May 2 2013

A Few Moments of Dubai

My first ever visit to the city of Dubai, and while I wish I would of had more time to explore some other parts of it I somehow feel like it would all seem the same.  It’s a wonderful place. Very clean, high levels of service, many options for shopping and food.  Everything done just a bit more grandiose than any of its counterparts. Its hard to imagine that whole parts of a city like this night scene below didn’t exist a mere 10-12 years ago.  However, this makes everything new, like Disney new.  In fact, its almost as if its all a replica of something else. Any of you that have walked the countries reproduced in Disney could relate to the impression of Dubai.

IMG_6680

The Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in Dubai.  The tallest building in the world.  820 meters, over 1/2 mile into the air.  It’s an incredible building.  More importantly you can live there – what more than to have wonderful views of the desert or if you are on the water side you can use your telescope to monitor Iran!

I didn’t get a chance to go up inside the Burj but standing outside and gazing up at it was most enjoyable  I took this picture, but then added a little treatment to make it seem even more ominous.

IMG_6755

In the foreground is the Burj’s own lake.  Perhaps it doesn’t look like a lake, but it is 30 acres so it’s pretty big.  You quickly notice the serpent of pipes winding around the entire lake – the backbone to the largest fountain in the world.  One that spurts 22,000 gallons out during its choreographed show with water shooting some 500 feet into the air.  Yes, much like Las Vegas and developed by the same architect – but much much larger. Of course.

Surrounding the Burj’s lake are many different buildings.  I found them quite interesting and in fact I treated some of the photos I have so that these areas of building take on a bit more surreal look to them.  A painting you say?  Fake? Hmmm?

IMG_6781_tonemapped

Okay so the picture above takes on an almost painting effect.  Yes, it is a real photo I took of a real building surrounding the Burj lake.  Just to see the effect – a little Disney effect!  I’ll provide the two version of another photo below.  This just shows you the impact that effects can have on how an image looks.

IMG_6780

 

IMG_6780_tonemapped

I have to include one more photo of a bridge that crossed part of the lake.  I used a software-based “Tilt-Shift” treatment on this photo to give it a bit of tiny model look to it.

IMG_6775

As we walked around the lake I was seeking any photo ops, but it was a lot more buildings like above and yes I do have more.  However, I was seeking some images of people, capturing some form of the local life.  Yet, at the same time I read about taking pictures of people (especially women) as being very frowned upon, so I avoided it too much.  I did catch one interesting picture of a young lady standing near this decorative stone statue with her family.  She noticed me, but luckily her family did not.

IMG_6794_tonemapped

In another part of Dubai is the famous Burj Al Arab hotel.  Claimed as the only 7 star hotel and the most luxurious in the world. My door key didn’t work there so I could not visit.  Since we were there in the evening I only had a change at a nighttime photo.

IMG_6655

Immediately in front of the hotel is yet another hotel called the Jumeirah Beach Hotel.  There is a huge waterpark next to it and I suppose inside of it, but since we had to walk through it to get to our beach side dinner place the center has an interesting and colorful inner tower.  These pictures give you a feel for its colors.

IMG_6649_tonemapped

Okay, now with a little more treatment to give it some depth…

IMG_6649

During my stay we also did a visit to a remote desert resort.  Strangely enough, among hundreds of miles of desert there is a plush resort… just in case you need a retreat from the big city!  It was a busy eve so I didn’t get to take too many pictures, but when we arrived they had a couple camels there for us – which I had no interest in mounting even though they would clean and nicely dressed with saddles. They even had a colorful muzzle to keep them from biting or spitting on us!

IMG_6695_tonemapped

I did get a moment to explore some of the edges of the resort and found, well, lots of sand!  Except for this fellow that was just hanging out with his bird.  Did he have it hunt things?  Bring special notes to guests?  I don’t know and I didn’t get to go ask him.

IMG_6702

One last picture.  This is our team in EMEA during our night before our partners came in to visit. A great team and a nice dinner before a very busy but successful few days doing business together! Thanks everyone for your hospitality!

IMG_6670

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mar 28 2013

Decomposing Mobility to get the Real Story

Mobility – it’s a hot topic in the communications industry.  Every vendor has a story for it.  What does it really mean though?  What is “Mobility” other than being mobile?  Is it a buddy, IM and presence client that installs on your mobile phone?  Is it FMC (Fixed Mobile Convergence) that <for the most part> allows your mobile cellular call to roam onto a WiFi VoIP call?  Is it a set of forward rules on your PBX that ring your mobile number?  Is it all of these combined?

Then, how are these achieved in a manageable and economical manner for an enterprise?  Quite often vendors achieve these functions via add-on hardware or software, often sourced from 3rd parties that have innovated in a niche area. Does this really provide a fit solution for the enterprise or achieve a checkbox for the supplier?

Then there is still Fix Mobile Convergence (FMC). I question the real value of FMC, especially when you must purchase and manage additional hardware & software.  Because the real question is do the end users really care?  Since the most likely users are people in roles like sales I can’t imagine a single sales guy that would tolerate dropping calls with a customer in trade for saving a few mobile minutes. Yet, there-in lies the key – the users goal: get connected, stay connected, no matter where I am.  So how is this function provided in your solution?

In the mobile (let’s call them AppPhones) world there are dozens of Apps from vendors that allow users to sign-on to their companies “UC” system and see their colleagues availability, instant message them, etc.  Many simply source 3rd party software to provide a mobile phone client (branded to the vendor of course).  Then, many of these clients are “soft phones” – that allow the user to make a phone call over WiFi data or now even over cellular data connections – bypassing the cellular minutes and using their data plans.

The next addition to the mix is the wave of tablets used in business, lead by the iPAD and now found in droves when you attend a conference.  It’s become the new convenient tool to carry, but it doesn’t replace the mobile phone.  What matters is that this is also becoming a business communications tool and has to be considered in the mix of devices to support, from a vendor viewpoint and from a buyer viewpoint.  Let’s not forget laptop computers – as there is still a significant case for using these in business and there are things you just cannot do as easily on a tablet.

If I add into this mix the need to consider fixed phones, regardless of weather they are IP connected phones or simply phone numbers on the public switched telephone network (which is effectively what your mobile cell phone is by the way) and the idea that users want to also do more that just chat and call from their devices – they also have a need to share content quite a lot these days and the demand for content sharing tools is significant.  I can enter video into the picture as there is still demand for video, however I always question buyers on how many thousands of dollars they spent on video equipment in conference rooms that sit idle most the time.  Nonetheless, it has its place.

So, the real story lies somewhere in the mix of all these things but the answer from a real innovators view should be to carefully and almost surgically bring these together as an integral part of an enterprise-class software platform.  The reason for this is to address the needs of the end users in a economical and manageable way.  It also has to do with creating a user experience that is easy to understand, is consistent regardless of the device you use (yes, whats happening is everyone has all three: laptop, tablet, mobile).  In addition it is best to empower users to easy control things like phone calls – allow them to have a single business number, but to see and take calls to this number on any device (including alternate PSTN numbers) and then empower them to move these calls to any other device – on-the-fly.  In addition users should be able to use a common software client, with common sign-on credentials, and see the same set of contacts, regardless of device – and they should be able to use the same clients to join content sharing meetings, voice or video calls, or simply engage in text chats. The video below provides a snapshot of how this looks when you have all three devices and engage on a dialog across devices.

The next part of the real story is to consider mobility as a need to enable end-users who are mobile to better engage in business while they are on the go.  I say these are nomadic users – users that move around and must constantly seek the right choice to stay connected to their colleagues and must also find ways to bring colleagues in the office to their clients, in a virtual way.  This is where the tools for these nomadic users must be able to easily engage colleagues and bring audio, video, and content to the customer location.  Too often we think of sending the sales person in virtually, and there is an appropriate time for that, but most often it is a face-to-face relationship world but requires the subject matter experts to be brought online as needed.  This is where the right mobility tools can really make the nomadic user on customer premises excel – addressing the customer questions and needs immediately.

Lastly, a real mobile solution wouldn’t be considered if it didn’t employ some form of security measures.  These should be considered at a few different levels, first is sign-on credentials – these should be an integral part of the enterprise credentials & directory strategy, next are methods used to provide forms of encryption of the control information and perhaps also for the payload (content), lastly is an implementation approach that keeps enterprise content off the mobile devices to every extent possible without impeding the effectiveness of the end-user.  Solutions should consider what occurs when a user has their access rights revoked. Does sign-on revocation eliminate access from all of their mobile devices (clients) simultaneously?

So, the real story is not in any one of these functions as a point solution but more as a careful assessment of your workforce and how you will enable them to be for effective.  The following checklists can be utilized as a high-level tool for evaluation of your situation and how well you supplier can fulfill your needs.  Again, the real story starts with your workforce and their needs within your business, not with technology components.

Business Use-case Assessments:

Workforce work-styles – what tools are really needed to be effective

Different needs by Role – categorize sales versus marketing, etc.

Location – where do people work and what is their connectivity

Shared Workspaces – how often do users engage F2F and what tools are needed

Operating Environments – what is the inventory of devices, is it changing

BYOD – are you willing to embrace a Bring Your Own Device strategy

Infrastructure Selection:

Enterprise Fit – is the solution a natural fit for your enterprise architecture

Premises, Cloud – Can you choose to buy as a service, or operate in your DC

Device Support – do the client offerings match your use-case needs

Governance & Policy – do the controls align with how you want to govern usage

Agility – Does the solution scale, extend, and contort itself to adapt to your business

Security – is security embedded, does it align with your enterprise security approach

In this checklist I refer to “Shared Workspaces” and in a future post I’ll argue that solutions for share workspaces (you may call them meeting or conference rooms) should be considered as an integral part of the suppliers UC solution set and should NOT <at least solely) be a separate video conferencing add-on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mar 6 2013

Your UC is Morphing Again

morphing-jon-gemmaIn the early forms of unified communications solutions we saw many vendors deliver the different functions as discrete products, wired together in some way to create a “unified” communications solution.   The realization that this isn’t so unified came later, and buyers & vendors have since then worked on more integrated offerings. The benefits of a fully integrated solution are significant – economics (more functions from each instance), less to manage, lower CPU demands (in theory), and if done right the ability for intelligence of each function to be easier utilized by other functions – creating a more powerful set of end user capabilities

However, it seems that just as we are integrating there are others disaggregating functions again, but this time it’s in the cloud.  In fact this time it may be for just the right reasons and may help organizations solve other waning issues with IP-based unified communications – for example, interoperability is still an issue.  For decades the solution for interoperability among voice was well defined and this thing called the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) still solves this pretty efficiently.  However, when it comes to IP-based voice, video calling, video conferences, instant messaging, and even web conferencing there is still a sizable gap in “real” interoperability.

Fortunately there are some organizations that see this lack of interworking as opportunity and have created services in the cloud that specifically address this.  One is in the areas of “federation” for sharing Instant Messages and availability (aka “presence”) between two different companies, even if they are using different technologies.  Another set of services provides the same for real-time media over IP between two companies (audio and video), brokering the connection or session setup so that people can easily arrange video calls between two companies, again even if they are using different technologies.  Another function that is surfacing is the cloud-based video conference bridge, or otherwise known as an MCU (multipoint control unit) allowing people arrange a video meeting in the cloud with several people on it, again even if they are using different technologies.

Now, one might look at the technology and the vendors that develop it and say why don’t the vendors just agree to make their products work together?  Well, in theory, or in marketing hype they can or do or will?  Let’s be realistic – it’s a competitive marketplace and each vendor is primarily interested in replacing the other.  There is little real interest in interoperability – unless of course there is a complimentary relationship and then it is often a unilateral validation of the interoperability.

So, applaud! These emerging cloud providers are solving much needed services.  They are the mediators for the competing vendors that are solving real world issues for the end customers. These new services can provide customers with a greater degree of flexibility on reach, scale, and agility to address collaboration among partners.

Who are some of these providers?  They include vendors such as Vydio, Bluejeans Networks, VidTel, and Nextplane.  Each has it’s own different twist on what it offers and should be considered independently depending on your needs and there will no doubt be others on the scene.

Jan 3 2013

Six simple reasons why social tools are good for business use

 

Wordle-socialentrepreneur

1. Better Decision Making

Information for decision-making has dramatically increased and the sources have become both internal and external – requiring decision makers to have better tools to navigate this information. The right tools will enable individuals and workgroups to focus on information that really

2. Natural Tools for the Modern Day Workforce

The workforce make-up is changing and the norm is becoming more textual with shorter asynchronous dialogs, net-based file shares, open group-oriented exchange – gradually replacing phone calls, IMs and emails with attachments.

3. Simplifying Work

The complexities of multiple projects mean involvements in many “threads” with different team members, different discussions, and different information – where newer tools are better suited to create efficiency for these workgroups, regardless of which part of the business you are involved in.

4. More Integrated Customer Engagement

Client / Customer interaction is moving to a more asynchronous interaction where customers wish to use web sites, chats, topical searches and threads, and communities of users like themselves to solve problems. A powerful opportunity for companies to engage their customers differently.

5. Creating More Business

The Internet, in particular social networks, are becoming a gold mine of information for those that wish to mine them for potential clients, market their organizations, and create new opportunity.

6. Ever-present User Experience

How these tools are composed for the users is as important as the functions themselves. The emergence of richer browser tools that reach from desktop to mobile device – especially in the form of technologies like HTML5 – will create a common and rich user experience that is easy to navigate and allows inherent real-time collaboration without specialized applications and network tools to connect.

 

Dec 6 2012

Volcano Calbuco

The initial ascent seems a bit uneventful with nicely manicured trail ways and little incline. That changes as you complete about and hour of of the hike and while the incline was still not much concern the ground cover now begs your constant attention as you tread your way upwards. A forested, almost jungle-like trail breaks open to an everlasting hardened volcanic flow. It’s easy to envision a red hot flow here merely 50 years earlier – the year I was born in fact. Then you disappear back into the forest, the trail narrows and turns with more regularity as it winds around trees that survived hundreds of years and emerging rock and volcano. Don’t blink or you will trip on something. Then again, and again, we cross gigantic volcanic rock – more hardened lava flows. After a couple hours the trail applies a more intensified angle of ascent and slows our progress. Many points are careful grinds up nearly vertical inclines, leveraging roots, small rock ledges, and my trusty climbing sticks to make my way up. I questioned if I needed all of my camera gear in my back pack. I hear my climbing partner slip and grunt from time to time, I miss a few myself. It isn’t getting easier. After more than 4 hours we arrive at a small shelter, nothing much but it’s a break for some lunch. We ascend further and the terrain turns to mostly volcanic rock and glacier snow. Our hired mountaineer rips across rock ledges like a mountain goat, we stop and then gingerly make our way behind him. After another hour we sit on a rock ledge looking down over miles of terrain, now observing the many lava flows from atop. Reaching down I can grab a handful of refreshing water that is flowing from the glacier melt. Here is awesome. Here is where only a small number of people on earth get to go. If you can – do it.

20121206-221914.jpg

Sep 18 2012

Homecoming Photo Shoots – How to make the most of them.

It was that time of year again, Homecoming.  The call of duty comes into play, “come on we need to take pictures of all the kids.”  The timed gathering in the local park to ensure some sun and greenery for the photo shoot and 20 or more decked out high schoolers along with their moms, and some dads show.  The boys – a trip to the isles of the local Kohls store and they’re all set.  The girls – decked to the nines with the latest in high school homecoming fashions, hairdo’s, nails, makeup, etc. – my pocketbook is in pain.  The fun begins, “line up, line up!”, one mom yells.  ”What do you think, you must know this stuff, look at that camera?”, one says to me.   “Well, I wouldn’t shoot straight into the sun, move them over there for a better back drop.”, I suggest.  ”Lets go!”, she yells.  Now then, imagine 20 moms with iPhones, iPADs, and cameras all trying to get the group shots in.  Yep – crazy.  ”Get in there and get a picture!”, my dear wife reminds me.  ”Sure”, <snap, snap, snap>.   I have to say, I hate these kind of pictures!

Of course, its not long until everyone has had enough group shots and the opportunity raises — this is where you cease the moment.   What you need to consider is that for the next 20-30 minutes the girls will be circling around chatting, joking, taking more individual pictures, etc. Its when some of their best facial expressions come out.  They are not watching you from afar zooming on on them, the setting is perfect.  Wander around the scene, capturing a flurry of images of different expressions, different sun reflections and lighting, and on occasion one of them looking straight at you and giving you a look – perfect!  What can you get from it?  Well here are a few of the shots I captured – the faces of homecoming.  It actually makes it work the endeavor!  These were taken using my Canon 7D mostly with my 70-200 F2.8 USM lens.

<<< Click on any image below for a slide show >>>

Jul 28 2012

Wild Thyme

Tucked away in the hills above Melbourne Australia is a little town call Warburton. If you drive the speed limit you might miss it, however the roads are so narrow and curvy that the speed limit is difficult. Among the town is the Yarra river which feeds from the surrounding mountains (hills really). Tonight I am staying about 100 meters above the town at the Warburton Lodge, an aged little place tucked into the hillside reachable by windy one lane roads. A venture out for dinner brought me to the Wild Thyme cafe. Wonderful Lasagna and a mug of their potato and spicy lentil soup was a perfect choice for dinner. It’s Saturday night here and the place is empty of dinner-goers but seems to have a regular flow of people grabbing a coffee or a bottle of beer for the patio. The waitresses set out reservation tables and clear the desert fridge from the front window. Seems the place will liven up much later – as they are making room for the band. Hardly seems enough room as the place is quite small, nonetheless a solo band will take the place of desert starting at 8 pm. I wont be here to here the talent as its been a long day on the back of 30+ hours of travel to Australia. It’s appears this little place will liven up tonight though. It’ll be time for me to find my lodge and catch up on some overdue rest. I’m looking forward to the early morning when I’ll head up into the hills to catch the brisk morning air and enjoy the mountain streams and jungle-like forest. If you are ever in Australia and in the outskirts of Melbourne then check out Warburton and the Wild Thyme cafe.

Jun 26 2012

Empowering Millennial work-styles to unlock your Business Potential

We have been hearing about an emerging workforce born after 1980 and the first generation to come of age in the new millennium.  These young adults are also known as Millennials, the Net Generation, Generation Y, Generation Next, the Hyper Connected Generation or Echo Boomers.  No matter which name you use to designate this group of young adults they are becoming a significant factor to consider in business.  At about 80 million strong in the United States they outnumber the large Baby Boomer generation by three million people.1  Within the next two years Millennials will comprise over half of the labor market globally.

The way Millennials interact with friends and colleagues is creating a new set of demands on the tools that businesses provide.  They have a strong desire for always-connected, mobile access and when it comes to computers they live in a wireless, Internet connected world. The use of email is outdated to them; instead message posts on social networking sites are their modus operandi.  Anywhere access to their applications, whether from a PC or a mobile device, is expected, and the idea of installing “fat” applications that are locked down and only work on certain machines is limiting to their nomadic nature. For those of the Hyper Connected Generation the concept of making a call from a pay phone or even ever stepping inside a phone booth, if they even know what it is, seems very foreign to them.  Life without a mobile device to provide anywhere, anytime connectivity is not imaginable.  These mobile devices are not primarily used for making phone calls either.  For Millennials text messages are the preferred method of communication over making phone calls.  Some may even question why there is an office phone on their work desk since most have already “cut the cord” (or the land-line) at home or perhaps never even installed one.   In fact, according to a recent federal study in the United States 44% of 18-30 year olds have only a wireless phone at home.2  Finally, with the proliferation of Wi-Fi, working from anywhere is a prerequisite when trying to attract this young talent.  For Millennials, work is something they do, not  somewhere they must go.  The benefit to businesses who understand this can be unprecedented, as this generation is highly educated, born to multi-task, and seemingly capable of producing around the clock.

Enter Unified Communications & Collaboration (UC&C)

Unified communications has many different definitions, but according to the 2012 Unified Communications and Collaboration Study from IDG Enterprise, unified communications and collaboration (UC&C) is defined as a broad umbrella of technologies that are all accessible through common user interfaces on desktop and mobile devices using voice or tactile controls.  Within this umbrella is advanced telephony calling and management, unified messaging, web/audio/video conferencing, Instant Messaging, pervasive presence, mobility, VoIP, collaboration, CEBP (communications-enabled business processes) and contact center.3  These advanced types of communications solutions have been gaining steady traction across businesses as CIOs look for new, innovative technology to increase workforce productivity and stay competitive in the global marketplace, yet still be achieved within their tight budgets.  Established companies are migrating their legacy PBXs to unified communications and collaboration software-based solutions to take advantage of this leading-edge technology.  UC&C is more economical to operate than traditional PBXs and helps to increase workforce productivity.  More importantly, if UC&C products are designed correctly they can provide the cutting edge work experience that Millennials expect.  When Millennials are thinking about prospective employers they are not only concerned about the company culture, but they also take into consideration the technology they will use in their work environment every day.  According to a recent study from Accenture over a quarter of these Gen Y workers are disappointed with the technology their employer provides them, and almost 40% are looking for state-of-the art technology at their place of employment.4

The Mobile and BYOD Lifestyle

The nomadic work style is a growing trend with today’s workforce.  IDC predicts that by 2015 the world’s mobile worker population will reach 1.3 billion people, representing 37.2% of the total workforce.5  Millennials in particular embrace mobility with nearly a quarter owning a tablet, over half currently using a smart phone, and almost three quarters possessing a laptop. Millennials expect to be able to work anywhere at any time and on any device.  They are the “always connected” generation, which sleeps with their mobile devices at their bedside and checks them even before having breakfast.  State-of-the-art UC&C technology supports their anytime, anywhere work style by enabling users to control which device rings and when based on profiles or schedules they establish; therefore, information is easily exchanged even when using their mobile devices, resulting in improved customer service and overall efficiency.  Less time will be spent listening to voicemails or playing phone tag.

The industry has observed consumerization before, but with Millennials owning powerful smart phones and preferring these devices for both business and personal use, along with other devices such as tablets, a trend in communications known as BYOD, or Bring Your Own Device, is emerging. This trend is being pushed from the top down by executives as well as from the bottom up by Millennials.  With the current BYOD trend the lines between work and personal devices are becoming blurred in the enterprise. Many corporations are already implementing BYOD policies and taking advantage of leveraging the devices owned by their employees.  There are several reasons for this. First, it appeals to and helps attract a Millennial workforce.  This young generation is very familiar with technology, and they want to use leading edge technology not only in their personal lives, but at work as well.  Second, BYOD can help to increase employee productivity because these individuals are most familiar and comfortable using devices of their choice.  In fact, if BYOD is implemented properly it can result in a 10% – 15% increase in end user productivity.6  Finally, the soft benefit of employee morale is bolstered by BYOD.  Employees feel more empowered.  In the United States 77% of employees feel that technology in general makes their working life better.7

Unified communications is a critical component when considering a BYOD policy.  It actually can enhance a user’s device and thus their collaboration capabilities within the company while protecting a company’s confidential information.  It is important that a unified communications and collaboration solution enhances these different devices by offering mobile clients that provide a user experience that is not only powerful and rich, but also functions consistently across different operating systems, from iOS and MAC to Microsoft Windows and Android, to provide an intuitive, easy to use experience.   A UC&C solution should be architected for infrastructure supporting all types of different devices or equipment – mobile or stationary.  With UC&C no matter which device is being used an employee should be able to still access key contact lists, join a conference bridge, or access other collaboration applications using a common set of login credentials, resulting in a more valuable device and a more productive employee.

Securing the Social Enterprise

Social and mobile are converging in the workplace.  Social networks from Facebook to LinkedIn are being used by employees as a means for company advertising, finding prospective employees, monitoring the competition, etc.  Since Millennials grew up with technology they are very Internet-savvy and use many of these social networking sites as well as visit many other sites on a daily basis.  In fact, an overwhelming 83% of Millennials use some sort of social media site.8  Many of the Hyper Connected generation connect to these sites not only via their desktops, but they use other devices such as their tablets and smart phones too.  These users do not want to be burdened with VPNs and other security measures yet enterprises advocating a BYOD policy must make security a key element of the guidelines because the cost of a breach can be catastrophic.  Companies deploying UC&C solutions should enable their users to leverage their same authenticated enterprise credentials and use the same encryption methods that are employed for other content that traverses the enterprise network normally.  Therefore, the standard security methods such as HTTPS / SSL and certificates should apply for unified communications as well.  UC&C solutions should even consider incorporating more stringent security measures, such as JITC (Joint Interoperability Task Command), which is mandated by government organizations.

Satisfying a Variety of Roles

Unified communications and collaboration infrastructure should serve many different roles in an organization, from engineering to sales to customer service to operations.  When deploying a UC&C solution it is important to take into consideration the different types of users and their work styles.  If the UC&C system is deployed with these different communities in mind it will not only improve productivity, but it will also result in attracting the best and brightest of the Millennial workforce, reduce travel expenses and improve customer service.  Below are just a few of the different ways that a UC&C solution can be used for all types of employees:

  • Sales organizations can easily schedule or establish ad-hoc collaboration sessions to engage prospective or existing clients.
  • Marketing can arrange webinars to promote to the broader market and to poll attendees on their specific interests.
  • Customer service can invoke remote control or co-browsing sessions with clients to enhance the support experience and ultimately the resolution.
  • Users across an organization can arrange recurring or scheduled virtual meetings, which can include video, screen sharing, file sharing and more for a fully integrated multimedia experience.

Millennials are the next generation workforce who bring different work styles and technology expectations that cannot be ignored if you want to attract these new employees.  Unified Communications solutions can help enterprises to accommodate this new work style and provide powerful benefits to the productivity and competitiveness of their business.  Next time, you consider your company’s current communications network, do not just think about how it serves the needs of your current workforce, but consider how an Echo Boomer would view your current technology.  Would your business satisfy the 40% of Millennials who are looking for state-of-the-art technology to use at work?

1Time Moneyland “Millennials vs. Baby Boomers:  Who Would You Rather Hire?” Dan Schawbel March 29, 12

2CBS Interactive “Percentage of Cell Phone Only U.S. Homes Doubles” April 23, 2011

32012 Unified Communications and Collaboration Study IDG Enterprise March 2012

4Jumping the Boundaries of Corporate IT – Accenture Global Research on Millennials’ Use of Technology Accenture 2010

5IDC Worldwide Mobile Worker Population 2011-2015 Forecast doc# 232073 December 2011

6Developing a BYOD Policy webinar J. Gold Associates June 2012

7Jumping the Boundaries of Corporate IT – Accenture Global Research on Millennials’ Use of Technology Accenture 2010

8Pew Internet and American Life Project Generations 2010 Kathy Zickuhr December 16, 2010

Mar 31 2012

EnterpriseConnect 2012 and the Energy Continues

This past week was the EnterpriseConnect show in Orlando, Florida.  A sizable industry event for the top vendors in the communications industry and one of NEC’s most important shows.  NEC was a Diamond Sponsor this year hosting a 30X40 foot booth on the show floor and many other sponsorship marketing activities. See the video and read more below…

A year ago we chose to showcase our strategy for UC and Collaboration.  For the first time, probably in its history, NEC attended this show without any “racks” of equipment.  The show moved from be “voice” centric to being “Unified Communications” centric. We shifted our story from what we can put in racks and on butting of phones to the end-user experience and all software that can operate from the cloud – hence we didn’t have any server racks on the show floor. This year was time to show how that strategy came together in execution as we launched our new brand for our software platforms, UNIVERGE 3C.  The sheer number of features that have been added to the platform in the past year is arguably 4-5 times the previous year, and the most important part is that it is truly more integrated as a OneNEC platform than every before.

The roving EnterpriseConnect video team came by the booth to capture a quick interview – see it HERE.

Our demonstrations illustrated the ease at which you can engage in collaboration meetings, using IM, voice, video, screen sharing, document sharing, remote controls, and more.  Perhaps the leader in driving a common user experience across desktop, tablet, and mobile we were able to demonstrate this to everyone who took the time to visit our booth.  The other proof point in our progress was the results of the annual RFP held at the show.  This year we participated in two, one of standalone UC and one for UC with a  PBX.  As I heard one of the moderators kicking off the panels announce a congratulations to NEC for substantial progress in the past year it further solidified the busy year of work behind the scenes at NEC.

Its pretty clear that the game has move to software, the cloud, the focus on enabling mobile and tablet devices, and how to deliver a common user experience to enterprise users.  Next year, there will be yet another key shift – but you’ll have to wait until next year to see that one.

NEC also broke some barriers in its approach to marketing our UNIVERGE 3C product this year, while we launched this story to hundreds of countries and included our announcement in 8 different languages, we also took an opportunity to try something uniquely different at this event.  Following one of the Keynotes, and just before lunch we launched dozens of dancers onto the crowd in a Flash Mob.  It became a point of conversation for quite a while and live on in a video on YouTube, take a look for yourself:

Mar 19 2012

What’s this Common User Experience Stuff?

Of all the cool features in UNIVERGE 3C it’s perhaps the simplest that people seem to like. The common user experience delivered on Windows, Mac, or on your iPAD or on your iPhone or on you Android, or …   Well, you get the picture.  Our industry has become emblazoned in feature checkboxes, vendors filling their gaps through rebranded OEMs and acquisitions that result in a very different user experience – but they can “check off the box”!

It’s exciting to see the experience as we showcase the any clients, all with a common user experience, common login credentials, common security, common status, contacts, meetings rooms, and more.