Multinationals keep the UC ball rolling
Our recent research with multinational corporations (MNCs) shows that, despite fierce budget constraints, they are upping the pace of unified communications (UC) implementation and integration. IP telephony rollout has progressed painfully slowly in these huge organisations, but many individual UC applications are now deployed, with a strong focus on video in the coming year. Extending to mobile devices is a priority for many.
The integration of IP telephony and software collaboration platforms is really under way now, with some companies undertaking company-wide projects. Cisco and Microsoft are dominating current implementations, with some MNCs looking for a single vendor for both IP telephony and software collaboration in future. While much has been said about cloud computing, these corporations still seem uncertain about its future role.
This report presents the results of a survey of MNCs’ progress with IP telephony, UC applications, UC integration projects and cloud computing. It presents the views of 23 major multinational corporations – all members of the EVUA – that took part in this research in October/November 2009. We have been tracking these companies and their progress with convergence and UC over a number of years.
The integration of IP telephony and software collaboration platforms is really under way now, with some companies undertaking company-wide projects. Cisco and Microsoft are dominating current implementations, with some MNCs looking for a single vendor for both IP telephony and software collaboration in future. While much has been said about cloud computing, these corporations still seem uncertain about its future role.
This report presents the results of a survey of MNCs’ progress with IP telephony, UC applications, UC integration projects and cloud computing. It presents the views of 23 major multinational corporations – all members of the EVUA – that took part in this research in October/November 2009. We have been tracking these companies and their progress with convergence and UC over a number of years.
Executive summary
In a nutshell
Key messages
Almost all have a global IP strategy, and global vendor partnerships are in place
IP telephony implementation is proceeding despite budget constraints
Further consolidation in voice providers
More move to managed IP telephony, but little interest in hosted voice
Network convergence projects are under way; MPLS is the technology of choice for almost all
Strong growth in telepresence and other video applications
Projects to integrate IPT platforms with software collaboration platforms have progressed
Some enterprises are looking for a single vendor for UC
Mobility is seen as an integral component of UC
Uncertainty about the future role of cloud-based services
IP telephony
Strategy and partnerships
Progress with IP telephony implementation
IP telephony suppliers and deployment models
IP telephony performance
Network convergence
Progress
Use of the Internet in the corporate network
Unified communications
Unified communications applications
Integrating UC
Social networking tools
Mobile UC
Mobility is an integral component of UC
Cloud computing
Users are uncertain about the role of cloud-based services
In a nutshell
Key messages
Almost all have a global IP strategy, and global vendor partnerships are in place
IP telephony implementation is proceeding despite budget constraints
Further consolidation in voice providers
More move to managed IP telephony, but little interest in hosted voice
Network convergence projects are under way; MPLS is the technology of choice for almost all
Strong growth in telepresence and other video applications
Projects to integrate IPT platforms with software collaboration platforms have progressed
Some enterprises are looking for a single vendor for UC
Mobility is seen as an integral component of UC
Uncertainty about the future role of cloud-based services
IP telephony
Strategy and partnerships
Progress with IP telephony implementation
IP telephony suppliers and deployment models
IP telephony performance
Network convergence
Progress
Use of the Internet in the corporate network
Unified communications
Unified communications applications
Integrating UC
Social networking tools
Mobile UC
Mobility is an integral component of UC
Cloud computing
Users are uncertain about the role of cloud-based services
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: The majority have a global IP telephony strategy
Figure 2: Global IP telephony partnerships are being put in place
Figure 3: Satisfaction with IPT partners’ performance so far
Figure 4: IP telephony is slowly penetrating further into enterprises
Figure 5: Growth in SIP-enabled phones
Figure 6: Cisco continues to dominate new IPT implementations
Figure 7: More interest in managed IP telephony, but little interest in hosted voice
Figure 8: IPT performance considered adequate to good
Figure 9: All will use VoIP in the WAN (to some extent) within two years
Figure 10: Few use the public Internet as part of the corporate voice network
Figure 11: Collaboration applications are most mature; video set to grow
Figure 12: Most see the benefits of integrating IP telephony and collaboration platforms
Figure 13: UC integration projects have progressed considerably
Figure 14: Cisco and Microsoft dominate in early UC integration projects
Figure 15: Some enterprises are looking for a single vendor for UC in future
Figure 16: Software vendors are tipping the balance in UC
Figure 17: Interest in Microsoft OCS voice capability in future
Figure 18: Corporate support for social networking tools is limited
Figure 19: Improved productivity and cost savings are the main drivers of mobile UC
Figure 20: Many UC applications will be deployed on handheld devices
Figure 21: Modest growth in mobile extensions to the PBX
Figure 22: IPT vendors and mobile operators seen as most important suppliers of mobile UC
Figure 23: Around half of the companies interviewed would consider cloud-based services
Figure 24: Security and SLAs the main considerations when considering cloud-based email
Figure 25: Openness to multiple supplier types for cloud services
Figure 1: The majority have a global IP telephony strategy
Figure 2: Global IP telephony partnerships are being put in place
Figure 3: Satisfaction with IPT partners’ performance so far
Figure 4: IP telephony is slowly penetrating further into enterprises
Figure 5: Growth in SIP-enabled phones
Figure 6: Cisco continues to dominate new IPT implementations
Figure 7: More interest in managed IP telephony, but little interest in hosted voice
Figure 8: IPT performance considered adequate to good
Figure 9: All will use VoIP in the WAN (to some extent) within two years
Figure 10: Few use the public Internet as part of the corporate voice network
Figure 11: Collaboration applications are most mature; video set to grow
Figure 12: Most see the benefits of integrating IP telephony and collaboration platforms
Figure 13: UC integration projects have progressed considerably
Figure 14: Cisco and Microsoft dominate in early UC integration projects
Figure 15: Some enterprises are looking for a single vendor for UC in future
Figure 16: Software vendors are tipping the balance in UC
Figure 17: Interest in Microsoft OCS voice capability in future
Figure 18: Corporate support for social networking tools is limited
Figure 19: Improved productivity and cost savings are the main drivers of mobile UC
Figure 20: Many UC applications will be deployed on handheld devices
Figure 21: Modest growth in mobile extensions to the PBX
Figure 22: IPT vendors and mobile operators seen as most important suppliers of mobile UC
Figure 23: Around half of the companies interviewed would consider cloud-based services
Figure 24: Security and SLAs the main considerations when considering cloud-based email
Figure 25: Openness to multiple supplier types for cloud services
