The last two years have pushed unified communications (UC) into the forefront as a business staple. Ninety-three percent of businesses have increased their UC use, and the global UC market is expected to grow by $169.82 billion during 2021-2025. Business leaders and IT executives must be familiar with the key concepts in unified communications to make the right decision for their business. Here’s what you need to know about UC technologies, updated for 2022:

What is Ambient Computing? The concept of ambient computing encompasses cognitive technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, virtual agents, etc., in a business environment. Learn more.

What Is Asynchronous Communication? Asynchronous communication occurs when users communicate without being present simultaneously. It is the opposite of real-time communication and can be conducted through digital tools. Learn more.

What is Bring Your Own Carrier? Bring Your own Carrier or BYOC refers to the practice of sticking to a local or existing carrier plan when modernizing the telephony stack. One can use a cloud platform but still bring their own carrier. Learn more.

What is Cloud Calling? Cloud calling or cloud telephony allows users to replace on-premise carrier-based systems with Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP. It also streamlines back-end call management. Learn more.

What is Cloud Communications? The cloud is a foundational technology for UC that enables communication via the internet instead of standards PSTN. It also supports greater integration. Learn more.

What is Collaboration Analytics? This refers to data analytics insights on teamwork, productivity, collaboration patterns, and other aspects of online work. Nearly every UCaaS platform today offers collaboration analytics. Learn more.

What is Collaboration Software? These software platforms provide organizations with a virtual workplace where employees can chat, work, meet on video, share files, and more. They can be cloud-based or on-premise. Learn more.

What is CPaaS? CPaaS or Communications Platform as a Service is an API-based solution that allows organizations to integrate communication tools such as chat into their existing applications. Learn more.

What is Direct Routing? Direct routing refers to a Microsoft service that allows users to make direct calls via Microsoft Teams while using their preferred carrier. Learn more.

What is Hybrid Remote Work? As the term suggests, hybrid remote work refers to a working model where employees primarily work remotely but may come into the office for essential in-person sessions. Learn more.

What Is a Hybrid Meeting Room? These are meeting rooms that support in-person presence and remote join-in through a video conferencing platform. Employees in the office and at home can work together in hybrid meeting rooms. Learn more.

What is a PBX? PBX or Private Branch Exchange is a private telephone network that allows users to speak with each other, typically in a business environment. It is essentially a switching system that improves the older PSTN. Learn more.

What is PoE? Power over Ethernet (PoE) is a way to carry electrical energy through data cables, such as Ethernet connections. It lets users connect their devices to the internet and derive power supply using the same cable. Learn more.

What is a Session Border Controller? A Session Border Controller or SBC is a device that VoIP networks use to manage media streams. It enforces a standardized quality of service while managing calls. Learn more.

What is SIP Trunking? Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) trunking is a tool used for VoIP services, found on legacy and on-premise telephony devices. It is an alternative to ISDN lines. Learn more.

What is the Triple Peak Day? A trend recently uncovered by Microsoft identifies a third productivity spike apart from the first and second halves of the day. It refers to a remote worker’s tendency to get some work done before going to bed. Learn more.

What is UCaaS? Unified Communications as a Service or UCaaS refers to cloud-based UC solutions deployed as a service and are billable monthly. It reduces capex while increasing extensibility. Learn more

What is a UC Headset? These headsets have unique features to improve communication and optimize audio for workplace use. UC headsets may include integrations with collaboration tools and AI. Learn more.

What is Unified Communications? UC is an overarching technology platform that incorporates messaging, voice, video, meetings, collaboration channels, file sharing, apps, and more into a single experience. Learn more.

What is UPaaS? An emerging concept in UC, UPaaS refers to an intersection between UCaaS and CPaaS. It relates to cloud platforms that unify communications while enabling API extensibility. Learn more.

What is Video Conferencing as a Service? Video conferencing “as a service” leverages the cloud to host video calling and meeting solutions and builds the organization per user, per month, or per minute of consumption. Learn more.

What is VMR Software? VMR or virtual meeting rooms recreate the experience of physical meeting spaces using an online platform. VMR software leverage a Uniform Resource Identifier to connect multiple stakeholders seamlessly. Learn more.

What Is a VoIP Call? Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) is a technology that converts phone calls into data and sends it over the internet. It enables telephony for cloud-based UC platforms. Learn more.

What Is VR Collaboration? This refers to virtual reality (VR) for collaboration use cases by providing a 3D virtual world where employees can meet as avatars and work together. Learn more.

What Is a Webinar? A webinar is an online video conference between hosts and guests where multiple webinar attendees can join in to view the video stream and participate passively. Attendees are not part of the webinar but can chat with guests and hosts. Learn more.

 

 



from UC Today https://ift.tt/37oermB