Whilst at a global analyst conference this week in London, England I had the opportunity to sit down with a number of premier analysts covering this space. I was impressed with the diversity many of the analysts demonstrated not only in their keen understanding of how the market is evolving, but also in the diversity of backgrounds as to how each one (there were dozens of analysts here) came to focus their keen talents on the field of telecommunications and more specifcially, unified communications (UC).

While sampling a few of the finer red wines London has to offer I had the pleasure of meeting and discussing the industry with several of the best and brightest the analyst community has to offer. Being the lone UC provider in the group, I was naturally curious to hear their views regarding this rapidly evolving segment away from the ‘bright lights’ of the official activities of the week, but also concerned my opinions, coming from an IT rather than a communications background, would provide a ripe opportunity to test some of my more progressive thoughts (as well as to have my background potentially demeaned and dismissed as not comms centric).

Thanks paticularly to the kindness of Blair Pleasant of CommFusion, LLC and UCStrategies; an industry veteran with nearly two decades of communication analysis under her belt (and apparently nearly as much expertise for red wines of the California variety as for telecommunications based upon the respect she was accorded by the group), I was able to ease into the conversation and walk away with validation on more than a few thoughts.

First, UC is ‘the’ strategic and tactical area of importance in the communications space. Second, unless you’re living under a rock (and there are those who are) IT is not yet quite ‘the’ present, but is certainly the near-term future of communications. Third, several glasses of wine on an empty stomach can pack a wallup come the morning.

Several traditional industry vendors as well as less traditional entrants into the field were discussed, but all at a high level due to NDA and confidentiality agreeements in effect among those at the table, myself included. Topics ranged across Avaya, Siemens Communications, Nortel, Microsoft, Cisco, WebEx, Citrix, Salesforce.com and Asterisk (several with which Engage is partnered) as well as the themes of private equity, globalization, emerging alliances and discretionary partnerships.

Without going into all of the details, I certainly found the evening not only informative but enjoyable as well. A rare opportunity to both listen and to speak with those most ‘in the know’ in their field at an event to which I had been invited to do more the latter than the former.

They say that discretion is the better part of valor, however after allowing me to sit in on their pow-wow no one was willing to let me go without tagging me for some of my experiences across those vendors with which I and the company for which I work, Engage, Inc., has had significant experience. In good turn I was able to share some ‘stories from the UC battlefield’ – some very good, some less so – but all I hope with objectivity and honesty. It is interesting to note that not once did any of the stories any one of us shared include identifying material – no one could tell if a story related to company A or Company Z nor anywhere in between. Even so, I know we all walked away from this frank exchange of professional insight renewed and, at least in my case, a bit better armed for the battles coming up with a more extensive knowledge of those that have been waged in the past, emboldened by a knowledgebase across many years and many participants rather than one primarily drawn from that of my own experience.

To those in London that evening (and you all know who you are), I say thank you for making my time with you comfortable, professional and above all else, productive. I look forward to serving on panels and at event with you again in the near future.

No related posts.