Where do you see UC going in the next 5 years?

Very good question. After many years of hype and broken promises, UC seems to be having an impact on how individuals communicate in corporations. One moving target is end user devices. They are becoming smaller, more flexible, and more powerful. The iPhone and other smart phones mean that individuals now carry their office in their pocket and expect to be able to respond to important communications in a timely manner. New end devices, such as tablets, are gaining interest. The end result is individuals will spend less time with their PCs, laptops and desktop phones and more time with these mobile devices. UC will provide the glue, so information will track down users, so they can respond in a timely manner.

Another area where there has been -- and will continue to be – more emphasis is video communications. Conferencing capabilities are working their way down to the desktop and soon will be available on mobile devices. Consequently, individuals will be able to exchange information more by face-to-face meetings. It will enable them to view PowerPoint slides as well as read body language. Ideally, this enhanced communications will lead to richer interactions and less miscommunication.

There still are issues with the technology. It is not as plug and play as businesses would like. In some cases, the monthly licensing costs are high. Five years from now, those items may be addressed and the technology becomes more of commonly used commodity. There is a reason why industry giants, such as Cisco and Microsoft, are pushing hard in this space. It has a great deal of potential.