Unified Coms

Essentially, it's software that sits on your comms infrastructure and unites different messaging mediums, allowing staff to access their communications irrespective of what medium they're in or what device the worker is using.

For example, a UC system might allow a worker to read a fax or retrieve a voicemail via their email system, rather than having to go and pick up the fax from the machine or dial into their voicemail from their phone.

Unified communications systems typically have more strings to their bow than such 'unified messaging' capabilities, however.

UC systems should be able to integrate communications across multiple locations regardless of the kit or networks involved, or the applications or wireless providers used.

On the IT side, UC should mean less to manage - fewer directories and databases, and no more third-party voice messaging systems, for instance.

OK, so UC means everyone gets voicemails as emails and faxes as PDFs and so on, and the IT chief gets a few less migraines, but what else can it offer?

Another common component of UC systems is 'presence' - which is a bit like an IM status update. This enables a worker to see where their colleagues are located and how they would prefer to be contacted at any given moment. With presence, you can easily see which of those colleagues are currently in the office and how they each prefer to be contacted - by phone, email, IM and so on.

Presence is another example of how UC can be used to boost productivity and drive faster working - no more telephone tag, for example, and less time spent waiting for a client or colleague to get back to you.