January 24, 2012
AT&T Launches Cloud-Based Unified Communications Services
By Erin Harrison, Executive Editor, Strategic Initiatives
Cloud computing and unified communications are no doubt two of the hottest topics in technology.
AT&T (News 
- Alert) this week will launch a cloud-based unified communications services for business customer that is aimed at helping organizations control costs and eliminate unpredictable expenses.
AT&T UC Services will be accessible from almost any device, allowing employees to collaborate and communicate in real-time regardless of location, according to a company statement.
With AT&T Unified Communications (News - Alert) Services, companies will have full access to all of their communications tools at the tips of their fingers, according to Shawn Conroy, vice president of Voice, Collaboration and Unified Communications Services, AT&T Business Solutions.
“Not only can this service leverage an organization’s existing investments to improve business collaboration, it also provides an easy transition from where a customer is today to where they want to be tomorrow without incurring significant capital expenses,” Conroy said. “AT&T is breaking new ground by providing customers with simple, affordable access to carrier-grade UC functionality.”
For many businesses, implementation of UC and the cloud becomes a question of bringing together traditionally disparate communications technologies and calling it “unified,” without a real understanding of how the right applications can be integrated into the business process to drive measurable process improvements.
An upcoming Cloud Communications Expo session in Miami will discuss the opportunity businesses have, thanks to cloud computing, to take traditional UC applications and integrate them with other business processes and third-party applications, to create more efficient and effective end-to-end business process.
There has been a major movement towards moving business communications services to the cloud over the past year, for several reasons, not the least of which is cost.
But, despite the fact that so many people have been using cloud-based communications services in their personal lives, there remains as much confusion around the cloud as ever.
In many ways, the introduction of cloud services runs parallel to first VoIP, then Unified Communications. A Cloud Communications Expo session has been designed to get to the basics of defining the cloud as a delivery model for the same communications services businesses have traditionally deployed and managed on-premise.
Want to learn more about cloud communications? Then be sure to attend the Cloud Communications Expo, collocated with TMC’s ITEXPO East 2012 taking place Jan. 31-Feb. 3 2012, in Miami, FL. The Cloud Communications Expo will address the growing need of businesses to integrate and leverage cloud based communications applications, process enhancement techniques, and network based communications interfaces and architectures. For more information on registering for the Cloud Communications Expo click here.
Stay in touch with everything happening at ITEXPO (News - Alert). Follow us on Twitter.
Erin Harrison is Executive Editor, Strategic Initiatives, for TMC, where she oversees the company's strategic editorial initiatives, including the launch of several new print and online initiatives. She plays an active role in the print publications and TMCnet, covering IP communications, information technology and other related topics. To read more of Erin's articles, please visit her columnist page.Edited by
Rich Steeves
