Unified communications moving to the cloud, study claims

Written by Jessie Richards

Unified communications are increasingly likely to be delivered through cloud computing technologies, IT outsourcing users have been told.

Research conducted by In-Stat claimed that the business communications tool is being offered as a service rather than a product as major vendors start to work closer with hosted VoIP providers.

Dave Lemelin, an analyst with the research group, said that several ways of deploying unified communications through the cloud are beginning to be emerge.

"There are versions that operate as a hybrid mix of customer-owned equipment with managed/hosted services targeting mid-size businesses, those that act as fully hosted offerings with smaller businesses in mind," he explained.

In addition, the study claimed that the expansion of data rates in wireless networks will allow unified communications to be used on smartphones and other mobile devices.

Recent research from Aberdeen Group found 79 per cent of companies say that unified communications platforms pay for themselves within the first 12 months of their implementation.