Unified communications is not just a buzzword or a euphemism for IP telephony; it’s a unique solution that combines presence with voice, video, e-mail and instant messaging applications to improve a business’s responsiveness to customers, prospects and valued suppliers. CEOs shouldn’t be surprised when their vice president of sales demands “Unified Communications” before agreeing to the sales number.

This executive sponsorship is one reason UC has traction. According to Forrester Research Inc., 16 percent of enterprises and 17 percent of SMBs in North America and Europe report they already have deployed UC or are currently upgrading to UC. Another 20 percent of enterprises and 15 percent of SMBs are rolling out UC while 36 percent of enterprises and 26 percent of SMBs are evaluating it.

The true value of UC, says Forrester, is in the tight integration of business application and personal information with communication systems. By definition, then, UC combines mission-critical infrastructure in new ways, with immediate, negative impacts on end users when it doesn’t work as promised. As such, a successful UC solution requires not only expert implementation but ongoing management tools and skills that many companies, particularly SMBs, don’t have. Frankly, neither do most VARs. Yet customers want their trusted suppliers to guarantee the benefits of unified communications, so they don’t have to assume all the risks and complexity of managing this real-time application themselves.

Filling this gap is an opportunity for converged network VARs, integrators and interconnects to build recurring revenue streams and customer influence by managing unified communications as a service. That’s easier said than done. Capital expense, a steep learning curve and long lead time make the prospect daunting.

Find out how you can streamline your company’s ability to deliver managed services for converged network services at this Webinar sponsored by PHONE+ and Communicado.

In this Webinar, solutions providers will:

• Assess the market for unified communications services

• Review demand-side drivers for remote management of customers whether UC is hosted or premise-based

• Quantify the revenue potential of providing management services

• Learn the concept of “Management as a Service”

• Discuss the cost/benefits of subscribing to a turnkey MaaS platform without capital expense

• Hear one VARs experience making the transition to MSP

Moderator:
Khali Henderson, Group Editor, PHONE+

Speakers:
Henri Dewing, Principal Analyst, Forrester Research Inc.
Kerry Shih, Chief Strategist and Founder, Communicado Inc.