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Learn to apply best practices and optimize your operations.
Manage
Learn to apply best practices and optimize your operations.
Cloud-based apps need to federate with other services
Leverage native integration capabilities, third-party products and user account management in order to bridge cloud-based apps and on-premises services. Continue Reading
Before deploying cloud telephony, inspect your networks
A cloud telephony forecast: Before implementing a cloud IP telephony service, be sure to address your current infrastructure performance and needs. Continue Reading
Cloud video conferencing demands well-designed network
For high-quality cloud video conferencing, be sure your enterprise data network has sufficient bandwidth with low-latency and low-jitter performance. Continue Reading
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How do you effectively transition from PSTN to VoIP?
Expert Chris Partsenidis offers guidelines for a smooth and successful PSTN to VoIP migration. Continue Reading
WebRTC applications could disrupt UC market
Convergence among WebRTC apps, enterprise messaging and project management vendors challenge established UC players. Continue Reading
Video conferencing services break out of the boardroom
Desktop, cloud and mobility capabilities spur enterprise adoption of video conferencing services. Low entry costs and greater availability help, too.Continue Reading
Design redundancy into VoIP communication systems
Implementing redundancy at the VoIP and network infrastructure levels is an integral part of VoIP communication, ensuring call and business continuity.Continue Reading
Five techniques for getting a robust VoIP infrastructure
A VoIP expert stresses the importance of a separate voice VLAN setup, quality-of-service enablement and edge routers for a robust VoIP infrastructure.Continue Reading
New analytics tools help track video conferencing usage
You’ve invested heavily in video conferencing. Was it worth it? New analytics tools try to answer that question by reporting on video conferencing usage.Continue Reading
How can your infrastructure support changing UC mobility needs?
How can you make sure your UC infrastructure can keep up with mobile device software and hardware updates? Expert Carrie Higbie explains how to prepare your network for ever-changing UC mobility needs.Continue Reading
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DiffServ QoS model works wonders for VoIP networks
Properly configured QoS models help VoIP networks run smoothly. The DiffServ model, in particular, is cost-effective and scalable.Continue Reading
Test your SIP trunking service IQ
Enterprises are increasingly adopting SIP trunking services as they move away from the PSTN. Take our quiz to test your SIP trunking IQ.Continue Reading
How can I enable UC features like click-to-call in our applications?
How can I go about building communications-enabled applications such as click-to-call and click-to-video? Expert Zeus Kerravala explains how enterprises can enable UC features in their applications.Continue Reading
Should an IP-PBX system be on-premises or cloud-based?
Should we replace our PBX with an on-premises IP-PBX system or cloud product? Expert Zeus Kerravala explains how to determine which implementation suits your enterprise best.Continue Reading
What are VoIP over Wi-Fi best practices?
What are some best practices for running VoIP over Wi-Fi? UC expert Zeus Kerravala explains the steps enterprises can take for a smooth deployment.Continue Reading
How does Lync support external communications?
How can a Lync Server be used for external communications? Expert Richard Luckett explains the different configurations.Continue Reading
WebRTC technology predictions for 2015
WebRTC technology developments in 2015 will revolve around Web browsers, video conferencing, consumer and enterprise VoIP, call centers and the adoption of video codecs.Continue Reading
What are the SIP trunking basics?
What SIP trunking basics should you know before you deploy? SIP trunking guru Chris Partsenidis explains what you need to know about SIP trunking before deploying it in your voice system.Continue Reading
Preparing for IETF-mandated WebRTC video codecs
Expert Tsahi Levent-Levi said enterprises will face challenges in the IETF decision to require VP8 and H.264 codecs for WebRTC video in browsers.Continue Reading
SIP security checklist helps lock down your SIP trunks
Part five of our series, SIP Trunking Explained, walks you through the dos and don'ts to prevent SIP security breaches that could lead to toll fraud using a layered approach.Continue Reading
Calculating VoIP bandwidth needs for SIP trunk services
Part three of our series, SIP Trunking Explained, looks at the amount of VoIP bandwidth you'll need to avoid latency for SIP trunk services via a dedicated line or an Internet connection.Continue Reading
Finding SIP trunking providers that meet your needs
Part two of our series, SIP Trunking Explained, offers advice on how to find SIP trunking providers that meet your needs and how to enable your legacy equipment to make SIP trunking services possible.Continue Reading
Why should you enhance WebRTC security?
If WebRTC is natively encrypted, why would anyone need to improve on WebRTC security? Expert Carrie Higbie explains why it's smart to complement WebRTC with additional security measures.Continue Reading
What does 'per-seat' licensing mean in UC?
Expert Jon Arnold explains the meaning of a per-seat license in terms of how it applies to unified communications software.Continue Reading
Do we need a PBX system to use VoIP?
Is a PBX system required when organizations move to VoIP? Or do they need to replace it? Telephony expert Jon Arnold explains the options available to organizations.Continue Reading
Is a UC user dashboard the same as a single pane of glass?
Vendors have many names for the user dashboard in a UC system. Expert Carrie Higbie explains how it compares to a single pane of glass.Continue Reading
What is a jitter buffer used for?
Telecom expert Matt Brunk explains the uses for a jitter buffer on a VoIP network and the importance of configuring it properly.Continue Reading
Benefits of video conferencing include less travel, but it's not No. 1
Reduced travel has long been the top reason to deploy video, but enterprises find the soft benefits of video conferencing reap greater rewards.Continue Reading
Can VoIP softphones replace desk phones? Six ways to make it work
Enterprises looking at VoIP softphones for employees with laptops and mobile devices should follow six guidelines to boost user adoption.Continue Reading
Three use cases for Wireshark VoIP and UC network forensics
Find out how to use Wireshark VoIP and UC packet capture, and learn from three main use cases why they are valuable to VoIP administrators.Continue Reading
Can UC technology be tied to a smart grid system?
Can utility companies tie UC technology to a smart grid system? Expert Carrie Higbie explains how they already have.Continue Reading
How to build a successful enterprise mobile platform for UC
A strong enterprise mobile platform is critical to ensure mobile UC technology is successfully deployed within an enterprise.Continue Reading
How does bursty traffic affect quality of service on a VoIP network?
UC expert Matt Brunk explains what 'bursty traffic' is and how it affects quality of service on a VoIP network.Continue Reading
Four main uses illustrate need for WebRTC gateways
WebRTC promises easy communication between browsers for video conferencing and voice, but the need for WebRTC gateways is clear.Continue Reading
How to evaluate mobile UC capabilities and mobile integration limits
As employees bring their mobile devices to the enterprise, IT architects must evaluate the capabilities and mobile integration limits of UC plans.Continue Reading
Is an SBC and an E-SBC the same thing?
Is there a difference between SBCs and E-SBCs? IT expert Michael Brandenburg explains how the industry differentiates between the two terms.Continue Reading
VoIP and unified communications define the future
Chapter 6 of the book "VoIP and Unified Communications: Internet Telephony and the Future Voice Network" offers a history of VoIP and UC technologies.Continue Reading
How can UC&C advance project management?
UC strategies expert Matt Brunk explains how unified communications and collaboration can advance project management.Continue Reading
UCaaS Magic Quadrant sees increased relevance of systems integrators
Systems integrators bring customization expertise to the UCaaS market, which could help make UCaaS more attractive to larger businesses.Continue Reading
How do you calculate the bandwidth of a mobile video conference system?
Videoconferencing expert Steve Campbell explains how to measure bandwidth of a mobile video conference to size for your video system deployment.Continue Reading
TDoS attacks on the rise: Who is at risk and what to do under attack
Telephone denial of service, or TDoS, attacks are increasing and no one is exempt. Learn what to do during a TDoS attack and how to prevent one.Continue Reading
Enterprises need Microsoft Lync monitoring to ensure UC performance
Lync environments need combined UC, network performance monitoring tools. NetSout's nGenius gains certification for Lync UC environments.Continue Reading
Can unified communications make simple project management?
Our general unified communications expert explains how the technology can be used to make project management simple.Continue Reading
Social strategies: Enterprise-grade software, or consumer tools?
Many enterprise social strategies still include consumer tools, but businesses are starting to realize the benefits of enterprise social software.Continue Reading
Google applications: Deeper integration between Voice, Hangouts
Google drops XMPP and integrates its voice app into Hangouts to unify Google applications for a blended social experience.Continue Reading
Lync/Skype integration helps quench user demand, IT concerns
The Lync/Skype integration will offer greater interoperability for external enterprise communications, without burdening IT.Continue Reading
How to keep your UC&C deployment from failing
Ovum research firm statistics point to challenges that could keep a unified communication and collaboration (UC&C) deployment from succeeding.Continue Reading
Yorktel VCMCS combines VideoCloud with managed services
Glowpoint OpenVideo Cloud collaborates with managed video services
Defining an enterprise strategy to reap social media benefits
In order to reap social media benefits, enterprises must define a social media strategy, which includes revisiting technology and security policies.Continue Reading
Blue Jeans Network integrates Lync-Skype and room-based video
In addition to integrating Microsoft Lync and Skype, Blue Jeans Network enables screensharing and conferencing with room-based video.Continue Reading
Mobile device adoption alters UC strategies
As the BYOD revolution unfurls, enterprises find that mobile device adoption requires an alteration to current unified communications (UC) strategies.Continue Reading
Productivity gains outrank PBX issues in Lync deployment
Users deploy Lync citing easy Windows integration
Microsoft announces Yammer acquisition, launches social strategy
Microsoft officially announces Yammer acquisition, an effort to accelerate social strategy and cloud services.Continue Reading
Enterprises leaning toward managed video-conferencing services
Enterprises are turning to service providers for managed video-conferencing services to mitigate risk and lower operational costs.Continue Reading
SIP trunking service adoption growth driven by WAN strategy alignment
As SIP trunking adoption increases, more enterprises want to align the technology with their WAN strategies. Learn about the benefits and challenges of that alignment.Continue Reading
Federated identity management key to SaaS office and cloud-based UC
Federated identity management addresses the security risks associated with identity management while providing users SSO to multiple cloud-based UC services and SaaS office apps.Continue Reading
Soft PBX adds flexibility to VoIP business continuity strategy
Legacy TDM voice was often too expensive to build into a business continuity strategy. VoIP changed that, and some UC managers find more flexibility in soft PBX platforms.Continue Reading
Video over Wi-Fi: Planning and support considerations for UC managers
As more UC users go mobile, video over Wi-Fi will present support issues. UC managers must work with network engineers on wireless LAN design, configuration and troubleshooting.Continue Reading
SIP video conferencing systems: A standardized approach to integration
Vendors are moving toward SIP video conferencing for system integration. Our Expert Lesson details how SIP-based video conferencing solutions lay key UC architecture groundwork.Continue Reading
Integrating video conferencing with unified communications
Integrating video conferencing with unified communications enables users to initiate video connections through presence, much like they do with instant messaging. This tip explains how to integrate video with unified communications with examples ...Continue Reading
Video conferencing adoption: Tracking trends and deployment strategies
Video conferencing adoption is increasing as enterprises turn to higher-quality, lower-cost video technology to improve workforce collaboration and reduce reliance on travel.Continue Reading
UC and IP telephony integration: Understanding the challenges
IP telephony integration with collaboration applications can boost productivity and streamline workflow. But integration can be challenging, thanks in part to complex UC and IP telephony protocols.Continue Reading
Challenges of SIP trunking for telecom managers and network admins
The challenges of SIP trunking for network administrators include interoperability and compression issues, service availability, security, SIP trunking architectures, lack of fax services, E-911 support and SIP trunk monitoring tools.Continue Reading
Best practices guide: Testing VoIP system power consumption
To accurately benchmark VoIP system power consumption, a number of factors must be taken into account, such as VoIP handset configuration, the LAN infrastructure, system states, steady-state power draw, power factor and other variables. This guide ...Continue Reading
Instant messaging strategies: Usage policy and training are key
Some people still believe that unified communications begins and ends with Voice over IP. But instant messaging is just as critical, if not more so. And establishing an instant messaging strategy is essential. Otherwise everyone in an enterprise ...Continue Reading
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 ...Continue Reading
Cisco Unified Communications Manager Architecture
Understanding the role that Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) plays in a converged network from various IT perspectives is necessary for a successful installation and configuration. This chapter describes the architecture, hardware and ...Continue Reading
Optivity Telephony Manager (OTM)
Optivity Telephony Manager (OTM) is an application that provides single-point analysis, configuration, and management of telephony networks using a Web browser or graphical user interface (GUI).Continue Reading
greenfield deployment
In networking, a greenfield deployment is the installation and configuration of a network where none existed before, for example in a new office.Continue Reading
Hosted and managed VoIP fundamentals
Adoption rates of hosted VoIP and managed VoIP are increasing as more companies look to reduce the costs and complexities of deploying VoIP in house. Enterprises are factoring revenue growth, enhanced productivity and communication services into ROI...Continue Reading
Remote call center agent management: Top ten buzzwords
Learn more about what's involved in managing remote call center agents with these buzzwords. You'll find out about technology including VoIP, VPN and IVR, as well as important metrics related to remote call center agent management.Continue Reading
Routing basics -- What VoIP managers need to know
Voice over IP (VoIP) requires that an organization's voice staff understand many of the fundamentals of data networking. Routing is an essential data networking function that also applies to VoIP. In this tip, learn more about the routers and ...Continue Reading
VoIP management tools: Calculating ROI
Before purchasing management tools for VoIP, you may need to calculate the return on investment (ROI) to justify the cost of those tools. In this tip, Gary Audin explains how to calculate ROI and provides specific checklists for calculating the ROI ...Continue Reading
Working with the Layer 2 data link layer in an IP telephony deployment
This IP telephony deployment article provides solutions to performance issues in Layer 2, the data link layer.Continue Reading
Learn IT in 10 easy steps: VoIP
This handy guide to VoIP provides you with an overview of the technology, including key terms, trends, challenges and more.Continue Reading
What is the difference between Cisco call manager and Cisco SIP Proxy server?