What is Unified Communications?

Unified communications (UC) is a new technological architecture whereby communication tools are integrated so that both businesses and  individuals can manage all their communications in one entity instead of separately. In short, unified communications bridges the gap between VoIP and other computer related communication technologies.

Unified communications also gives better control over important features like presence and single number reach, as we see below.

The Concept of Presence

Presence represents the availability and willingness of a person to communicate. A simple example is the list of buddies you have in your instant messenger. When they are online (meaning they are available and willing to communicate), your instant messenger gives you an indication to that effect. Presence can also be enhanced to show where you are and how (since we are speaking about integrating many communication tools) you can be contacted. For example, if a buddy is not in her office or in front of her computer, there is no way your instant messenger can have you contact her, unless other communication technologies are integrated, like pc-to-phone calling. With unified communications, you can know where your buddy is and how you can contact her... but of course if she wants to share these information.

Single Number Reach

Even if your presence can be monitored and shared with unified communications, contacting you might still be impossible if your access point (an address, a number etc.) is not available or known. Now say you have five ways to be contacted (phone, email, paging... you name it), would people like to keep or know five different pieces of information to be able to contact you anytime they want? With unified communications, you will (as at now, ideally) have one access point (one number) through which people can contact you, whether they are using their computer's instant messenger, their softphone, their IP phone, email etc. One example of such a softphone-based service is VoxOx, which aims at unifying all your communication needs. The best example of a one-number reach service is Google Voice.