"Unified communications will change the way companies do business internally and externally, and ultimately the communications culture of companies," Chris Barnard, research director, European Telecommunications and Networking, IDC.

What is unified communications (UC)? What does it mean for your organisation? What are the new demands for IT and telco professionals?

UC is the logical progression in communications from traditional and fragmented communications and collaboration systems within companies towards a more holistic ICT-based approach. UC therefore implies the integration of voice (fixed and mobile), messaging (email, fax, instant messaging), contact management and presence functionality.

The knowledge and experience required to manage IT and telecommunications systems have historically differed significantly. Recent research by IDC into the impact of UC has indicated that IT teams feel unprepared for this emerging trend that will fundamentally change the broader communications landscape. However, they recognise that the move toward UC is on their doorstep.

On November 20, industry experts will share their step-based approach to unified communications and how they have taken a best-of-breed multivendor approach to UC to support and enhance a particular business process and ensure the availability and reliability of the service in difficult market conditions.

The agenda will take the hottest topics in mobility, convergence, unified communications and VoIP. IDC analysts and leading industry experts will discuss issues such as:

• A step-based approach to unified communications
• Introducing VoIP to reduce telephony costs
• Running communications as IT applications
• Social networking in the enterprise - the impact of Web 2.0 on collaborative practices and the business culture
• Effective device management to optimise cost efficiency

In an entire ecosystem of UC products and services providers, IDC's Unified Communications Conference will help you to understand which UC solutions to deploy, and when and how to implement them.

Who Should Attend

If you are responsible for developing and implementing your organisation's IT strategy then this conference will provide you with the tools and information you need to implement your unified communications strategy. Typically, IDC's conference is attended by:

• Networking managers
• IT managers
• IT directors
• Infrastructure managers
• CIOs
• Finanace directors
• HR

FREE* attendance for the first 100 end-user registrations received

For all subsequent end-user registrations and participants from other organisations a fee of EUR 550 plus VAT will apply.

If registering as an end user, enter "UCWB" in the special promotional code box.

Registration includes conference participation, documentation and access to presentation material, plus all refreshments and lunch. Please note that the fee does not include overnight accommodation.

We are only able to accept up to three attendees from each company due to limited space at each event. If we have already received registrations from three members of your company we will inform you as soon as possible in order for you to discuss attendance internally.

*IDC reserves the right to investigate and authenticate registrations submitted under this category and to apply the stated registration fee if deemed necessary. The applicant will be informed in advance if this is the case.

Confirmation

Once written confirmation of your booking has been received, you will be sent an email confirmation and closer to the event an email detailing joining instructions. If you have not received this information by at least two weeks before the conference, please contact the conference organisers to ensure that your booking has been received and processed.

Terms and conditions of cancellation

Substitutions can be made at any time.

Cancellation of free tickets: For cancellations made up to one week prior to the event there will be no charge. For cancellations received after this time, or for those registered delegates who do not show up on the day, there will be a EUR 70 administration fee.

Cancellation of paid tickets: For cancellations up to one week prior to the conference we will refund your delegate fee minus a EUR 70 administration charge. For cancellations received after this time, or for those registered delegates who do not show up on the day, the entire fee will be forfeit.

Registration and further information

Harriet Cottam

Tel.: +44 20 8987 7166

Fax: +44 (0) 20 8995 7224

Email: hcottam@idc.com

It may be necessary for reasons beyond the control of the organisers to alter the content and timing of the programme or to change the invited speakers.