December and January are typically the months that we consider resolutions and predictions for the coming year. Technology is no different with this month’s bloggers predicting everything from the future of cloud computing to what’s on the horizon for IT outsourcing. Unified Communications is also a hot topic for predictions. Everyone from Larry Hettick at Network World to Zeus Kerravala of No Jitter have blogged about numerous adoptions and predictions related to UC including:
- Increased use of HD video communications across all market segments. Eventually video will replace voice calls as a preferred real-time communications medium, but maybe not in 2012.
- More businesses will cut the cord to wired voice services, eventually mirroring the trend among consumers.
- The BYOD trend will continue as enterprise networks adapt, supporting mobile devices like smartphones & table computers that employees initially purchase as consumer electronics.
- Tablet computing becomes the next big thing in business.
- Campus LAN gets smart: With BYOD, the growth of smartphone/tablet usage among consumers and the unified communications market set to triple by 2015, the campus LAN will have to step up to the plate to meet demand -- 2012 will be the year the campus gets smart.
- Unified Communications goes even more mobile in 2012.
What predictions do you agree or disagree with? What predictions of your own would you add to the lists?
Last year, HP’s Danette Hardin discussed how Unified Communications can be the step change that allows organizations to seamlessly integrate with their technology, and how consumers are driving UCC trends in 2011. This is part of a larger activity by HP started earlier. I think this is all only the start of a much bigger move to a more communications enabled enterprise approach bringing together social, analytics, and the computational resources into a whole new level of business productivity. This is an area I plan to spend more thought on this year!
How about your org? Have you already adopted UCC or are you considering implementing it in 2012? What trends are shaping your decision?
