IBM gives presence a boost

Convergence & VoIP This newsletter is sponsored by Raritan Computer, Inc. Data Center Build outs Simplified Download this whitepaper, Data Center Transformations, to learn how to make data center build outs, consolidations and acquisitions (BOCA) less complex and time consuming. Discover tools and techniques as well as key questions and topics that should be discussed with the business management side of the house. or more information click here. Network World's Convergence & VoIP Newsletter, 09/03/07 IBM gives presence a boost By Steve Taylor and Larry Hettick Following last week’s look at VoiceCon Fall 2007 highlights, today we’d like to dig a little deeper into the three IBM announcements. During the show, IBM launched the next phase of its unified communication and collaboration (UC2) strategy by expanding its IBM Lotus Sametime software with new telephony integration software; it announced a deal with Siemens to license elements of Siemens’ OpenScape technology; and it announced plans to acquire WebDialogs. By partnering with Siemens, IBM will improve the presence capabilities of its products, adding add click-to-call, click to conference, rules-based call control, and multi-vendor PBX support. In short, IBM will improve its SIP-based IP telephony that allows it to better compete with and/or more integrate with other suppliers’ infrastructure. The agreement is a natural evolution for both companies that share similar perspectives on both software-as-a-service (SaaS) and on open standards-based multivendor environments. IBM’s plans aren’t expected to have a negative effect on the existing partnerships IBM has with Nortel, Siemens, or others. The second set of announced enhancements include upgrades for collaboration and integration offering features like IM, contact list management features, persistent group chat, screen sharing, and on-premise Web conferencing along with a wider integration with Microsoft Office and Outlook and support of video capabilities for Macintosh clients. Executive Guide: Stay ahead of the data growth curve Get real-world advice on how to best deal with the explosion of data across nearly every enterprise today. This informative executive guide offers IT professionals detailed information on new technologies such as ILM and FANs, specific pitfalls to avoid when deploying ILM, as well as solid case studies. Click here to learn more. IBM’s announcement that it is acquiring WebDialogs for conferencing, positions IBM as a hosted conferencing service provider, placing it in competition not only with traditional service providers but also against Cisco (with WebEx) and Microsoft (with Live Meeting). Next time, we’ll outline our thoughts on how the IBM, Siemens, Microsoft, Cisco, and Verizon announcements made last month collectively show evidence of identifiable trends in IP telephony and IP communications.   What do you think? Post a comment on this newsletter

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Contact the author: Steve Taylor is president of Distributed Networking Associates and publisher/editor-in-chief of Webtorials. For more detailed information on most of the topics discussed in this newsletter, connect to Webtorials, the premier site for Web-based educational presentations, white papers, and market research. Taylor can be reached at taylor@webtorials.com Larry Hettick is an industry veteran with more than 20 years of experience in voice and data. He is Vice President for Telecom Services and Infrastructure at Current Analysis, the leading competitive response solutions company. He can be reached at lhettick@currentanalysis.com This newsletter is sponsored by Raritan Computer, Inc. Data Center Build outs Simplified Download this whitepaper, Data Center Transformations, to learn how to make data center build outs, consolidations and acquisitions (BOCA) less complex and time consuming. Discover tools and techniques as well as key questions and topics that should be discussed with the business management side of the house. or more information click here. ARCHIVE Archive of the Convergence & VoIP 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