The third wave of unified communications technology is characterized by robust, interoperable, server-based tools that integrate with desktop and mobile clients to give information workers access to voice, fax, e-mail, and other data from wherever they are and allows users to use the telephone to manage their email, calendar, and personal contacts. 

Microsoft Exchange Unified Messaging Server and Cisco Unified Communications equipment will remain the market leading solution until well in the second decade of the 21st century. The most important competition for Microsoft’s offering will come from open source applications, which are currently immature and do not integrate with mainstream office communication and collaboration applications.

The market of Unified Communications is split up in equipment, services and integration. While Microsoft and Cisco dominate in the equipment and services markets, both Hewlett-Packard and IBM dominate the integration markets. Their services include assessment, strategy and architecture services. As such, they are the two only companies capable of helping users to plan their Unified Communications transformation.

Of these two, only Hewlett-Packard delivers full integration services and additional equipment such as smart
phones and notebook computers on the Microsoft / Cisco platform.

Apple Plays no Role Yet

Mac OS X has all the features needed to support UC. The platform is also robust enough, but the Apple platform does not play too much of a role yet in the UC story. However, that can rapidly change as Zimbra --an open source UC solution-- supports Mac OS X both on the server and client side.

In fact, Zimbra is the only solution threatening Microsoft and IBM. The only thing is: Zimbra still is immature and it will therefore take a couple of years before it can compete with the current solutions in the market.

The report does not mention Apple nor Mac OS X, because of the above reason. However, it’s important for Mac administrators that they know where UC is heading. The report is a free download for Level 1 subscribers. They can download it , from this page (keep in mind you’re on moxys.t-enquirer.com), following registration.