InformationWeek Reports : IP Telephony and Unified Communications

Face to Face at the Desktop

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:22:24 -0500

Better tech makes videoconferencing easy for IT.

UC Gets Collaborative

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:50:55 -0500

New deployments add value--even without a PBX.

Research: Unified Communications

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 02:03:40 -0500

The good news: The percentage of users who've deployed and are using UC jumped six points, to 36%, since our 2010 survey, and the number of "fence sitters" is down, too. The not-so-good news: For 65% of those who have deployed or plan to do so, UC currently reaches 50% or less of the employee base. What's the holdup?

The Cellular-Wi-Fi Handoff

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 05:17:22 -0500

When carriers off-load traffic, security is affected.

Reliability Is UC's Job No. 1

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 05:01:07 -0500

Erratic connectivity will sink unified communications.

Enterprise Video: A Viable Option?

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 01:42:33 -0400

Videoconferencing has the potential to go mainstream--if it can overcome technology and business challenges. We look at the impediments and potential of enterprise videoconferencing.

IT Pro Impact: Apple iPhone 4S

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 05:35:16 -0400

While Apple’s iPhone 4S may not live up to its preannouncement hyperbole, it does offer significant improvements in both performance and functionality over its predecessors. And with preorders alone totaling over 1 million devices in 24 hours, the 4S is undoubtedly showing up on enterprise networks. Here’s a rundown of new hardware and software features and the implications for IT teams charged with supporting mobility.

Research: Mobile Device Management

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 04:22:21 -0400

The only constant in mobility nowadays is change. Former market leaders such as RIM and Microsoft are now followers straining to keep pace with consumer-driven operating systems from Google and Apple. Almost 80% say tablets will grow in importance. No two platforms have the same security and management hooks, yet your end users are demanding email, calendaring, VPN access and much more—64% are on board with custom apps. This is changing the face of computing—and terrifying the IT managers charged with providing productivity tools while maintaining control of sensitive data.

Best Practices: Reliable UC

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 05:05:54 -0400

If your UC infrastructure is erratic or the communications quality poor, you’re sunk, because end users today don’t have the patience to give IT three or four chances to get it right. And that just adds up to wasted money. In this InformationWeek Best Practices report, we describe strategies to ensure quality communications between end users, whether they’re on the LAN, WAN or a mobile device.

Strategy: 3G/4G & Wi-Fi Convergence

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 02:08:10 -0400

U.S. carriers see Wi-Fi as a helper technology for off-loading rapidly escalating data demand; elsewhere, carriers are deploying mesh 11n networks for off-load. What does all this mean for enterprise IT teams trying to control costs and make the most of mobility? For starters, we need to keep tabs on unified security/ encryption, who’s actually building the mesh, and the crude handoffs between 3G/4G and Wi-Fi. We’ll explore trends in the technologies that are, together, the backbone of mobility.

Strategy: UC in the Cloud

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 08:55:27 -0400

Cloud-based unified communications presents challenges not found with other online services, including the need for premises infrastructure and a LAN that's ready for voice and video. We identify and explain those challenges to help you make the best decision about your UC deployment.

UC in the Cloud

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 01:09:45 -0400

Unified communications isn't like other cloud apps: Infrastructure challenges have to be met first. Here's how.

InformationWeek Digital Supplement: September 2011

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 04:32:33 -0400

In The Cloud
Unified communications isn't like other online apps. Get the infrastructure right or risk some major hang-ups.

Network Computing Digital Supplement: August 2011

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 12:46:29 -0400

UC Gotchas -- Making The UC Case

Research: Desktop Videoconferencing: Ready for Its Close-Up

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 01:27:56 -0400

The advent of Scalable Video Coding (SVC), which enables the use of the Internet for high-quality desktop videoconferencing, means enterprises can deploy videoconferencing to a majority of workers. Companies that value face-to-face communications can make it happen without breaking the bank.

Unified Communications: Think Big

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 01:38:17 -0400

The big, creative view of UC always links new communications options with the underlying business processes they'll improve.

IT Pro Impact: Microsoft/Skype

Tue, 31 May 2011 09:32:23 -0400

Through its Skype acquisition, Microsoft seems to be seeking relevancy in the unified communications space. We surveyed 463 business technology pros to get our readers' take on the deal and found reactions anything but unified.

InformationWeek Supplelmental Digital Issue: June 2011

Fri, 27 May 2011 03:06:38 -0400

UC: Think Big! -- Make The IPv6 Move

Strategy: Enterprise Social Network Buyer's Guide

Fri, 27 May 2011 01:39:47 -0400

Social networking tools can improve collaboration and productivity, but only if employees use them. We provide guidance for picking the right product.

UC and Mobility: Come Together

Sun, 03 Apr 2011 01:58:19 -0400

IT's been driving UC and mobility initiatives on separate tracks. But if either is to realize its full potential, CIOs must make integration a priority.

IT Pro Impact Report: AT&T and T-Mobile

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 01:59:30 -0400

We surveyed nearly 2,000 business technology pros to get their take on AT&T’s proposed purchase of T-Mobile and found that the onus is on AT&T to prove it can live up to expectations. The alternative? Mass exodus.

Strategy: Mobile UC

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 03:17:28 -0500

IT’s been pushing UC and mobility initiatives on separate tracks. But if either technology is to realize its full potential, CIOs must make integration a priority. In this Strategy Session report, we discuss ways to bring smartphones and tablets into your overall unified communications plan.

Now for the Next-Gen Net

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 02:05:38 -0500

IPv4 is on its way out, IPv6 is in, and dawdling will cost you.

IT Pro Ranking: Enterprise 2.0 Applications

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 11:09:46 -0500

Social applications in the enterprise--business analogues of Facebook and Twitter--are beginning to move up the adoption curve. Will newcomers own the market at the expense of powerhouses Microsoft, IBM and Cisco?

Phone 7's App Challenges

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 10:14:10 -0500

Application developers, start your engines: Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 is finally on its way.