--- title: U-n-i-f-i-e-d Communications description: Do you know what unified communications is? Find out from the specialist hosted VoIP business phone system provider, VTSL. image: https://blog.vtsl.net/hubfs/Unified_Communications.jpg --- ## BLOG PAGE ## U-n-i-f-i-e-d Communications - ** Audra Oliver - ** 22-Apr-2016 13:08:41 - ** [Telecoms](https://blog.vtsl.net/vtsl-blog/topic/telecoms) ![Unified_Communications.jpg](https://blog.vtsl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Unified_Communications.jpg?width=485&name=Unified_Communications.jpg "Unified_Communications.jpg")The term* unified communications* may sound rather mysterious, like some all-powerful method of magically unifying all your emails, phone calls and instant messaging into one effortlessly accessible place.  And it is just that! Unified Communications is about connecting different communication mediums, but it isn’t that mysterious. Rather it is practical, efficient and something every business needs. The [definition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unified_communications) of unified communications is: **The integration of real-time, enterprise, communication services such as [instant messaging](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instant_messaging) (chat), [presence information](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presence_information), voice (including VoIP [business phone systems](https://www.vtsl.net/product-overview/phones/) & [IP telephony](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_telephony)), mobility features (including extension mobility and single number reach), audio, web & [video conferencing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_conferencing), [fixed-mobile convergence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixed-mobile_convergence) (FMC), [desktop sharing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desktop_sharing), data sharing (including web connected electronic [interactive whiteboards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interactive_whiteboard)), [call control](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_control) and [speech recognition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_speech_recognition) with non-real-time communication services such as [unified messaging](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unified_messaging) (integrated [voicemail](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voicemail), [e-mail](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-mail), [SMS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS) and [fax](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fax)). UC is not necessarily a single product, but a set of products that provides a consistent unified user-interface and user-experience across multiple devices and media-types.** Yet even with a very long definition, unified communications is not a complex concept. Unified communications is getting an email notification of your office phone's voicemail. It is being able to click to call in your CRM platform and have records of callers pop up instantly when the phone rings. It is being able to see whether your colleagues are online or on the phone. It is being able to send and receive fax via email. It is having all your devices ring simultaneously, including your personal smartphone, when someone calls your office number. It is, as the last sentence of the definition explains, not one all powerful application, but rather a set of products that provide a unified user experience across multiple devices and media-types. But as companies like [Mitel](https://www.vtsl.net/product-overview/phones/) acquire Polycom, in a [deal that was only announced last week](http://www.polycom.com/company/news/press-releases/2016/20160415.html), we will see this change.  Telecommunications mergers, collaborations and acquisitions will bring multiple technologies together. Once disparate applications, connected only by a clunky code and APIs, will become genuinely unified, owned and supported by one company, united on one platform. For example, while Mitel and Polycom both compete in the broader unified communications industry, there is surprisingly little overlap in products or market. Polycom is one of the leaders in videoconferencing solutions and SIP-based phones used primarily by internet telephony service providers (ITSP) like VTSL, and with Microsoft Skype For Business. Mitel on the other hand, has a more traditional UC approach and offers a complete line of products, including its own call control. As one entity however, we can expect there to be huge collaboration, if not an outright combining of certain product suites for a mega-unified communications platform. What has been u-n-i-f-i-e-d communications, with different communications mediums and device types will become UNIFIED communications As Polycom wrote in their [press release](http://www.polycom.com/company/news/press-releases/2016/20160415.html), “The communications and collaboration industry is undergoing a period of intense change that is rapidly redrawing the competitive landscape and breaking down barriers between previously discrete markets and technology domains.” For now though, with barriers as they are, unified communications is still an amazing way of connecting different comms channels within your business so that people communicate *more, *and *more easily.*  Which can only be a good thing. In the words of Paul J. Meyer, “Communication – the human connection - is the key to personal and career success.”   ---  **About VTSL** VTSL is a hosted communications provider specialising in VoIP business phone systems and  key elements of unified communications. As one of the first to market with a VoIP business phone system that guaranteed voice quality nearly 10 years ago, VTSL has remained on the cutting edge of communications and collaborative technologies. For advice on how unified communications can help your organisation, contact VTSL on 020 7078 3200.    Topics: [Telecoms](https://blog.vtsl.net/vtsl-blog/topic/telecoms) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ### Welcome to our blog! The latest news, info and ideas on cloud telephony, unified communications and all things technology-related.  ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Recent Posts ### News Posts by Topic - [VTSL News (28)](https://blog.vtsl.net/vtsl-news/topic/vtsl-news) - [Industry News (3)](https://blog.vtsl.net/vtsl-news/topic/industry-news) - [Interesting (2)](https://blog.vtsl.net/vtsl-news/topic/interesting) - [New technology (1)](https://blog.vtsl.net/vtsl-news/topic/new-technology) - [Products (1)](https://blog.vtsl.net/vtsl-news/topic/products) - [Telecoms (1)](https://blog.vtsl.net/vtsl-news/topic/telecoms) ### Blog Posts by Topic - [Telecoms (86)](https://blog.vtsl.net/vtsl-blog/topic/telecoms) - [Interesting (63)](https://blog.vtsl.net/vtsl-blog/topic/interesting) - [New technology (49)](https://blog.vtsl.net/vtsl-blog/topic/new-technology) - [Products (41)](https://blog.vtsl.net/vtsl-blog/topic/products) - [Industry News (26)](https://blog.vtsl.net/vtsl-blog/topic/industry-news) - [VTSL News (5)](https://blog.vtsl.net/vtsl-blog/topic/vtsl-news) ### Blog Archive - [October 2022 (1)](https://blog.vtsl.net/vtsl-blog/archive/2022/10) - [September 2022 (1)](https://blog.vtsl.net/vtsl-blog/archive/2022/09) - [August 2022 (1)](https://blog.vtsl.net/vtsl-blog/archive/2022/08) - [July 2022 (2)](https://blog.vtsl.net/vtsl-blog/archive/2022/07) - [June 2022 (2)](https://blog.vtsl.net/vtsl-blog/archive/2022/06) - [May 2022 (2)](https://blog.vtsl.net/vtsl-blog/archive/2022/05) - [April 2022 (1)](https://blog.vtsl.net/vtsl-blog/archive/2022/04) - [March 2022 (2)](https://blog.vtsl.net/vtsl-blog/archive/2022/03) - [February 2022 (1)](https://blog.vtsl.net/vtsl-blog/archive/2022/02) - [January 2022 (1)](https://blog.vtsl.net/vtsl-blog/archive/2022/01) - [December 2021 (1)](https://blog.vtsl.net/vtsl-blog/archive/2021/12) - [November 2021 (2)](https://blog.vtsl.net/vtsl-blog/archive/2021/11) - [October 2021 (1)](https://blog.vtsl.net/vtsl-blog/archive/2021/10) - [September 2021 (3)](https://blog.vtsl.net/vtsl-blog/archive/2021/09) - [July 2021 (1)](https://blog.vtsl.net/vtsl-blog/archive/2021/07) - [**](https://www.facebook.com/vtslltd/) - [**](https://twitter.com/vtslltd?lang=en/) - [**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/vtsl-ltd/) - [**](https://plus.google.com/share?url=) Newsletter sign up form - it’s fast and easy ### ABOUT US: VTSL is a leading cloud communications provider specialising in voice and data solutions to the UK & Ireland. ### MAIN OFFICES: 5 Nickols Walk, London, SW18 1BZ, UK Republic of Work, 12 South Mall, Cork T12 RD43  Ireland ### CALL US: UK +44 (0) 20 7078 3200 IRE +353 21 237 0202   ![Website Footer Association Logos VTSL](https://blog.vtsl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Website%20Footer%20Association%20Logos%20VTSL.png?width=1008&name=Website%20Footer%20Association%20Logos%20VTSL.png)   © 2024 VTSL Ltd [Data Protection Policy](https://blog.vtsl.net/hubfs/VTSL%20Ltd%20Data%20Protection%20Policy%20%26%20GDPR%20Compliance%20v1.pdf?t=1526054) | [Privacy Notice](https://www.vtsl.net/privacy-notice) **