Tips

Tips

• Using APIs to integrate communication into business workflows

  APIs can help enterprises integrate communications into business workflows. This type of emerging UC integration is now more widely available and features rich capabilities.  Continue Reading

• Office 365 collaboration tools run the gamut

  Microsoft collaboration tools offer a wide array of capabilities, including team chat, video sharing and project planning. Here are five key apps to consider.  Continue Reading

• WebRTC adoption slowed by browser incompatibility

  The lack of browser support and video codec interoperability has slowed WebRTC adoption. Yet, many organizations are using the browser-based technology and don't even know it.  Continue Reading

• UC analytics must mature before benefits are seen

  UC and collaboration analytics applications, which can track network and employee performance, need to mature before they can truly benefit a company.  Continue Reading

• As Chrome adds VP9 codec support, enterprises must adapt

  Google Chrome recently announced VP9 video codec support for WebRTC applications. Enterprises need to find the appropriate use cases to capitalize on the enhanced media quality.  Continue Reading

• Three steps to managing Skype for Business call quality

  To manage Skype for Business voice traffic, be sure to optimize your network, prioritize voice signaling, and take advantage of third-party tools and service partners.  Continue Reading

• Predicting WebRTC technology trends for 2016

  WebRTC services and technology saw a landmark year in 2015 with major acquisitions and greater adoption. Take a look forward into 2016 to see where WebRTC is headed.  Continue Reading

• SD-WAN boosts aggregate bandwidth for UC functions

  Software-defined WAN controllers can send data streams over multiple links, which helps boost aggregate bandwidth and network reliability, while also streamlining UC traffic.  Continue Reading

• Enterprises taking control of SIP trunking services

  Self-service Web portals and APIs are empowering enterprises to reap the benefits of SIP trunking and take greater control of their IP-based voice services.  Continue Reading

• The top five UC technology trends to watch in 2016

  According to one expert, the future of unified communications should see more API adoption, video conferencing in small meeting rooms and vendor consolidation.  Continue Reading

• ROI template helps calculate UCaaS costs, benefits

  When plotting an ROI template for UCaaS, companies need to go beyond measuring costs and consider the positive impact to business processes, such as faster application upgrades.  Continue Reading

• Four technologies impacting enterprise communication

  Smartphones, video, messaging and freemium services are shaking up enterprise communications. Enterprises must prepare for the impact of these trends on employee communication and workflows.  Continue Reading

• How SDN benefits real-time management of UC apps

  Software-defined networking, considered a significant improvement over current static networking models, could help mitigate real-time UC network challenges.  Continue Reading

• Enterprise networks need to address mobility trends

  In order to accommodate employees' mobility needs, network engineers need to tackle three key considerations: bandwidth capacity, data security and privacy protection.  Continue Reading

• Measuring the business benefits of unified communications

  Workflow analytics, such as finding correlations between collaboration capabilities and product development efficiency, can pinpoint the business benefits of unified communications.  Continue Reading

• With Edge, Microsoft implements WebRTC browser support

  The new Microsoft Edge browser interoperates with Chrome and Firefox for voice communication. So, is WebRTC browser support finally coming together? Not quite.  Continue Reading

• UC vendors must focus on deliverance, not dominance

  In a shared economy, unified communications vendors need to embrace an open ecosystem of integrated services for long-term success. But with these changes, some challenges lurk.  Continue Reading

• New habits reshape collaboration in the workplace

  Employee mobility, digital whiteboards, revamped video conferencing and persistent team chat spaces are redefining collaboration in the workplace.  Continue Reading

• Mobile video conferencing enhances business processes

  Improved bandwidth, networks and mobile devices enhance companies' mobile video conferencing efforts as tablets and smartphones become commonplace.  Continue Reading

• Adoption of UC cloud services rising, but challenges remain

  More enterprises are adopting UC cloud services and moving applications like video and email to the cloud. But roadblocks can impede adoption.  Continue Reading

• Which WebRTC video codec will prevail?

  Cisco recently announced a new WebRTC video codec named Thor, which joins the fray of other video codecs competing for compatibility dominance.  Continue Reading

• How to thwart the risks presented by SaaS products

  Employees love the ease of downloading apps. But IT needs to be vigilant in providing workers with what they want while maintaining security over SaaS products.  Continue Reading

• Top WebRTC use cases for contact centers

  While many enterprises ought to explore their own WebRTC use cases, contact centers are leading the way in adoption of the browser-based technology.  Continue Reading

• Focus on WebRTC use cases to determine if it's right for you

  WebRTC use cases can help organizations identify problems and find solutions with the browser-based technology in order to determine if it's right for them.  Continue Reading

• WebRTC security concerns shouldn't deter enterprises

  Native media encryption and regular Web browser updates mitigate WebRTC security threats. Authorization and fraud-prevention mechanisms can help, too.  Continue Reading

• Layered security approach can thwart VoIP attacks

  A strategically placed firewall within your network infrastructure can help mitigate VoIP attacks. But encryption and proxy services add enhanced security.  Continue Reading

• SDN can help network, real-time UC apps communicate

  Software-defined networking can facilitate communications between the network and UC apps, including call management and packet forwarding.  Continue Reading

• How to evaluate UCaaS providers' security measures

  Make sure potential UCaaS providers address multi-tenancy management, end-to-end encryption and session border controller issues for added security.  Continue Reading

• Microsoft pushes enterprise telephony to the cloud

  Microsoft wants to push Skype for Business to the cloud, but organizations that want to host enterprise telephony services need to talk to their partners.  Continue Reading

• VoIP encryption urged outside and inside your network

  To maximize VoIP encryption methods, use Transport Layer Security in conjunction with Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol on all VoIP equipment.  Continue Reading

• Microsoft Skype for Business digs into the telephony pie

  Microsoft Skype for Business could cost companies more in operational expenses, so detailed planning for its implementation must be done.  Continue Reading

• Collaboration apps lack integration, outside communication

  Email is here to stay, for now. But new collaboration apps could reposition email within a broader service for better communication outside your company.  Continue Reading

• Mobile VoIP apps extend offices to mobile devices

  Mobile VoIP apps make your mobile phone your office extension. Make calls on a mobile device via company phone lines with the benefit of added security.  Continue Reading

• UC training, certifications are mostly vendor-specific

  The industry may lack vendor-neutral certifications, but hands-on UC training can help workers master products, advance their careers and boost their salaries.  Continue Reading

• Microsoft Skype for Business is not consumer Skype

  Despite integration with consumer Skype service, the new Microsoft Skype for Business still meets enterprise security and compliance requirements.  Continue Reading

• 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

• Cost savings, agility drive adoption of cloud telephony services

  With cloud telephony, small companies see savings, while larger companies see mounting costs over a long lifecycle. But cloud agility is still appealing.  Continue Reading

• With cloud video conferencing, the sky's the limit

  Cloud video conferencing becomes more popular as companies look to curb infrastructure costs and extend conferencing beyond their network boundaries.  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

• WebRTC applications could disrupt UC market

  Convergence among WebRTC apps, enterprise messaging and project management vendors challenge established UC players.  Continue Reading

• The right SIP trunking provider is key to VoIP migration

  Follow these VoIP migration tips whether you replace your whole telephony infrastructure or interface a PBX system with a SIP trunking provider.  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

• 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

• UC services must move from products to platforms to innovate

  UC services must shift away from being a set of products to truly foster innovation in the communication space.  Continue Reading

• It's time to take cloud UC seriously

  Cloud UC has become the delivery model that best fits today's computing environment and mobile workforce.  Continue Reading

• Four reasons to build WebRTC mobile apps

  Developing WebRTC mobile apps that include voice and video calling is a lot easer than many developers think, and many vendors have switched to the technology.  Continue Reading

• Rethinking enterprise video conferencing

  While major vendors are taking a conservative approach with WebRTC, others are rethinking enterprise video conferencing to make it more useful across an organization.  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

• 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

• SIP trunking advantages make the case for VoIP

  In part four of our series, SIP Trunking Explained, find out how SIP trunking advantages have made it the preferred method of providing VoIP communications in the enterprise.  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

• Does a telepresence business case still exist?

  The telepresence market of yore has died down to a sizzle. Does that mean the business case for telepresence is gone? Our video expert answers.  Continue Reading

• What UC costs: The real TCO of unified communications

  The total cost of ownership for unified communications has risen significantly since 2012. Learn why and which vendors offer the best value.  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

• Supporting mobility with a unified communications technology strategy

  To successfully implement mobile collaboration, enterprises must have a strong unified communications technology strategy.  Continue Reading

• How to integrate mobile UC products into your infrastructure

  Integrating mobile UC products hinges on how well you understand your infrastructure requirements.  Continue Reading

• Ten mobile UC questions to ask UC vendors before buying

  Enterprises need to arm themselves with critical mobile UC questions for evaluating UC vendors, then compare the answers.  Continue Reading

• UC mobility success means focusing on features enterprises really need

  For UC mobility to truly succeed, vendors must focus on enterprise conferencing capabilities, not existing consumer features.  Continue Reading

• Mobile unified communications definitions: Key standards

  Understanding fundamental unified communications definitions for mobile UC technology and standards is the foundation for implementing mobile UC.  Continue Reading

• Cloud-based unified communications essential to mobility

  Cloud-based unified communications are an integral part of an enterprise's mobility strategy. Philip Clarke discusses the advantages of the cloud.  Continue Reading

• Four steps to assess mobile collaboration technology for your workforce

  As employees become more mobile, enterprise IT must learn how to assess and extend new mobile collaboration technology to the UC infrastructure.  Continue Reading

• Social software and UC create 'collaborative communications'

  Unified communications and collaboration have merged with social software to create collaborative communications.  Continue Reading

• How to get a Wireshark VoIP packet capture

  To see what is going across your network, you can use packet sniffing tool Wireshark to detect VoIP traffic. Learn to sniff your network in this tip.  Continue Reading

• Wireshark packet capture filtering: How to parse your VoIP traffic

  Learn how to filter your Wireshark packet capture for VoIP-specific data to properly analyze your voice traffic.  Continue Reading

• UCaaS ROI formula calculations and methodology

  Before you deploy unified communications, whether the service is in the cloud or not, you must calculate the ROI of your project.  Continue Reading

• Does WebRTC support IPv6?

  Will WebRTC support session enablement in IPv6 environments? This article explains how this real-time communication protocol functions in v4 and v6.  Continue Reading

• Calculating TCO of hosted unified communications solutions

  Learn what elements to account for when calculating the total cost of ownership (TCO) of your hosted unified communications solutions.  Continue Reading

• Wireless voice over IP: What 802.11ac will do for VoIP

  Learn what promises IEEE 802.11ac Gigabit Wi-Fi standard will have on wireless VoIP in the enterprise.  Continue Reading

• How are softphones being used in the enterprise and beyond?

  Softphone bandwidth can be an issue while on the road, so how can network managers track softphone traffic and the user experience?  Continue Reading

• Corporate collaboration: The essential ingredient to any UC strategy

  Enterprises are beginning to learn that the essential ingredient to any UC strategy is corporate collaboration. Learn to successfully integrate UC&C.  Continue Reading

• Avoid unnecessary vendor upselling for unified communication solutions

  When purchasing your unified communication solutions, avoid unnecessary UC vendor upselling techniques that could cost you unwanted product features.  Continue Reading

• Session border control: The good, the bad, the ugly

  Session border controllers do well in securing VoIP connections, but enterprises should carefully analyze whether they should manage those borders.  Continue Reading

• 10 questions to ask your potential collaboration vendors

  Having a hard time deciding between collaboration vendors? Ask them these 10 questions to help you choose the right service for your business.  Continue Reading

• Business collaboration benefits: Assessing the technology

  There are many business collaboration benefits. This guide highlights a business case for using collaboration services in your enterprise.  Continue Reading

• Three drivers suggest need for flexible UC reference architecture

  New video, voice and cloud influences are pointing to the need for a new UC reference architecture that is flexible enough to meet different business needs and strategies.  Continue Reading

• 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.  Continue Reading

• Video conferencing security: Keeping private meetings private

  Common approaches to building a formidable video conferencing security architecture include encryption, presence and identity management and acceptable use policies.  Continue Reading

• Understanding the real meaning of pervasive video

  Pervasive video and ubiquitous video conferencing are not interchangeable terms. Knowing the real meaning of pervasive video may change the standard approach to video deployment.  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

• Top 5 trends in enterprise IP telephony

  What comes after full-scale IP telephony deployment? There are five important trends shaping the future of enterprise IP telephony.  Continue Reading

• Integrating video and unified communications: Video as a core UC tool

  The prevalence of video products at this year's Enterprise Connect shows that integrating video and unified communications has become a key focus of providers in the UC market.  Continue Reading

• Making sense of unified communications and collaboration tools

  Shopping unified communications and collaboration tools is demanding since collaboration tools and packages vary across vendors. This tip provides an overview of UC collaboration tools from top vendors, like Microsoft, IBM and Avaya, and will help ...  Continue Reading

• The truth about five nines availability in unified communications networks

  Five nines availability is attainable with traditional telecommunications networks, but is it attainable with a unified communications network? This tip explains how to calculate availability and how it relates to unified communications software and...  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

• Unified communications etiquette guide: What to know, what to avoid

  As enterprises adopt unified communications, they should focus on helping users adhere to rules of unified communications etiquette to ease their transition into regular UC use, improve user experience and increase employee uptake.  Continue Reading

• Video conferencing MCU location is important

  The location of video conferencing MCUs (multipoint conference units) makes a difference in your video conferencing deployment, affecting the number of users supported and ability to scale in the future. Learn why the WAN core is a good spot for the...  Continue Reading

• Secure video conferencing: Traversing the firewall

  Providing secure video conferencing means overcoming the inherent design differences between video conferencing and firewalls. Discover the pros and cons of using a direct Internet connection, configuring a DMZ, or deploying traversal servers and ...  Continue Reading

• IP telephony QoS: VoIP traffic management and prioritization

  When conventional solutions don't improve IP telephony QoS issues, VoIP traffic management can help. Learn how to prioritize VoIP traffic, address voice delay and provide Class of Service-based routing.  Continue Reading

• When SIP trunks fail: Disaster recovery for SIP trunking

  When your SIP trunks fail, do you have a disaster recovery plan for SIP trunking to support troubleshooting and resolution of SIP trunk failures, or are you solely dependent on what the carriers and/or ITSPs tell you?  Continue Reading

• Legacy devices and analog telephone lines still useful, despite VoIP

  Supporting legacy devices and analog telephone lines will be part of your due diligence well into the foreseeable future despite the high rate of VoIP and IP telephony deployments. Find out which legacy interfaces you can expect to use in the future...  Continue Reading

• Implementing a mobile unified communications (UC) solution

  Mobile unified communications (UC) can provide many major benefits to an organization. In this tip, you will learn about the major strategies available to implement a mobile UC solution and fixed mobile convergence (FMC).  Continue Reading

• The benefits of mobile unified communications

  With its cost efficiency and portability, mobile unified communications (UC) is an attractive option for companies looking to update their UC capabilities. Learn about the benefits of mobile UC, including the applications and the technology behind ...  Continue Reading

• What makes a UC system?

  Confused about what makes up a unified communications (UC) system? You're not alone! The answer can depend on whom you ask. It's universally accepted that presence is the cornerstone of UC. But understanding the difference between UC and the ...  Continue Reading

• VoIP service selection: MPLS, VPLS or Metro Ethernet?

  Creating secure, reliable VoIP connections over a multi-site enterprise network requires knowledge of your specific infrastructure. Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS), Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) and Metropolitan Ethernet (Metro Ethernet) ...  Continue Reading

• Presence: SIMPLE versus XMPP

  SIMPLE and XMPP are the two main presence-associated standards. Learn about these standards and how to leverage them to your advantage.  Continue Reading

• Intro to SIP packet routing: Using the SIP route header and via header

  In the last of a series of three tips introducing the basics of the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), Brien Posey discusses the four types of headers SIP employs to ensure that information packets travel the correct path when communicating between ...  Continue Reading