Microsoft and Cisco on unified communications
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What specific plans do you have for the channel to drive the uptake of UC going forward?
PH: Our strength is our channel and we value it immensely - Cisco has many plans and programs to drive stronger UC growth. Some are joint marketing initiatives and others are focused around building more capacity and capability both within the channel partner's as well as Cisco's own organisations to capture the tremendous UC market growth. This is achieved through comprehensive certified training, partner enablement programs and tools. We invest heavily in our partner enablement programs but partner profitability is of paramount importance and this is ensured through separate programs. Cisco also places great importance on enabling additional sales of UC applications and CUWL [Cisco Unifi ed Workspace Licensing] is a key program to deliver that result.
What technologies would you highlight as the next big thing in UC and why?
PH: I think that the key technologies available today will develop from being mostly interconnected to integrated. I expect further growth in video, especially Cisco TelePresence as the norm for quality business collaboration. Mobility will be key and Web-based services that are integrated into any business application will become very powerful. Expect collaborative applications to be used widely and to extend outside your work boundaries to anyone globally. And the world will move from the desktop to the Web-top, especially as the new service delivery models get widely accepted.
What advice do you have for those in the channel looking to make a UC play?
PH: Unified communications in Australia is experiencing tremendous growth and there is opportunity for channel partners to participate and win their share. You need to understand that UC is not just voice; it also includes the network infrastructure, security, mobility and applications. I would also advise any networking-centric partner to understand voice and software applications and any traditionally voice-based partner to ensure they understand the data and applications dependencies.
Interactive Intelligence country manager, Brendan Maree, shared his thoughts on the best way channel partners can deploy a UC solution.
1. Look at hard and proven solutions; things that are unified communications solutions from the beginning. Channel partners should really look at something that addresses all those nightmares they are going to have down the track.
2. Go for open standards and things that can get your clients to market faster.
3. Look for solutions which are software based: This means the technology never grows old. Also look at matching the breadth and reach of a single platform solution.
4. Solutions that integrate remote, distributed and mobile users on the same telephony platform integrated with the customer's business communications are key.
5. Partners should aim for solutions that address trends currently in the market, such as resource shortages. When you have the same underlying technology... you negate the need for the multiple box approach.
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Bankstown Council streamlines their IT with Microsoft® Windows Server® 2008
Deciding it was time for more streamlined operations, Bankstown Council teamed up with OSS Infotech, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner. The solution included Microsoft Windows Server, Microsoft SQL Server® and Microsoft Exchange®.
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