NEWS
Despite a slow start, unified messaging (UM) and unified communications (UC) will grow strongly over the next few years, driven on by organisations moving to IP for their voice and data communications needs.
Research from Frost & Sullivan predicts take-up beyond early adopters. The market for UM/UC in Europe, the Middle East and Africa will grow from €613.3m in 2005 to €1.54bn in 2012, the analyst house forecasts.
The drivers now include many enterprises hitting the replacement phase in their cycle and a consensus that IP is the way forward for communications.
However, F&S warns equipment vendors and services providers alike face the problem of a poorly educated user community.
It recommends more aggressive marketing. This can be through better illustrations of successes through the use of case studies, partnering and co-marketing where appropriate.
