Comcast's new messaging system

Unified Communications This newsletter is sponsored by MessageGate Free Research: Reshaping Info Security In this insightful study, you will understand the key drivers that are reshaping information security resulting from the convergence of content and security in corporate messaging. Through candid discussions, info-security executives from leading US companies share what's keeping them up at night and solutions to help solve these messaging issues. Network World's Unified Communications Newsletter, 05/15/07 Comcast’s new messaging system By Michael Osterman Last week, Comcast announced that it would deploy a new unified communications system for its 12 million broadband customers and users of the company’s VoIP services. The new system, dubbed SmartZone, will have as one of its central capabilities Zimbra’s unified communications platform. Other capabilities that will be integrated into SmartZone include Trend Micro’s antivirus capabilities; Cloudmark’s antiphishing and antispam capabilities; and Bizanga’s e-mail anti-abuse system. Other vendors’ offerings that will be integrated into SmartZone include those from Plaxo for address book services and HP for hosting services. Data Center Power & Cooling Options Tune into this webcast on Data Center Power and Cooling Options for tips and advice on how to prepare your data center for the future. Network World's Editor-in-Chief John Dix discusses current data center challenges and how to overcome them with data center expert Robert McFarlane of Shen, Milson & Wilke. Click to watch today! SmartZone will have a couple of important implications. First, it represents a major step forward for Comcast customers in terms of the capabilities they will have as part of their subscription to either the high-speed Internet service or Internet telephony service. Zimbra’s platform offers a number of very useful features, not least of which is the ability to integrate a variety of Web services into the e-mail experience. The other vendors’ offerings will significantly enhance the experience, particularly compared to Comcast’s current messaging offerings. The second implication of SmartZone will be oriented more toward corporate decision makers. Our research has shown that most e-mail users at work also check their work e-mail from home on platforms that they own. Given that Comcast Internet customers represent roughly 10% of the U.S. workforce, and assuming that SmartZone will be used by many of these employees to check work-related e-mail, that means that a lot of business e-mail will be sent and stored in SmartZone, making it an important business tool for many. In short, while SmartZone will be directed primarily at residential users of Comcast services, business decision makers need to take note and understand the implications of their employees using this and other systems for business applications. The impacts on business policy, e-discovery and corporate risk management will be important ones.   What do you think? Post a comment on this newsletter

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Contact the author: For webinars or research on messaging, or to join the Osterman Research market research survey panel, go here. Osterman Research helps organizations understand the markets for messaging and directory related offerings. To e-mail Michael, click here. This newsletter is sponsored by MessageGate Free Research: Reshaping Info Security In this insightful study, you will understand the key drivers that are reshaping information security resulting from the convergence of content and security in corporate messaging. Through candid discussions, info-security executives from leading US companies share what's keeping them up at night and solutions to help solve these messaging issues. ARCHIVE Archive of the Unified Communications Newsletter. BONUS FEATURE IT PRODUCT RESEARCH AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Get detailed information on thousands of products, conduct side-by-side comparisons and read product test and review results with Network World’s IT Buyer’s Guides. Find the best solution faster than ever with over 100 distinct categories across the security, storage, management, wireless, infrastructure and convergence markets. Click here for details. PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered to your inbox each day. Extend your knowledge with a print subscription to the Network World newsweekly, Apply here today. International subscribers, click here. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World newsletter, change your e-mail address or contact us, click here. This message was sent to: networking.world@gmail.com. Please use this address when modifying your subscription. Advertising information: Write to Associate Publisher Online Susan Cardoza Network World, Inc., 118 Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772 Copyright Network World, Inc., 2007