Skype and Facebook: UC on a Shoestring

From within Skype, users can view their entire Facebook social network as a phone book, and initiate an SMS text message or VoIP call with a click of the mouse. Video chat, or group video conferencing can be used for client presentations and team meetings with remote parties. Docs.com from Microsoft provides a platform for creating and sharing Microsoft Office documents. All that's really missing is e-mail, and there are plenty of free Web-based solutions available to fill that gap.

Little money

For organizations willing to invest a little money, Skype and Facebook can deliver a more comprehensive UC experience. For a fee, Skype can provide the ability to dial in from any phone and place calls through the Skype service, or an actual phone number that anyone can use to contact you even without Skype, or a voicemail box that answers incoming Skype calls even when Skype is offline.

It may not be a perfect unified communications solution, but the Skype-Facebook alliance delivers many of the essential elements and for small and medium businesses without a budget, the price can't be beat.