When a pet owner buys a new puppy, she knows the price she pays to walk out the door with sloppy kisses is only the initial cost of pet ownership. Instead, many financial factors will contribute to the health and behavior of her new life-long companion and, likewise, relationship with her wallet. Despite the seemingly simple concept, businesses decision makers aslo need to fully examine the big price picture of technology investments when comparing the total-cost-of-ownership (TCO) – most noticeably between premise-based to hosted Unified Communication (UC) systems.
Window shopping, premise-based UC systems are appearing to have the lower total cost of ownership (TCO) and attract buyers who do not look into limitations in scalability or functionality, as well as hidden costs impacting productivity. BroadSoft’s whitepaper brings clarity to decision-makers by comparing the actual costs and features of today’s hosted and premise-based UC systems, including the following TCO areas:
System & capital costs
Maintenance, management & support
Installation
Training
Equipment housing & power
IT staffing
For more information, please read the full whitepaper or contact your BroadSoft sales representative.
We hope you had the chance to visit us at Enterprise Connect this year in Florida, where BroadSoft introduced UC-One™ IMS! UC-One™ IMS separates communication devices from service subscriptions for enterprises. While providing a comprehensive fixed-mobile convergence solution, UC-One™ IMS enables mobile operators to broadly enter the higher margin enterprise market segment by providing a single subscription for an employee’s Unified Communication needs.
As a result, UC-One IMS delivers several benefits to the enterprise:
If you did not have the chance to meet with us in Florida, please check-out our events page for an updated list of where you can hear more about BroadSoft and UC-One™ IMS.
We look forward to meeting you at:
LTE Latin America (16th -17th April 2013, Janeiro, Brazil) – Please visit us at our exhibit booth.
IMS World Forum (23-25 April 2013, Barcelona, Spain) – BroadSoft will be speaking.
CEO of BroadSoft, Michael Tessler, sits-down to discuss, what he believes, is the “most strategic initiative in BroadSoft’s history”. This podcast captures Tessler’s thoughts on BroadSoft’s newest solution – a comprehensive platform that brings together all of our Unified Communication elements, including user experience, mobility, openness and go-to-market support. Enjoy the listen to find out more!
We have all been waiting for the promise of fixed-mobile convergence. UC-One™ IMS moves this often over used term, beyond simple call forwarding, to a solution that dissolves the boundaries between communications services, devices, and the number of people who can enter and exit a conversation with just a click of the mouse. The advance capabilities of IMS, combined with the desire by employees and enterprises for mobile unified communications, is a tremendous opportunity for mobile network operators — a $10B revenue opportunity, as a matter of fact, according to Infonetics.
By forgoing the power of fixed-mobile convergence, Mobile Network Operators may also be missing out on a very real opportunity. Leveraging an IMS architectural framework, LTE networks and VoLTE, UC-One™ IMS enables mobile operators to enter the higher margin mobile UC market and to offer a truly superior communication experience. UC-One™ IMS offers several advantages for innovative Mobile Operators, some of which include:
By offering UC ahead of LTE, BroadSoft believes UC will be the first applications of volume over LTE – an evident step in this unbending trend of seamless communication technology.
BroadSoft has and will always ensure the multiple layers of seamless UC services: that of the end user communication experience and the ability to manage such an experience. To me, it seems astonishing, only a few years ago, it was standard practice for an employee to pick-up two separate devices to call or text for work or pleasure.
Invited to speak on the Hosted Unified Communications: A Driver for M&A Activity panel this past week at Comptel, I was dumbfounded by a statistic our moderator, Gerry DeHaven, a partner with Q Advisors LLC, presented: demand for hosted Unified Communications services is outpacing supply. A recent study by Techaisle, a global IT SMB market research and industry analyst organization, reveals that SMBs are finding and reporting shortages in cloud solutions, including Web conferencing, video conferencing, Hosted VoIP and audio conferencing. We should be astonished. Enterprises are demanding modern communication services and cannot find providers! This is a huge market opportunity that should not be missed.
[1] Red bars indicate a gap shown by a higher percentage of SMBs asking for solutions than current offerings, creating shortage and opportunity.
Evidence for the unwavering movement by enterprises, small and large, to cloud services continues to escalate. Enterprises have embraced the operational and expense benefits of cloud services and are evaluating cloud models for all services:
Gartner predicts the global public cloud computing market will grow 18.5% in 2013 to $131 billion, up from $111 billion last year.
Juniper Research similarly finds annual revenues from cloud-based mobile applications will grow to reach nearly $9.5 billion by 2014, fueled by the need for converged, collaborative services, the widespread adoption of mobile broadband services and the deployment of key technological enablers.
And for the telecommunications industry specifically:
Infonetics forecasts the Hosted VoIP & UC market to reach $10B by 2016.[2]
Such unmet demand creates a strong opportunity for Service Providers who provide a comprehensive Unified Communications solution. Service providers need to pick up the pace of their UC services deployment beyond voice and become the single source solution for businesses of all sizes, including SMBs. My fear is the already large UC cloud solution gap will continue to include mobile Unified Communications. I hope this does not become a reality.
BroadSoft’s UC One™ is the only platform designed specifically for service providers, enabling them to offer comprehensive Unified Communications solutions that meet the needs of the market segments they serve. As Service Providers adopt and offer comprehensive offerings, solutions such as UC-One will help us all close the supply gap for hosted Unified Communications services.
[1] QAdvisors. (2013, March). In Gerry DeHaven (Moderator). Hosted unified communications: A driver for M&Aa activity. Presentation Delivered at M&A COMPTEL PLUS Spring 2013 Las Vegas Comptel plus.
[2] Infonetics Research VoIP and UC Services and Subscriber Market Forecast 2012
Nearing the New Mobile Horizon, as coined by this year’s MWC theme, we are seeing a change in the mobile workforce. Regardless of the type of job, organization, or industry, the question becomes – how can the user become more efficient? Far more than simply a question of communication capabilities, the efficiency dilemma saturates every part of our workforce society – from communication integration to the demand for real-time information. Recently, I connected with RCR Wireless News’ Roberta Prescott to discuss how this communication efficiency demand, in combination with LTE, is generating new revenue opportunities for Mobile Network Operators. I would love to hear your feedback @BroadSoftNews.
Despite a growing awareness of Unified Communication (UC) capabilities, BroadSoft’s research points to the need to promote the benefits of UC services. LTE networks combined with mobile UC services will continue to provide innovative possibilities; however, we believe demand will grow by connecting these capabilities to their benefits. Finding many users are facing non-real time communication frustrations, and are currently seeking remedies for such challenges, we believe Service Providers should assume a role similar to a health care provider to appeal to the frustrated user. By assessing individual communication challenges or “illnesses”, Service Providers can prescribe custom UC prescriptions to eliminate communication frustrations and describe the benefits of a healthy UC user.
When I’m feeling sad, I simply remember the things that I need… And then I don’t feel so bad…
Whether prescribing a solution for Sally the teleworker or Phil the Plumber, a Service Provider should be able to address the pain points of an organization and showcase how a UC solution will remedy unique frustrations and create a healthier business. The same research points to universal communication pain points; thetop three frustrations are cited as:
Waiting on information (78%);
Locating and contacting someone (69%); and
Email is an ineffective communications tool (58%).
Rather than continuing to work harder than a gopher in hard dirt, as “Dr. Phil” explains, 76% of communication users in our survey results cite they would be “very keen” or “somewhat keen” to adopt UC solutions.
As the industry draws closer to Mobile World Congress, and as we often focus on the capabilities of mobile communications, let us also remember the importance of excellent customer care. Such care, we believe, is made possible through individualized messaging – describing how today’s solutions will benefit employees in increasing individual efficiency, effectiveness, and reachability concerns.
Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2013 is aptly themed the New Mobile Horizon. With the growing global mobile workplace, workers are frustrated with communication options that have not caught up to an expected real-time environment. From email to voicemail,“everyday” business users want their communications technology to improve to match real-time expectations and a unified experience.. Such frustrations present an opportunity for mobile network operators to monetize investments in LTE networks through the delivery of mobile Unified Communications (UC). If mobile network operators take advantage of the impressive combination of LTE networks and mobile UC, we believe they will help the sun quickly rise to a new mobile horizon.
BroadSoft’s most recent research, a survey of more than 700 users across the U.S., Europe and multiple industries, highlighted this growing demand for mobile UC. Focusing on “everyday” business users’ attitudes towards various communications technologies, the research found top three universal frustrations, including:
Waiting on information (78%);
Locating and contacting someone (69%); and
Email as an ineffective communications tool (58%).
The research results also indicated a strong desire for tightly integrated mobile unified communications (UC), with 76% of respondents stating they would be “very keen” or “somewhat keen” to adopt UC solutions. For more on the research findings, please visit: Unified Communications: What Users Want.
Providers are already looking to the opportunities of the New Mobile Horizon to deliver mobile UC solutions. Whether though instant messaging and presence, Web collaboration or additional solutions, providers can meet customized user needs based on specific frustration(s) through mobile UC solutions. For example, watch as a consultant, rarely in his office, uses a mobile UC solution called UC One.
UC One allows the user to keep connected to colleagues and clients and juggle multiple clients’ needs while roaming from site to site, all on his mobile devices.
While the frustrations of end users are seemingly endless, the possibilities of LTE and mobile UC are limitless and will forever change the mobile landscape.
For more information on User Frustrations, Mobile UC, and LTE please visit and share the following resources:
A 2012 survey by research firm Informa finds that 70% of global operators believe 4G services should be launched now, meaning Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have a small, but closing, window of opportunity to be the provider of choice for communication services- including mobile video calling, instant messaging and presence, and Web collaboration. Mobile operators must start the process of monetizing Long Term Evolution (LTE) today.
Mobile operators need to extend beyond marketing campaigns that focus exclusively on faster speeds in order to generate the business case for higher monthly charges. Read more.
2. Own the user experience
Compared to Over-the-Top (OTT) providers tied to specific applications (i.e., Skype calling) and devices, mobile operators, with ownership of the network, are well positioned to provide end-users with one identity and mobility across the devices. Read more.
3. Meet exploding bandwidth requirements
LTE delivers the cost-effective bandwidth that enables mobile operators to realize economies of scale required to drive down the rising costs associated with delivering data over existing networks. Read more.
4. Look beyond tried-and-true consumer segments
Compared to OTT providers, MNOs can more effectively ensure a carrier-grade quality of experience for end users of services suited for consumers but inadequate for the rigors of enterprise use. Read more.
By leveraging ownership of the network and the quality of service LTE enables, MNOs are well positioned to capitalize on a lucrative market; although, it is essential for MNOs to begin the LTE monetization process today in order to fully maximize the benefits and ensure emerging competitor segments do not strike first to unravel these efforts.
With the passing of another New Year, traditionally, many of us turn our thoughts forward – to opportunities and new resolutions to fulfill. Each BroadSoft Connection’s reveal likewise announces a new market opportunity– although, this year, I felt our 10th anniversary event was especially meaningful with the announcement of UC-One™. Announcing a growth opportunity for hosted communication services, UC-One signifies, not simply a transformation in business communications, but an opportunity to provide an innovative and superior experience to help you more easily meet your goals.
Scott Hoffpauir, BroadSoft’s Chief Technology Officer at Connections 2012
Why is UC-One significant? A 2012 Infonetics Research survey on enterprise plans for unified communications reveals that complexity has displaced cost as the leading barrier affecting UC deployment. Also, when choosing a UC solution, 71% of respondents view mobile device integration as “very important.” This landscape, fragmented by service providers, as well as communications silos for voice, video, text and collaboration, creates complexity and mobility that inhibits employee productivity. The UC-One platform meets this productivity challenge through the integration of four key unified communications components (click for more information).
Many have agreed with me on the significance of this year’s reveal, including RCRWireless. RCRWireless discussed the potential of UC-One as helping to serve, “Telecom operators [who] want to avoid becoming dumb pipe… [and] are looking for ways to increase their revenue with value-added services that complement their regular voice and data services”. Dave Michels, UCStrategies’ UC Expert, independent industry analyst and consultant, also describes UC-One as:
“An impressive move…a strong UC package that is as good or better than many premises-based solutions.…I expect it to do very well in the marketplace”.
With hosted VoIP and UC accounting for 30% of business voice in the third quarter of 2012(Source: Infonetics, VoIP and UC Services and Subscribers 1H12 ), UC-One stands to meet a large market in the New Year, while continuing to deliver user needs and gaining critical acceptance. World Wide revenues of 3Q 2012 have increased over 12% for UC alone, fueled by “demands for tools to provide increased productivity and employee flexibility” (Infonetics, Enterprise UC, VoIP, TDM Equipment 3Q12).
UC-One’s announcement means it may be easier than ever to keep our business resolutions this year – Happy New Year to all connected to the BroadSoft family.
Interested in seeing a live demo? Take a view from the front seat of Connections 2012. In this live recording, meet Joe – the designer, as he discovers how UC-One works for him: .
Welcome to BroadbandIgnite, the voice of BroadSoft. BroadbandIgnite is designed to provide a forum that explores the world of broadband communications. There has been more change in the past 10 years than there has been in the first 100 year history of telephony. Through BroadbandIgnite, we will share our insights not only about the technology behind these changes, but the effect of these changes on the communications industry as a whole. Please visit often and share your thoughts, questions and feedback.
Michael Tessler
Scott Hoffpauir
Leslie Ferry
Mike Wilkinson
Curtis Hartmann
Paul Adams
