Unified Communications Featured Article

New Unified Communications Service is Launched

By Frank Griffin
TMCnet Contributing Writer

According to a recent Grand View Research study, the unified communications (UC) market is set to grow to $78.5 billion by 2020. The growth highlights the increasing number of organizations adopting UC solutions to address a mobile workforce that needs to be connected no matter where they are without any compatibility issues. The research suggests cloud-based solutions are offering more flexibility and scalability than traditional on-premises systems, allowing businesses to grow without costly CAPEX. MegaPath Corporation, operator of end-to-end communications networks providing commercial and wholesale services, has announced it is now providing UC services to meet the growing demand in the marketplace.

Larry Hettick of NetworkWorld reported the company is going to integrate its existing IP voice telephony portfolio and provide UC as an add-on to the company’s Hosted Voice service. This gives customers access to traditional telephony features as well as value added services, including voicemail transcribed as email, call recording, and conferencing as well as:

Presence – Allowing users to see the availability of their colleagues within the MegaPath (News - Alert) softphone client for fast communications. Users can set their presence status so their contacts can get in touch with them without having to go through a list of numbers.

Instant Messaging – Users can send and receive instant messages to their corporate contacts and colleagues as one-on-one or group conversations, avoiding phone tag (News - Alert) and lengthy delays on email responses.

Video Calling – For face-to-face conversations resulting in more personalized conversations and better meeting engagement so real-time reactions can be obtained from colleagues, prospects and customers.

Screen Sharing – Up to 100 colleagues can take part in viewing a desktop screen without requiring attendees to install a client. Employees initiate the screen share and text or IM the meeting link from within the same program. Attendees simply click a link to join.

SMS Text Messaging – Text services can be used with the business VoIP phone number instead of their personal cell numbers from within the UC client across devices. Employees can use the free Wi-Fi to chat with colleagues and customers in real-time without fees for similar services from a wireless provider.

The new platform will use the MegaPath nationwide infrastructure to ensure the reliable delivery of its new UC service with data services including DSL, T1, and Ethernet up to 45x45 Mbps, with nationwide coverage on the company’s end-to-end facilities-based network. The company also offers managed Wi-Fi (Wireless LAN), to provide employees and customers with secure, reliable Wi-Fi access without having to manage the wireless network.

The service includes remote IT support with access to US-based IT professionals and compliance expertise in the health care, financial services, and retail industries with security services including MSS and MPLS VPN.

“A traditional calling solution is not enough for today’s fast-paced business environment,” said Dan Foster (News - Alert), president of MegaPath. “Today’s mobile and resource-challenged workers require more freedom and flexibility in how they communicate with their colleagues, teams, partners and customers.”