Unified Communications

The term ‘Unified Communications’ describes any communications system, usually a business system, which encompasses a broad range of technologies and applications that have been designed, sold and supported as a single communications platform or as one entity. Unified communications systems generally enable companies to use integrated data, video and voice in one supported product.

Unified communication systems typically include the means to integrate real-time or near-real-time unified messaging, collaboration and interactive systems. For example, a single user can access a variety of communication applications such as e-mail, SMS, video, voice and others through a single user mailbox. Additionally, unified communications has expanded to incorporate collaboration and other interactive systems such as scheduling, workflow, instant messaging and voice response systems.

Unified communications also provides service integration through multiple devices. For example, many service features, options and user accounts are available from a tablet, laptop, smartphone or other wireless device.