The conference call number

You dial the conference call number. That much you can copy and paste into Skype, or just click the link in your phone's e-mail app. At the time you have to enter your 12 digit conference ID number, or whatever this particular system calls it. If you're on your phone and away from your computer, perhaps you jotted it down on a piece of scrap paper. Otherwise, you need to switch back and forth between your dialer and the app that the ID number.

Why do we all in all have to put up with this process in a time in which most of us are dialing in with sophisticated smartphones or from VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) applications on powerful desktops? Sure, there are a couple alternatives. Many Web-based conference calls have VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) option. However in my experience, the audio quality is in the main unusably bad. I'm better off calling in with Skype than using the conference software's native voice support.

But shouldn't it be possible, since near everyone will be calling from some sort of technologically advanced device, to embed the access code into a link that could be clicked just once to dial into the conference? It might require partnering with carriers and handset manufacturers, nevertheless wouldn't it be much nicer to click once to call a conference?

I suppose this is the sort of problem unified communications is supposed to solve in the long run. Why not solve it now, instead of in some magic time hereafter when we're all running interoperable UC platforms?

The evolution of the enterprise

Look at the evolution of the enterprise and a pattern emerges. On-premise systems evolved to meet business demands. Today, there is the option to move services off the enterprise into the cloud.

This executive brief from IDC looks at how enterprises can turn its IT infrastructures into dynamic environments that can scale according to demand and better support business needs.

It can be a tough one to sell the case for making innovation investments when the economy is in the doldrums. The first reaction is to make cuts.

In this article from Qwest Business, you will lean why IT managers and innovation executives believe that investing in unified communications can make a significant difference for a company and postion it as a leader as the market strengthens and business picks up.