Canalys says UC and collaboration's consumerisation signal a growing opportunity for SMBs to out-innovate larger enterprises-- giving them the technological and competitive edge 

Being more flexibile, SMBs can roll out new pay-per-user hosted services more rapidly through more effective UC strategies. 

This consumerisation is also leading the move to software and web-based applications, easily accessible from any location while focusing on solution usability through end-user simplicity. 

Canalys says consumer solutions can be a valid alternative to Read more...

Fonality announces the releases of trixbox Pro 5.2, its hybrid-hosted IP-PBX solution's latest release. 

Aiming for the SMB market, trixbox Pro is an open standard software-based solution a partner can put to work with most commercial servers and SIP phones. 

A feature new in the 5.2 version is the ability to connect multiple company-wide Fonality servers regardless of location-- thus providing presence, secure chat, virtual conferencing and a unified contact centre experience. 

Meanwhile the Fonality HUD UC dashboard includes click-to-call, visual Read more...

Alongside displaying its desktop IP phone and IP-PBX software ranges, snom will be launching its snom ONE Plus at this year's CeBIT.

ONE Plus is an all-in-one end-to-end telephone solution-- an easily and quickly implementable system providing remote working, centralised address book, simultaneous desk and mobile phone ringing together with a high security level. 

Available in 2 versions-- blue (up to 150 extensions) and yellow (up to 20 extensions)-- the snom ONE Plus does not include mechanical parts, thus increasing durability and stability. Meanwhile Read more...

IDC predicts the EMEA UC market will grow to $16.6bn by 2014-- after being worth around $8bn by 2010's end.

As the credit crunch continues all over the region, enterprises will be more cautious in their IT spending. Thus IDC's prediction suggests moderate Y-o-Y over the next 5 years. 

UC solutions sold as hosted or cloud-based services will grow steadily as businesses continue to outsource-- primarily to reduce network management and maintenance costs. 

Companies' needs for external expertise (as they move from a capex-based to an opex-based model) Read more...