Unified communications
Finally we moved on to Patterson’s other area of responsibility: unified communications (UC). We asked him for a definition of the concept: “The bringing together of the various modes of communication so that they’re integrated within the applications people use. So, for example, when I go into Outlook I can see everyone’s availability and I have the ability to act on that information, like create a conference.”
We asked Patterson if he’d been given both Online and UC because there was a lot of overlap within Microsoft between the two segments. He denied that was necessarily the case, but also brought our attention to the press release that accompanied the launch of Microsoft’s unified communications strategy last October.
In it, now retired Microsoft supremo Bill Gates said: “In the next decade, sweeping technology innovations driven by the power of software will transform communications. Working with partners, we’re making rapid advances that will enable fundamental advances in the way people communicate and collaborate at work.”
It then listed a bunch of Microsoft software that helps make UC a reality, so I think we can assume there will be a fair bit of overlap between S+S and UC in future.
Patterson concluded by stressing there is every bit as much potential for Microsoft partners in UC as there is in S+S. “The ability to give your customers choices in how they deploy is important. We’ve had big reseller take-up of this technology,” he said.
So, unsurprisingly, Microsoft envisages a future in which businesses are able to do everything they need with Microsoft’s help, only now they will be accessing this help as and when they need it as opposed to having to buy a bunch of stuff they don’t need and then having its used restricted to the PC it’s installed on.
You can’t argue with the theory, and Microsoft seems to be doing a decent job of taking care of the channel in the process. But as ever you have to wonder if it will make the switch to being an online services company quickly and effectively enough to head off the growing threat from Google and other online specialists.
Please let us know your thoughts on Microsoft redefining itself as an online service provider. Are you convinced? Do you think it’s doing enough to help the channel? Do you think UC is as big an opportunity as Clint Patterson says? Let us know in the HEXUS.community.
