Chaos in Unified Communication (UC) Devices

The development of UC is obvious to all. From the initial "unattended" to the current "hot pursuit", everyone's attitude towards unified communication UC is not the same. Some people agree, and some do not. So what is the reason for this phenomenon?

UC) further develops the concept of IP communication by using the Session Initiation Protocol and the mobile solution, truly unified and simplified various types of communication-not influenced by location, time, or device. Through the Unified Communication UC) solution, users can communicate with each other at any time according to their preferences, and can use any device to communicate through any media. UC integrates multiple commonly used telephones and devices, as well as multiple networks (fixed, Internet, wired, satellite, and mobile, it facilitates communication and business process integration, simplifies operation, and improves productivity and profit.

However, problems are also emerging, which is also a risk that hinders the development of UC.

Unified Communication UC) and device diversification

Although the use of multiple devices helps improve work efficiency, the increasing number and types of devices also increases the complexity of device management. Taking communication tools as an example, many employees not only have office phones, mobile phones, and VoIP phones, but also UC (Unified Communications) Unified Communication Solutions have changed PCs into soft phones, in this case, it is sufficient for many employees to respond to various telephone calls, such as voice emails, mobile instant messages, and text messages, including PC soft phones.

In this case, although the Unified Communication technology can reduce the communication cost to a certain extent, it also brings many potential thorny problems. In particular, the diversity of employee equipment can easily bring security, management and maintenance threats. In particular, when employees bring consumer technologies into the workplace without permission, their potential threats will be even greater. For the IT management department of an enterprise, the worst of them is the chaotic equipment management caused by this, which has always been regarded by the IT management department as an enemy of UC.

More than a decade ago, In the era where personal office equipment was limited to one office phone and one PC, such problems almost existed, and IT managers could have the maximum control of internal equipment and technology. However, in today's Unified Communication Environment, enterprise employees can have instant messages beyond traditional emails and telephones, and even a variety of tools and applications such as Skype or Google Voice to consume VoIP services. During normal working hours, employees may process instant messages and important emails while attending online meetings and teleconference, calling customers and colleagues, listening to music and watching videos, these activities may involve PCs, smartphones, MP3, desktop phones, and other devices. In this case, how to simplify device management and eliminate device management chaos has become the top challenge for the IT management department of enterprises.

Solution to device chaos

To address this problem, software and hardware products have emerged on the market to help enterprise employees and IT teams manage multiple devices and applications. For example, through the integration of wireless headsets, USB-based mobile phones and other software and hardware products, call and audio management on the UC platform can be realized, IT administrators can simplify daily communication management and minimize device confusion and call pressure on the Enterprise consulting service desk without affecting employees' work efficiency.

For example, HealthNet successfully solved these problems based on Cisco's IP Communicator solution. While deploying the Cisco IP Communicator solution, the Medical Insurance Agency, headquartered in North California, also provides mobile office staff with a wireless bluetooth headset that can connect mobile phones and PCs, these employees can connect to their office telephone lines through the network so that they can use the same phone number to communicate with each other at office, home, or when they are out.

Although HealthNet provides mobile office staff with Bluetooth headsets, it seems to have increased the complexity of device management. However, because simple and easy-to-use Bluetooth headsets actually play the role of a bridge device, they can achieve Unified Communication UC) integration of multiple devices on the system platform. Therefore, the introduction of Bluetooth headsets does not further complicate device management, but greatly simplifies device management. In addition, in the office, the headset system and supporting software can also connect the employee's PC soft phone with the desktop phone, and can use the PC and simple click to manage the two. Some systems even allow users to connect two devices together to form a temporary teleconference system that can be used to add callers for discussion and to mix the telephone voice and PC audio.

HealthNet's bridge solution provides a successful example of keeping mobile office staff in touch with the office space, implementing communication management, and streamlining work processes, such solutions allow employees in a decentralized environment to continue to communicate with customers and colleagues, and make such connections almost comparable to previous regular office environments.

With the continuous popularization and development of Unified Communication Technology and mobile devices, management chaos caused by the use of multiple devices by employees will become increasingly prominent. However, managing equipment chaos in a variety of devices, as well as seamless bridging between the employee's office space and the external environment, and eliminating Unified Communication UC will become one of the important challenges facing the IT management team.