Early last week, Polycom made several product announcements surrounding the RealPresence platform enhancements that include the industry’s first open standards-based SVC (Scalable Video Coding). The newly announced CloudAXIS Suite lets customers extend enterprise-grade video collaboration to users of Skype, Facebook, Google Talk and business video applications via a browser, for B2B and B2C video conferencing with the highest quality, reliability and security.

Polycom RealPresence Collaboration Server 800s, Virtual Edition
The Collaboration Server 800s is the newest multiparty solution to join the RealPresence Collaboration Server series family. An ideal fit for mid-sized enterprises or organizations wanting to expand an existing environment through the use of a Virtualization Manager. With both AVC (Advanced Video Coding) and SVC, the Collaboration Server 800s is totally interoperable with more than 2 million existing video conferencing systems.

Polycom RealPresence Group Series
With a new easy-to-use interface and high user adoption rate, the Polycom RealPresence Group Series offers full 1080p60 video and content sharing. The Group Series will connect to virtually any other standards-based video system.

Polycom RealPresenve VisualEdge
The Polycom RealPresence VisualEdge brings a unified communications system straight to your desktop. Used as both a high-resolution monitor and video communications tool, the VisualEdge system comes with an easy-to-use touch pad to control functions.

Set to release in early 2013, we can expect to learn even more about these announcements and enhancements in the months to come. To learn more about Polycom’s latest announcements, please reach out ot your SKC Account Executive or Contact Us to learn more.

Gone are the days of being chained to your desk by a telephone cord. With Plantronics’ Savi 700 series, users are able to not only roam free from their desk without losing a call, but they can also switch between their telephone, PC and mobile device with a simple click of a button.

Plantronics has consistently provided top of the line headsets with revolutionary technology and the Savi 700 Series is no different. With the workforce environment consistently changing, companies are seeing office professionals have more flexible schedules with optional work-at-home schedules. As the typical day-to-day routines evolve, users consistently expect technology to not only keep up with such changes but also make it easier to adapt and change at a moment’s notice.

The flexibility and versatility that the Plantronics Savi 700 Series offers users is extraordinary. To learn more about the Savi 700 Series or other Plantronics headsets, check out our website or contact SKC at 800.882.7779.

The Forrester Wave report released earlier this week provides outsiders with a perspective of not only where the industry currently stands, but it also shares with us all where businesses can expect videoconferencing to go in the future.

Forrester’s evaluated a group of videoconferencing solution vendors on 39 different criteria to develop a scale of sorts to assist IT professionals in finding the right solution for their business today and looking forward.

The report reminded us all that each business has its unique uses for videoconferencing applications in their practices, but without a doubt, desktop videoconferencing solutions has arrived at the forefront of many of the minds of Executives, Managers and IT professionals alike. Desktop videoconferencing can cut down on business travel allowing for employees to spend more time in their home office and otherwise improving their work-life balance. As the report mentioned, communicating with distant colleagues over video can improve relationships and result in quicker decision-making. With more and more employees using their personal devices, such as tablets and mobile devices, in the workplace

After much research, Forrester evaluated vendors based on a final set of criteria: current offering, strategy and market presence. Companies are looking for vendors that provide a wide selection of products, are looking towards UC integration and interoperability and finally, have a strong reputation with valuable assets such as strong revenues, employees and partners.

Based on the final outcome discovered by Forrester’s Wave report, Polycom outweighed them all showcasing a large product offering while also offering a strong UC integration roadmap with some of the leading interoperability available.

To learn more about Polycom’s videoconferencing solutions, please reach out to your SKC Account Executive or Contact Us to learn more.

Forrester Wave: Room-Based Videoconferencing, Q3 2012 Report.

Jeff Holton, Vice President of Technology

In an earlier blog post, we discussed the freedom that Cisco Jabber brings to employees in terms of collaboration and communication tools. Cisco’s CloudVerse provides a similar service giving employees the freedom to access their network from anywhere, at any time.

 A cloud is a growing trend in IT and consumer services. With networking, storage and management services, companies can give users access to the information that they need on a day-to-day basis. These applications are available to them regardless of location giving them the flexibility to work remotely or in a physical office and every in between.

Cloud computing may not be the right thing for every organization, but if you decide that using a cloud to carry IT services to your users, you must be sure that it is highly secure, reliable and predictable. Users need the assurance that their information is kept safe and secure while also easily accessible and transparent among devices.

For additional information on Cisco’s CloudVerse or Cisco Cloud Intelligent Network, reach out to your SKC Account Executive for additional information.

Jeff Holton, Vice President of Technology

Gone are the days of hunting down a colleague in the office for a quick question. Say goodbye to phone tag and dozens of email exchanges. It’s now time to collaborate with your colleagues at your convenience. 

Cisco Jabber transforms workplace communications with tools such as presence, IM, voice and video. Find your colleagues and connect to them using your preferred method with a simple click of the mouse. Employees are able to work anywhere, on any device, with Cisco Jabber. Dozens of devices including PCs, laptops and smartphones are all supported.

With an increase in employee flexibility comes increased collaboration and productivity. Being connected to colleagues throughout the day, regardless of location, gives employees the flexibility to collaborate with those outside of their physical building, state or even country.

Employees should no longer be stuck to their desk. The technology is here to connect us all and allow for the freedom and flexibility we all demand.
For more information

Laurie Dack, UC and Voice Sales Specialist

Contact centers are no longer defined by their physical location. Representatives in contact centers are no longer tied to their desk with corded phones and headsets, but instead it’s now possible to have contact center agents work remotely from their home offices.

The potential of adding home agents to your contact center team could not only exceed customer expectations but also lower the total cost of ownership off the bottom line of your business. Customers are expected to reach customer service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. With home agents working remotely, schedules can be much more flexible thus leading to reduced turnover and more satisfied employees. Less physical real estate can also help cut down on total costs.

Training, monitoring and reporting is also possible and sometimes easier with remote home agents. With virtual support such as video tutorials, in-call coaching and desktop sharing, managers are able to directly connect with home agents at their own convenience.

A final benefit of having home agents is increasing the workforce pool by broadening location and scheduling. Companies are now capable of hiring a more educated representative that may be unwilling to move or even recruiting part-time agents to help cover busy schedules.

While having physical contact centers may make sense for some companies, other companies are not only taking a chance with home agents but are seeing an increase in agent retention while exceeding customer expectations with knowledgeable, attentive and most importantly available representatives. Learn more about Avaya’s Home Agent solution and talk to an SKC representative today to build home agents into your contact center department.

As part of the evolving working world, we are all jumping on more audio and video calls than ever before. The days of the lunch meetings and one-on-ones are nearly non-existent.

While much of the video and audio equipment we use is very intuitive and user-friendly, it is still necessary to maintain and update the systems just like any other piece of technology. Daily system checks and system updates need to take place prior to routine or impromptu conferences to make sure that the equipment is ready for your call.

SKC can take the design and implementation of your audio and video systems a step further. With SKC’s Managed Services, you can take a deep breath and know that your systems are being kept up-to-date, conference calls will go on without a hitch, and your overall user adoption and return on investment will increase.

Earlier this year, SKC was recognized for the around the clock service and support we provide our clients. Named an Immersive Telepresence Video Network Operations Center (VNOC) Provider by Polycom, SKC can assure customers that we are among the most qualified and knowledgeable service providers in the country. This certification recognizes expertise in all aspects of VNOC operations relative to Polycom’s Immersive Telepresence solutions. Combined with our Polycom Certified Service Partner Status, SKC will continue with ongoing training, commitment and support from Polycom.

To learn more about SKC’s Managed Services, please reach out to your SKC Account Executive or contact us for more information.

Laurie Dack, UC and Voice Sales Specialist

As consumers living in an ever-evolving world, we expect access to information nearly every waking moment of our day. Many of us carry a cell phone, laptop and tablet to and from work each day. Some of us may even have another cell phone and computer at home. While all of these devices may seem  necessary, are we using them all to their full potential? Can they be shared devices and used both at work and home?

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) is an increasingly popular trend in which enterprise users are connecting their devices of choice to the company network. While this does increase virtualization and mobility for employees, BYOD can bring about challenges to a company’s network security.  Make sure the necessary precautions are taken to make sure your network is robust and information is kept secure.

Take advantage of BYOD and utilize the tools available to increase your mobility and connectivity with colleagues. There are many popular apps and tools that can make your mobility much easier. Avaya’s Flare Communicator app, announced earlier this year, simplifies your communication tools and keeps you connected from virtually anywhere with WiFi or 3G access.  This app is only available for the Apple iPad at the moment, but Avaya does plan on releasing the app for other consumer devices before the end of the year. The app provides voice, instant messaging with presence and email integration to users.  Connecting with your network’s Avaya Aura, the app allows one to manage call history and contact management, answer calls, receive voicemail, and stay connected and updated with instant messaging and emails. Check out the Avaya page for a video demo of this product. The application is available for download through the Apple App Store.

As you or your employees decide to add their own device to the company network, take full advantage of added mobility but remember to keep the company’s network, infrastructure, and private information protected.

Laurie Dack, UC and Voice Sales Specialist

Many of us take for granted our visual and auditory cues from our environment, but for those with visual, hearing or speech impairments, it is not always easy to pick up the phone and exchange information with others.

According to the US Census Bureau, 7.8 million people have difficulty hearing a normal conversation with 1 million of those unable to hear at all. Nearly the same amount has difficulty seeing words in an ordinary newspaper with 1.8 million completely unable to see. It is true that laws and regulations protect the rights of people with disabilities, but as businesses helping to support our communities we should all do better to provide equal access to technology to people with disabilities.

Text Telephone terminals (TTYs) are commonly used by those with hearing or speech impairment to communicate over telephone lines. While these machines work well when matched with the right receiver, there are complications when connecting to an automatic messaging system that is not TTY-compatible.

Another convenience sighted people experience are the visual cues provided on each call such as: caller ID, call forwarding, incoming call indicator and available on-hold lines. For those individuals with visual impairments it’s not so easy. Communication-centric jobs for those with visual impairments can be extremely difficult without the correct software to alert them of these notifications.

Check out Avaya’s Accessible Communication Solutions document here to learn about what is available to individuals with disabilities. Many of the solutions are free downloads and phone system upgrades that help make your business a more user-friendly and open environment.

•  Laurie Dack, UC and Voice Sales Specialist

This past year we have seen outstanding growth and development with communications in the workplace, and as we kick off 2012, we can only expect the trends to continue. In my opinion, here are some of the key trends to watch this year:

Continuous connectivity in the workplace. Employees want the freedom of mobility to work from home and beyond while also having full access to voice, e-mail, and corporate servers.

Evolution of contact centers. Take advantage of available technology and discover how you can raise your contact center ROI to control costs and delight customers with quicker responses utilizing less costly email, chat and text communications. As we discussed here , end-users are now responding through social media avenues. Avaya’s Social Media Manager is a strategic tool companies are using to sift through information posted about their particular brand.

SIP. While SIP has been a growing trend for several years, companies need to protect their voice networks with a Session Border Controller. Adding a SIP Trunking trial to your 2012 initiatives is a great way to learn the benefits of the robust and affordable trunking options available.

Managed Services.  Let SKC help your company keep your Avaya firmware updated, support downloads current and investigate and clear minor and major alarms. We can also assist by managing the day-to-day maintenance issues while you and your team can focus on the future.

Want to read more about what’s in store for 2012? This whitepaper digs deeper into their topics – and more.