Unified Communication

Unified Communication is the hottest new application for managing your business communication desktop. Since every vendor of software or hardware seems to have a slightly different version of Unified Communication, we should start with a definition.

What is Unified Communication?

Unified Communication is the process of merging the various communication technologies we use daily. Desk phones, cell phones, voice mail, e-mail, text messaging, PDAs, and web sites (and probably something that hasn’t been developed yet) are all used to interact with customers, clients, suppliers, consultants, team members, and other employees. Unified Communication is the magic which allows us to determine in advance exactly how communication is routed to reach everyone in the most efficient and timely manner. Custom rules, written by each individual user, determine how calls are routed through the various communication paths available.

First, the problem

When I am sitting at my desk and the phone rings, there really isn't a problem. I answer the phone, speak with the caller, and hang up - what could be easier? But what if I’m not at my desk, or I need to confer with a colleague who is on the road? What if I need to record the conversation and send a copy to my whole team? What if I’m on the production floor when that all important call comes in? Will the system automatically try to find me or does the caller just go to voice mail? If the call does go to voice mail, which voice mail? Does it go to my phone system voice mail, my cell phone voice mail, or my home voice mail? If I’m really out of reach, can I get my voice mail when I check my e-mail messages?

Next, the solution

Unified Communication is a group of advanced features available with modern digital or VoIP phone systems. Some features associated with your voice mail allow recording of telephone calls, integration of voice mail with Microsoft Outlook, and allow copies of messages to be sent to an e-mail account. Another group of features allow your unanswered calls to be routed to your cell phone and then back to your office voice mail. On some systems, you can even have your desk phone and your cell phone ring at the same time and you can transfer a call from your cell phone to any phone within your office system. If you select the voice response feature, you can use voice commands to re-program your Unified Communication Client to change routing while you are on the go. Some combinations of features will automatically page you through your building paging system to announce your waiting call.

Think about your unique communication circumstances, decide how you would like your communication to be routed, and then let us apply the technology to make it happen. The only limit is your imagination.