adoption and unnecessary expenses, according to one expert. News | 26 May 2011
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Microsoft/Skype: Once skeptical UC pros reassessing enterprise Skype
The Microsoft/Skype deal is prompting UC pros who were once enterprise Skype skeptics to give the VoIP provider a second look now that an established UC vendor is at the helm. News | 12 May 2011
- See More: News on Developing a UC Strategy
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Communication and collaboration in 2020: Inside UC's faster future
By 2020, communication and collaboration advances like voice command, quick response codes and cloud adoption will streamline workplace interaction and simplify regular tasks. Tip
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The future of unified communications: Forget 2012, how about 2020?
The unified communications market will evolve radically by 2020, fueled in part by mobile broadband and cloud services adoption. Tip
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Top 10 unified communications stories and shakeups of 2011
The top 10 unified communications stories and shakeups of 2011 include the UC innovations and vendor shakeups of the new UC era taking shape. Tip
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Top 10 unified communications stories of 2011
The top 10 unified communications stories of 2011 reveal key drivers to a new UC era. Tip
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The tipping point: Top unified communications issues for 2012
Will UC hit a tipping point in 2012? There are five unified communications issues driving a transformation in business communications that will begin to reframe UC in 2012. Tip
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Adding up the real costs of so-called 'free' Microsoft Lync
Using Microsoft Lync as a corporate UC system is cheap -- free, even, right? While Lync licenses are free, installing Lync may cost more than you’ve bargained for. Tip
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Unlocking the benefits of mobile UC with wireless LANs
The wireless LAN makes way for the successful integration of mobile UC applications like presence, mobile video conferencing and VoWLANs. Tip
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New UC security threats leave UC platforms vulnerable
Ensuring UC security has grown harder as UC platforms become more open to direct Internet access. Learn how to better manage SIP trunking security, cloud services and BYOD models. Tip
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Robust WLAN infrastructure key to strategic mobile UC
Having a robust WLAN infrastructure is no longer a convenience, it's a necessity. Modern WLAN deployments are costly, but there's a silver lining enterprises often overlook. Tip
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UC middleware solves UC interoperability challenges
Fully standardized UC is not the only path to seamless UC interoperability. UC middleware provides a less complicated, more realistic path to UC interoperability. Tip
- See More: Tips on Developing a UC Strategy
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Using Google Apps, Google+ for remote communication and collaboration?
Can Google Apps and Google+ be used to facilitate communication and collaboration for an enterprise's remote knowledge-based workforce? UC expert Paul McMillan offers his take. Answer
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Enterprise social software: Should I pay for a vendor-based client?
Should businesses invest in internal, vendor-based enterprise social software or stick with free, public social networking clients? UC expert Paul McMillan weighs in. Answer
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Troubleshooting issues with running hosted Microsoft Lync for Mac
Is Lync for Mac supposed to be deployed with Lync Online or with Lync Server? If you chose the wrong one, how do you get Lync running the right way? Matt Brunk clears up the mess. Answer
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Configuring VoIP for an office using a VSAT Internet connection
UC expert Matt Brunk offers recommendations for a reader considering VoIP over a VSAT Internet connection in his office. His first tip: Ask yourself why you really want to do it. Answer
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Should I calculate telecom into my internal metrics?
Telecom industry expert Brad Tucker explains how including analysis of telecom services in your internal IT metrics can help you leverage your services to greater profitability. Ask the Expert
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How can I effectively audit my telecom costs without making a career out of it?
Many companies find auditing telecom costs very difficult. Telecom industry expert Brad Tucker explains how to make staying on top of telecom costs as painless as possible. Ask the Expert
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How much power do I have to negotiate contract terms with telecom carriers?
When working out the terms of contracts with telecom carriers, you do have some room to negotiate. Learn where it pays to be flexible and where you should stand firm. Ask the Expert
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How to interview and manage telecom carrier service representatives
After evaluating telecom carriers, it's time to meet with carrier representatives to discuss your company's telecom services. Preparation could save you money on UC applications. Ask the Expert
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Evaluating telecom carriers: Identifying your needs to find a provider
When evaluating telecom carriers to find the best fit for your company, remember that each has strengths and weaknesses. What do you need to know before talking to a carrier rep? Ask the Expert
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How can I leverage telecom carriers to clear capital for hardware or professional services?
Find out how you can leverage telecom carriers to help control costs, keep your company's technology infrastructure competitive, and clear up both your operating and capital budgets. Ask the Expert
- See More: Expert Advice on Developing a UC Strategy
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hyperconnectivity
Hyperconnectivity is a state of unified communications (UC) in which the traffic-handling capacity and bandwidth of a network always exceed the demand... (Continued) Word
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SIP interoperability and video codec challenges: Can the pieces fit?
Despite SIP flexibility, true interoperability remains elusive. Marty Parker and Rivka Little discuss obstacles to SIP interoperability, why enterprises use different voice and video codecs and more. Video
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Integrating video conferencing solutions with UC
Integrating video conferencing with unified communications has become critical for many enterprises. John Bartlett of NetForecast speaks with Michael Brandenburg about the benefits of video integration and the challenges that come with it. Video
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Reality Check: What Avaya's Nortel acquisition means for customers
Avaya's $900 million acquisition of Nortel's enterprise division will affect all of Nortel's customers and partners, as well as Avaya's. Find out what Avaya is getting in the deal and how Nortel customers can prepare for the coming months. Podcast
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Reality Check podcasts
Our Reality Check podcast series delivers an honest look at unified communications technology without hype or buzz. Podcasts
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Reality Check: What the Avaya-Nortel news means for voice customers
Avaya's $475 million bid for Nortel's enterprise division will affect all of Nortel's customers and partners, as well as Avaya's. In this podcast, recorded in the wake of the Nortel bankruptcy, learn what the Avaya-Nortel takeover may mean for Nortel... Podcast
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Podcast: Unified communications: A practical approach
In this podcast, Gary Audin and Kate Dostart engage in a 'Fact or Fiction' conversation to dispel some common myths and misconceptions about unified communications architecture, security and vendors. Podcast
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TCO metrics key, but complex in IP telephony systems deployment
Total cost of ownership (TCO) metrics for new IP telephony systems are often overlooked by enterprises, according to a new study, but other factors rank high in importance. Feature
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UCaaS Magic Quadrant: Providers not ready for large enterprises
Gartner's latest Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) Magic Quadrant reveals an immature market that is better suited for SMBs than large enterprises. News
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Communication and collaboration in 2020: Inside UC's faster future
By 2020, communication and collaboration advances like voice command, quick response codes and cloud adoption will streamline workplace interaction and simplify regular tasks. Tip
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The future of unified communications: Forget 2012, how about 2020?
The unified communications market will evolve radically by 2020, fueled in part by mobile broadband and cloud services adoption. Tip
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Top unified communications definitions for UC professionals in 2011
After crunching numbers to see which unified communications definitions our readers searched for most in 2011, one thing's clear: As UC evolves, you like to return to the basics. Feature
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Top 10 unified communications stories and shakeups of 2011
The top 10 unified communications stories and shakeups of 2011 include the UC innovations and vendor shakeups of the new UC era taking shape. Tip
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Top 10 unified communications stories of 2011
The top 10 unified communications stories of 2011 reveal key drivers to a new UC era. Tip
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The tipping point: Top unified communications issues for 2012
Will UC hit a tipping point in 2012? There are five unified communications issues driving a transformation in business communications that will begin to reframe UC in 2012. Tip
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Adding up the real costs of so-called 'free' Microsoft Lync
Using Microsoft Lync as a corporate UC system is cheap -- free, even, right? While Lync licenses are free, installing Lync may cost more than you’ve bargained for. Tip
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Using Google Apps, Google+ for remote communication and collaboration?
Can Google Apps and Google+ be used to facilitate communication and collaboration for an enterprise's remote knowledge-based workforce? UC expert Paul McMillan offers his take. Answer
- See More: All on Developing a UC Strategy
About Developing a UC Strategy
One drawback of being a unified communications early adopter is that you have fewer friends and colleagues to turn to for help when things go wrong at the 2:00 am installation. Let this page be your admin buddy. Here you'll find advice on installation and maintenance, as well as troubleshooting integration with Windows, enterprise software systems, directory services and the network infrastructure.