Communications as a Service Conference Track
The enterprise communications/Unified Communications marketplace is responding to larger industry trends around the cloud and virtualization. One of the hottest topics in enterprise communications today is the potential for Communications as a Service (CaaS), which is a variation on the concept of Software as a Service (SaaS). In this case, the software in question is communications call control, traditional applications such as messaging, as well as new trends like the cloud-based convergence of communications with desktop apps from companies like Microsoft and Google. At Interop New York, our Communications as a Service track will focus on strategies, products and services that move communications into the cloud and make it an application that can be delivered as a service. We’ll look at the economics and technical challenges around these new types of CaaS services, and offer concrete advice about migration strategies, hybrid deployments, and of course cost factors.
| Wednesday, October 5 | |
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10:30 AM – 11:20 AM  Location: Room 1E08 Google has always been cloud-based, but Microsoft is also promoting cloud-based versions of its office-productivity software, via the Office 365 cloud-based service. This market development has resulted in Google winning some enterprise accounts for its Gmail service, but is Gmail ready for prime time? And the larger question is: Now that Google and Microsoft have added communications “hooks” into their office suites, are we on the verge of another round of convergence? Will enterprises move toward (or away from) Google Docs, Microsoft Office 365, etc., based on the effectiveness of these systems’ integrated communications functionality? In this session, industry experts will help you understand how cloud-based office applications use communications integration to enable and promote collaboration. Moderator - Eric Krapf, Editor, No Jitter Panelist - Kevin Kieller, Principal, enableUC  Kevin Kieller is a partner with enableUC, a company that helps measure, monitor and improve Unified Communications and collaboration usage and adoption. He also currently holds the role as the Lead Unified Communications Strategist at Bell Canada. Panelist - Dave Michels, President, Verge1 Consulting  Dave is an independent industry analyst and consultant focusing on IP PBX UC strategies and solutions; particularly around emerging trends such as cloud telephony, endpoints, mobility, and channel strategies. Dave has a background in enterprise IT and networks, and a passion for IP Telephony. He is an active blogger on telecom and related topics at www.pindropsoup.com. | |
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Location: Room 1E09 Your enterprise probably has users, customers and partners on Skype, and many may use GoogleVoice as well. If your enterprise IP communications platform could talk to these public services, you could greatly expand your reach, using voice, video or other collaboration modes, without ever touching the legacy PSTN. Skype and Google both have the global scale and branding to position themselves at the center of a new public network—but the matter is complicated by Skype’s acquisition by Microsoft, and Google’s potential to compete with the vendors in this space. This session will help you understand the mechanisms available today to use cloud-based providers like Skype and Google to reach your stakeholders with all-IP communications; it will also show you the obstacles to this goal. You’ll come away with a grasp of the state of the art today, and what you can expect tomorrow. Moderator - Eric Krapf, Editor, No Jitter Panelist - Kevin Kieller, Principal, enableUC Kevin Kieller is a partner with enableUC, a company that helps measure, monitor and improve Unified Communications and collaboration usage and adoption. He also currently holds the role as the Lead Unified Communications Strategist at Bell Canada. Panelist - Dave Michels, President, Verge1 Consulting Dave is an independent industry analyst and consultant focusing on IP PBX UC strategies and solutions; particularly around emerging trends such as cloud telephony, endpoints, mobility, and channel strategies. Dave has a background in enterprise IT and networks, and a passion for IP Telephony. He is an active blogger on telecom and related topics at www.pindropsoup.com. | |
| Thursday, October 6 | |
10:30 AM – 11:20 AM Location: Room 1E16 “Rent vs. buy” is one of the oldest conundrums in communications, dating back to the days of Centrex. Now the decision centers on whether you should host your “PBX” or other UC application in the cloud and allow a third party to provide the function as a service. In this session, we’ll offer you a complete overview of your options: Who the potential providers are; what their business models are; what applications you can outsource today, and which aren’t yet available as a service; the feasibility of hybrid deployments, with some locations or applications in the cloud, and others remaining on premise; and whether it’s really less expensive to rent than buy. You’ll come away with a set of decision factors that will let you evaluate what’s out there and what it has to offer your enterprise. Speaker - Stephen Leaden, President, Leaden Associates  Stephen Leaden is founder and President of Leaden Associates, Inc., an independent Telecommunications consulting firm providing specialized support in leading technologies. Mr. Leaden has been in the Telecommunications field over 25 years, with 20 of those with his own firm. Mr. Leaden focuses as an extension of IT staff to facilitate the design, procurement, and project implementation, and ongoing support for converged voice and data solutions. During their engagement, Mr. Leaden proactively adds value via ROI strategies integrated into the projects he serves serve on. Mr. Leaden has lectured on significant industry topics, including VoIP and UC – Basics to Best Practices; Hardphones, Softphones, and NextGen Systems; How Many Phones Do I Really Need?; Leveraging Cost Saving Strategies Migrating to VOIP; Optimizing Your Wireless Spend, State and Local Government Networks: A Question of Priorities for national AT&T user group; Bringing Up Your Lines with VoIP (or Getting Your Company Ready for VoIP); IT Trends in Higher Education; the Real ROI of VoIP; CTI Standards; Internet/Intranet Applications In Healthcare; An Idiot’s Guide To ATM among others. Mr. Leaden has also been quoted in Information Week and Computer World, and interviewed by CFO magazine. | |
3:15 PM – 4:15 PM Location: Room 1E16 What if every application comes with its own communications function? A good example of how this is playing out is in the SaaS CRM market, where cloud-based leader salesforce.com has added a collaboration component called Chatter to its platform. Does Chatter portend a new model, one in which communications functionality is fragmented, implemented in a series of the enterprise’s business critical apps, relegating the core communications function to a lower-layer, default choice for a dwindling number of users whose primary interface is still the desktop telephone? In this session, we’ll examine salesforce.com Chatter and similar approaches to basing your enterprise’s communications capabilities within your most mission-critical business apps. Speaker - Daniel Hong, Lead Analyst, Customer Interaction, Ovum  Daniel Hong is part of Ovum Telecom group's enterprise team where he heads the firm’s global Customer Interaction research and consulting practice. As the program manager and lead analyst for Customer Interaction, Daniel is responsible for the direction of contact center, self-service and customer experience research. His work focuses on analyzing trends, strategies and practices for customer service technologies across CRM, enterprise, social media, mobile and ubiquitous computing environments. He has been quoted numerous times in Business 2.0, DestinationCRM, The Economist, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times and NPR and regularly contributes articles to Speech Technology Magazine and other publications. Daniel has authored numerous reports, benchmark studies and articles that examine the issues, trends, opportunities and trajectories of the CI market. Over the years, he has acted as an advisor and consultant to Fortune 500 companies. He has also written many industry white papers in the customer interaction technologies and processes. Prior to joining Ovum/Datamonitor, Daniel was a Research Associate at the Columbia Business School’s Institute for Tele-Information, where he spearheaded the institute’s technology research initiatives for the book, Media Ownership and Concentration in America. In the past, Daniel has also worked for embedded RTOS Linux software, telecommunications and semiconductor companies in research, business development, marketing and strategic planning roles. Ovum (formerly part of Datamonitor) is now a part of Informa Telecoms and Media. | |
Communications as a Service Free Programs
All Interop attendees can choose from a full calendar of free programs, Wednesday through Thursday, including the following covering Communications as a Service:
Coming soon.Communications as a Service Exhibitors
All Interop attendees can meet exhibitors showcasing the full range of IT innovations including the latest in Communications as a Service:
Click on a column header to re-sort the exhibitor list:
B | C | D | E | G | H | I | M | N | P | S | T | W| Company | Booth |
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Brocade Brocade® (Nasdaq: BRCD) networking solutions help organizations transition smoothly to a world where applications and information reside anywhere. Innovative Ethernet and storage networking solutions for data center, campus, and service provider networks help reduce complexity and cost while enabling virtualization and cloud computing to increase business agility. (www.brocade.com) Address Website Products/Services Offered
Companies Served
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604 |
CenturyLink Business CenturyLink™ is the third largest telecommunications company in the United States. The company provides data, voice and managed services to business, government and wholesale customers in local, national and select international markets through its high-quality advanced fiber optic network and multiple data centers. Visit www.centurylink.com/business Address Website Products/Services Offered
Companies Served
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823 |
Cisco Cisco is the leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate, and collaborate. Cisco has led in the innovation of IP-based networking technologies, including routing, switching, security, TelePresence, unified communications, video, and wireless. The company’s responsible business practices help ensure accountability, business sustainability, and environmentally conscious operations and products. Address Website Products/Services Offered
Companies Served
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121 |
Damaka Damaka is a technology leader and an innovator in mobile unified communication and collaboration (UCC) providing the best-in-class solution for today's complex needs of consumers and businesses. Address Website Products/Services Offered
Products
Companies Served
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821 |
Dell Dell listens to customers and delivers innovative technology and services they trust and value. We offer a broad range of product categories including desktop systems, servers and networking products, mobility products, software and peripherals and enhanced services. Please visit www.dell.com to learn more. Address Website Products/Services Offered
Products
Companies Served
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229 329 |
| Desinnova Technologies, Inc. Desinnova Technologies, Inc. creates the ultimate user experience in video conferencing by offering intuitive and easy to use control systems. Founded in 2009 and located in Portland, OR, Desinnova is a high-tech company that provides cutting edge solutions to video conferencing control. Address Website Products/Services Offered
Products
Companies Served
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801 |
Exinda Exinda is a proven global supplier of WAN Optimization and Application Acceleration products. The company has helped over 2,000 organizations in over 80 countries worldwide improve the end user experience, manage application performance, manage congestion over the WAN and reduce network operating costs for the IT executive. Address Website Social Networks Products/Services Offered
Products
Companies Served
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712 |
Global Crossing Global Crossing is a leading global IP, Ethernet, data center and video solutions provider with the world's first integrated global IP-based network. It delivers converged IP services to more than 700 cities in more than 70 countries. Address Website Social Networks Products/Services Offered
Products
Companies Served
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237 |
HP As a world-leading information technology company, HP applies new thinking and ideas to create more simple, valuable and trusted experiences with technology. Our focus is to continuously improve the way our customers live and work through technology products and services. More information can be found at www.hp.com Address Website Products/Services Offered
Companies Served
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319 2D07 2D08 |
Huawei Technologies (USA) Huawei is a leading global ICT solutions provider. Through our dedication to customer-centric innovation and strong partnerships, we have established end-to-end advantages in networks, devices and cloud computing. We are committed to creating maximum value for operators, enterprises and consumers by providing competitive solutions and services. For information, visit www.huawei.com/enterprise. Address Website Products/Services Offered
Companies Served
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517 |
IOCOM IOCOM delivers innovative solutions that enable multiple groups or individuals to instantly collaborate anytime and anywhere over their chosen medium. IOCOM is the first collaboration software company to integrate high performance multiple data and video windows with high performance audio across multiple platforms and devices. Address Website Social Networks Products/Services Offered
Products
Companies Served
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544 |
IPC Technologies IPC Technologies, founded in 1981 has been at the forefront of offering best of breed products and services to companies all over the world. Based in the Capitol Region, IPC is focused on becoming the leading provider of communications products with ShoreTel, Ruckus Wireless, LifeSize, Phybridge and TechFirst Cloud Services. Address Website Products/Services Offered
Products
Companies Served
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446 |
| MAC Source Communications, Inc. MAC Source Communications, an Avaya Platinum Business Partner, is a complete solutions provider. Our core business is the design, installation and ongoing support of converged communications products and services. Additionally, MAC Source partners with industry-leading manufacturers in wireless networks, video, data switching, routing and security applications. Address Website Social Networks Products/Services Offered
Companies Served
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444 |
Microsoft At Microsoft, we're motivated and inspired every day by how our customers use our software to find creative solutions to business problems, develop breakthrough ideas, and stay connected to what's most important to them. We are committed to the mission of helping our customers realize their full potential. Address Website Products/Services Offered
Companies Served
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605 2D06 |
| Momemtum Telecom, Inc. Momentum is a leading Cloud-based communications provider that offers smart, personalized telephony solutions to independent cable operators, municipalities, value added resellers, managed service providers and direct subscribers nationwide. Founded in 2001, Momentum is CLEC certified in 45 states and currently operates over 100,000 digital voice lines with its carrier-grade services. Address Website Products/Services Offered
Companies Served
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824 |
NetScout Systems, Inc. NetScout Systems, Inc. is the market leader in Unified Service Delivery Management enabling comprehensive end-to-end network and application assurance. IT staff at more than 20,000 of the largest enterprises, government agencies, and service providers use NetScout nGenius® and Sniffer® solutions to predict, preempt, and resolve service delivery problems. Address Website Products/Services Offered
Products
Companies Served
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342 |
Polycom Polycom, Inc. is a global leader in unified communications solutions with industry-leading telepresence, video, voice, and infrastructure solutions built on open standards. Polycom powers smarter conversations, transforming lives and businesses worldwide. www.polycom.com Address Website Products/Services Offered
Companies Served
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249 |
| Processor Processor is a bi-weekly print publication designed for people managing and purchasing equipment for data centers. Processor’s content is comprehensive but presented in a quick, easy-to-read format, so readers can keep up with new data center products and technologies. Address Website Products/Services Offered
Companies Served
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355 |
snom Technology snom technology is a highly specialized manufacturer and developer of comprehensive solutions for IP-based business communication. Founded in Berlin in 1996 snom was one of the leading pioneers in the VoIP sector. Today, snom has operations across the globe with subsidiaries in the US, Italy, France and Great Britain. Address Website Social Networks Products/Services Offered
Products
Companies Served
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140 |
| Transcend United Technologies Transcend United Technologies LLC combines cost-effective technology, experienced people, and world-class service to help organizations optimize their IT and communications infrastructure. Transcend delivers products and expertise in key technologies including unified communications, data infrastructure, data center management, and backup/recovery/availability. For more information, visit www.transcendunited.com or our blog at blog.transcendunited.com. Address Website Products/Services Offered
Companies Served
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251 |
WildPackets WildPackets develops hardware and software solutions that drive network performance, enabling organizations to analyze, troubleshoot, optimize and secure their wired and wireless networks. WildPackets products are sold in over 60 countries and deployed in all industrial sectors. Customers include Boeing, Motorola, Nationwide and over 80 percent of the Fortune 1000. Address Website Social Networks Products/Services Offered
Products
Companies Served
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451 |
