Unified messaging
From Free net encyclopedia
Unified Messaging (or UM) is the integration of different streams of messages (email, Fax, voice, video, etc.) into a single in-box, accessible from a variety of different devices. It differs from simple multimedia email in that UM systems typically try to integrate telephone-based voicemail as well, and to make the UM mailbox accessible from a conventional or cellular phone.
Unified Messaging was expected by many in the telecommunications industry to be a popular product, first augmenting and eventually replacing voicemail. UM systems were expected to take advantage of the ubiquity of personal computers, and eventually of smartphones and 3G networks. However, UM was slow to gain consumer acceptance, and UM vendors such as Lucent and Comverse were badly hit when the slowdown in the telecommunications industry in 2001 made carriers wary of spending large amounts of money on technology with little proven consumer demand.
Today, UM solutions are increasingly accepted in the corporate environment. The aim of deploying UM solutions generally is to enhance workflows and improve processes as well as services. UM solutions targeting professional end-user customers integrate into the existing IT infrastructure, i. e. into CRM, ERP and mail systems (e. g. Exchange, Notes, SAP, etc.)
Providers
- Nextec Unified Communications - Offering unified messaging with advanced features such as text to speech for email, voicemail archiving and find me follow me features.
- Cycos - a vendor of Unified Messaging / Unified Communications solutions (mrs) for corporate use; integrates into Exchange, Notes, SAP, etc.
- iComProducts - the US vendor for iXware Unified Messaging software for medium to large businesses; integrates to Exchange, Notes, ERP, CRM and SFA applications.
- AVST - the creators of CallXpress and a range of switch independent messaging solutions including speech enabled Unified Messaging.
- Skylook - unified VoIP, email and IM based on Outlook and Skype.
- WiSPA - speech enabled unified VoIP telephony, email, IM, voice mail and hot desking solution for SOHO and SMB use; accessible from the ubiquitous telephone.