What is unified communications?

Abstract: Unified Communications truly realizes the unification and simplification of various types of communications —不受位置、时间或设备的影响— by using the SIP protocol and including mobile solutions.

After a long period of deployment, the Internet Protocol (IP), which has spread to every corner of the world, is not only regarded as a tool for data transmission but also as a tool that helps simplify a large number of business applications. The telephone is the most obvious example; whether for large enterprises or individual users, Voice over IP (VoIP) and IP telephony are becoming increasingly popular.

Understanding the terminology related to IP communications is the first step in understanding the potential of this technology:

Voice over IP (VoIP) refers to a way of transmitting telephone calls over an IP data network: it can be the internet or a company's internal network. One of the main attractions of VoIP is that it allows telephone calls to be transmitted over a data network (rather than the telephone company’s network), helping companies reduce costs.

IP telephony includes a full suite of telephone services based on VoIP (such as telephone interconnections used for actual communication); related services such as billing and dialing schemes; and basic features such as teleconferencing, call forwarding, forward transfer, and call hold. These services were originally provided by Private Branch Exchanges (PBX).

IP communications further develops the concept of IP telephony, incorporating business applications that enhance communication, such as unified messaging, integrated contact centers, and multimedia conferencing applications that combine voice, data, and video.

Unified Communications further develops the concept of IP communications, truly achieving the unification and simplification of various types of communications —不受位置、时间或设备的影响— by using the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and including mobile solutions. Through Unified Communications solutions, users can communicate with each other at any time according to their preferences and can communicate via any media using any device. Unified Communications integrates the multiple phones and devices we commonly use —以及多个网络（固定、互联网、有线、卫星、移动）— to achieve location-independent communication, promote the integration of communication and business processes, simplify operations, and improve productivity and profitability.

Public internet telephone calls are a new service that uses the internet to connect telephone calls, particularly suitable for individual users. However, most companies use IP telephony on private networks they manage themselves because this allows them better control over security and quality of service. By using their own network, companies can enhance control, ensuring that voice quality is at least as good as, if not better than, the traditional telephone systems they used before.