IDC's Unified Communications (UC) service is supported by a cross-functional team of IDC analysts to provide a holistic view of how multiple markets intersect in the journey toward unified communications and collaboration (UC&C). It examines unified communications — a combination of directory, routing, and management of communications, presence, and mobile access to deliver seamlessly integrated voice, messaging, collaboration, and video applications — from multiple technology and services angles. This unique IDC service delivers in-depth UC&C forecasts, UC&C vendor competitive analysis, and a comprehensive UC&C taxonomy.

• Hosted UC/UCaaS services
• Instant messaging
• IP PBXs and IP phones
• Mobile UC solutions
• Web, audio, and videoconferencing
• Pervasive presence management and awareness
• Unified messaging (email, fax, and voicemail in one mailbox)
• UC integration with existing horizontal and vertical business applications
• Business costs and benefits of UC
• Drivers and inhibitors of UC adoption
• Deploying UC solutions
• UC best practices
• Top UC ecosystem vendors

• Worldwide Unified Communications Ecosystem Forecast
• Unified Communications Taxonomy
• Unified Communications Customer Requirements
• Hosted Unified Communications Services Forecast
• Mobile Unified Communications Forecast and Analysis
• IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Unified Communications Voice Infrastructure
• IDC MarketScape: U.S. Telephony-Based Hosted Unified Communications Vendor Analysis
• IDC MarketScape: Mobile Unified Communications, Vendor Analysis

In addition to the insight provided in this service, IDC may conduct research on specific topics or emerging market segments via research offerings that require additional IDC funding and client investment.

1. What is the worldwide total available market for UC for particular infrastructure, application, mobile, and communication market segments?
2. What are the most compelling customer use cases for UC?
3. What is IDC's assessment of the strategies and capabilities of the different UC ecosystem solution providers relative to each other?
4. What are the market dynamics, drivers, and inhibitors of UC?

IDC analyzes the strategies, market positions, and future directions of major vendors in the unified communications space, including:

8x8, Aastra, Alcatel-Lucent, Alteva, Amdocs, Apptix, AT&T, Avanade, Avaya, Avistar, AVST, BroadVox, CallTower, CA Technologies, CenturyLink, Cisco, Citrix Systems, Convergys, CSC, Dell, Dimension Data, EMC, Ericsson, FaceTime, Fujitsu, Genesys Conferencing, Google, HP, Huawei, IBM, Intel, Interactive Intelligence Inc., Level 3 Communications, LifeSize/Logitech, Microsoft, Mitel Networks, Motorola Solutions, NEC, Nokia, Nuance Communications, Omniture, OnRelay, Oracle, Orange Business, Plantronics, Polycom, Radvision, Research In Motion, RightNow Technologies, Saba, Salesforce.com, SAP, The SAVO Group, ShoreTel, Siemens Enterprise Communications, SimpleSignal, Smoothstone/West, Sprint, Symantec, Tata, Teliris, Thinking Phones, Toshiba, Unisys, Verizon, Vidyo, VisionOSS, VMware, and Yahoo!

For IT suppliers or IT buyers doing business planning and budgeting, sales and marketing, or performance measurement, we have the custom offerings to optimize your success at every stage of your business. Our data- and content-driven approach helps you make better decisions, drive more effective marketing programs, and effectively measure your success - resulting in a greater return on your investment.

Whether you are a technology buyer or provider, IDC Insights' research translates today's global end-user requirements and trends into business opportunities for your organization. With dedicated businesses targeting energy, financial services, government, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail, IDC provides unmatched integration of global technology and vertical industry expertise to deliver industry-specific customer intelligence that gives clients a powerful business advantage.

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