Unified communications (or UC) is a growing trend in business designed to simplify and integrate different forms of modern communication systems. It is delivered using both hardware and software and often requires an infrastructure upgrade.
Unified Communications technology is being developed to help break down the barriers between the different communication devices and formats that are in use today, so that people can communicate with anyone, anywhere, at any time.
Unified Communications encapsulates:
Real-time communications systems focus on fundamental communication between individuals using applications or systems such as audio conferencing, instant messaging, traditional PBX, next-generation (VoIP communication systems) and paging.
Unified messaging which has been specifically devloped to help improve on voice-mail, e-mail and fax based media.
Multimedia aplications, unified communications includes messages from mixed media types such as video, sound clips, and still images including communication via the now widely used short message services (SMS).
Collaboration with specific emphasis on applications such as calendaring, scheduling, workflow, integrated voice response (IVR), and other enterprise applications that help individuals and groups communicate with greater efficiently.
Transactional and informational systems which provide access to e-commerce, voice Web-browsing, weather, stock-information, and other enterprise based applications.
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