Interoperability is not only critical to customer success for deploying unified communications (UC), it is intrinsic to the delivery of legacy, current, and next-generation UC tools, services and infrastructure.
This is the view of Jonathan Edwards, research analyst at IDC. “Until now, efforts to achieve interoperability have appeared ad hoc, which has given customers little assurance that their existing and planned investments are protected and will deliver the value promised.”
To this end, several UC technology companies have banded together to form the Unified Communications Interoperability Forum (UCIF), including the likes of Microsoft, HP, Juniper Networks, and Polycom.
The UCIF is a non-profit organisation, with membership open to hardware and software solution providers, service providers and network operators.
“The big picture of UC is on the business perspective,” says Robert Stead, EMEA marketing director at Polycom, who adds there has been a general drive towards UC through the Web, VOIP, instant messaging (IM), and teleconferencing.
“The tipping point is that all of these technologies are coming together, where an e-mail could start an IM conversation which could lead to a video conference; we're moving towards a unified platform.”
Rudie Raath, HP network consulting group manager, says the UFIC exists to drive the message of a UC strategy. “No one vendor can deliver a complete UC solution.” He explains that the forum creates a cohesive environment where multiple vendors can work.
“The benefit of the forum is to create more uniform and better communication,” says Stead. “Different devices need to integrate together, and it's this implementation that is the difficult part.”
Stern explains that the goal of the UCIF is enabling operations in the UC space. “The point of the UCIF isn't creating standards. The UCIF exists to give more direction with existing standards, and makes testing and test programmes available to understand and connect as UC become seamless.”
He adds that UCIF also drives open, standards-based solutions. ”The key players are interested in making it happen and have the incentive to make it happen. In the end, I believe we're doing the right thing for the customer.”
Raath highlights HP's involvement will include consultancy and feedback, as well as having its consultants present their solutions to the forum. “We're looking at business outcomes when it comes to UC, and how it can work as a strategy for the business.”
Stern sees the creation of the UCIF as a positive development, where standards can get buried under IT developments. “The competitive battle between organisations can be bad, and interoperability will be good for both the customer and the service provider.”
He says most organisations have already incorporated aspects of UC into the workplace. “Most organisations already interoperate to a point, such as using e-mail and IM.” He adds the UCIF is a key way of protecting the customer's existing investment in the solutions they are currently using.
“It's all about helping the customers in a clear and direct way. And it might help the suppliers of the technology too,” concludes Stead.
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