Unified Communications Featured Article

Phone Service Provider to Deploy Unified Communication Platform for Shell

By Kasey Schefflin-Emrich
TMCnet Contributing Writer

Communications provider AT&T (News - Alert) has announced that it will migrate Shell employees to a new unified communications platform over the next five years.

The platform will enable 150,000 Shell employees and contractors operating in more than 50 countries the ability to connect with one another through various applications using one interface that works with all major mobile operating platforms such as Windows, Windows Phone (News - Alert), Android and iOS.

Workers at Shell will be able to communicate through voice calls, instant messaging, and web and video conferencing, whether they are using a smartphone, tablet or PC. They can also share data files like slides and spreadsheets.

The unified communication platform will help to create a more efficient working environment since phone numbers and voicemail won't be attached to a specific device or location. Entire teams around the world can be called, while advanced video tools will aid in a remote workforce.

The UC platform is being called the most comprehensive unified communication deployment AT&T has ever done for a single business customer.

AT&T Senior Vice President Mark Shine said it has been very rewarding to work with Shell.

"We're helping them save money by providing the framework for a mobile environment," Shine said in a statement. "AT&T is delivering what it does best so Shell can focus on its core business — providing energy products and solutions for consumers and businesses around the world."

The UC market has continued to grow every after year and shows no signs of slowing down. Last year analysts at IDC (News - Alert) predicted that the market could grow from $26.2 billion in 2013 to almost $38 billion by 2016, while a report from Transparency Market Research earlier this year said that the UC market could reach $61.9 billion by 2018. The upward trend can be attributed to things such as cloud computing and Bring Your Own Device phenomenon.