Unified Communications: Technology of the Future
When a member of society thinks of the word “unification,” it often invokes images of
many people from different backgrounds working together to accomplish common goals.
Derivatives of the word are found in place names, such as The United States of America,
denoting that each state, while separate, is part of a larger whole and is also committed to
working with fellow states to improve the overall health of the nation. In a nutshell, the word
“unification” has come to represent cooperation in a positive way. This is also true when
speaking about unified communications: the integration of many separate communication
platforms into a single entity. When communication systems are designed to work in concert
with each other, the end result is a more streamlined technological approach to business. This
unification of technology also results in lower costs, improved interactivity between employees,
and nearly limitless connectivity no matter where members of an organization may travel
(Unuth).
In order to better understand how unified communications will represent a technological
improvement for organizations, it is important to first understand what defines unified
communications. According to InfoComm, unified communications can be best described as a
network of enterprise communication modes tied together using Internet Protocol (IP) (Sound &
Video Contractor). Various types of communication technology can be used in these networks,
but the most popular are voice, video, and telephony. By implementing a strategy of integrated
communications, assets such as telecommuting, teleconferencing, and videoconferencing are
made possible for organizations and their employees. By taking the integration concept a step
further and combining these hybrid systems into a single network, organizations can improve
reduce, and in some cases eliminate, the logistical difficulties of intra-organizational
communication.
With the proliferation of Internet users across the globe, both personally and
professionally, it makes sense that the Internet itself can be used as part of an organizational
communications network. Since the mid-2000s, the fastest-growing mode of communication
across the Internet has been social media. Websites such as Facebook and Twitter have come
about as a means for communication, but they also represent a shift in the way members of our
society perceive each other. In fact, being an active member of a social network can sometimes
be seen as being an integral part of one’s overall social life; at times, it can be viewed as its own
social status entirely. Because society allows social networks to hold such an important status,
they have indeed become a part of many people’s everyday lives. Several organizations have
