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• What's the difference between UC-certified and MS-certified?

  Both UC-certified and MS-certified products are available to enterprises. But one designation carries more weight than the other, our expert writes. Continue Reading

• What's the difference between social media and social networking?

  Social media and social networking appear to be interchangeable terms, but they serve different use cases. Learn the difference between social media and social networking. Continue Reading

• What are use cases for business live event streaming services?

  Business live event streaming services can transform webinars and virtual events to be more interactive and create engaging experiences for customers. Continue Reading

• What does it mean if a device is UC-certified?

  IT leaders determining which UC devices and endpoints to support organizationwide should look for a UC-certified label, which is an indicator of platform compatibility. Continue Reading

• Learn the top 8 most useful Microsoft Teams tips and tricks

  Enhance employee collaboration and workflow with these eight Microsoft Teams tips and tricks, including productivity-boosting app integrations and guest access for external users. Continue Reading

• Definitions to Get Started

  • What is a virtual contact center?
  • What is podcasting?
  • What is Real-Time Transport Control Protocol (RTCP)?
  • What is telephony?

  • What is SIP trunking (Session Initiation Protocol trunking)?
  • What is an inbound call?
  • unified communications (UC)
  • What is VoIP (voice over Internet Protocol)?

  View All Definitions

• 5 tips to get started with Zoom meetings for beginners

  While online conferencing services can't fully replicate a face-to-face meeting, these Zoom tips can help employees make the most of their remote meetings.Continue Reading

• How do collaboration integration and interoperability differ?

  Interoperability between collaboration platforms is scarce, but integrations are abundant. Learn why multivendor collaboration integration has more support than interoperability.Continue Reading

• Build a collaboration hub to transform team workflows

  Team collaboration applications are coming together like never before. Learn how hubs are working now and why your team should get on board with this trend.Continue Reading

• Top expert advice addresses unified communications strategy

  The ways to approach unified communications strategies are always evolving. Check out the advice our industry experts gave to answer the top UC strategy questions of 2019.Continue Reading

• Top expert tips highlight 2019 unified communications trends

  The UC industry is changing rapidly, and buyers need advice to make educated buying decisions. Our top expert tips of 2019 helped organizations navigate market trends.Continue Reading

• How should organizations approach API-based SIP services?

  Organizations need SIP services to connect and disconnect call sessions. Now some SIP services are offered through APIs, which expand the use cases and capabilities.Continue Reading

• Why organizations need SIP services now

  Whether you realize it or not, your company needs Session Initiation Protocol. As legacy telephony networks wind down and cloud-based voice services continue to grow, SIP services are necessary to ...Continue Reading

• What are the benefits of UC in a cloud-based office suite?

  Adopting the UC tools within a cloud-based office suite may be the most beneficial option if users are already comfortable with the suite's features.Continue Reading

• Understanding key video conferencing components

  Video conferencing is an essential tool for working with a team. Use this glossary to determine which components of video conferencing are best for your business.Continue Reading

• Are you ready for a hybrid UC migration?

  Hybrid UC is an option for organizations that aren't ready or able to move all of their UC to the cloud. Take this quiz to test your knowledge of a hybrid UC migration.Continue Reading

• How unified communications is getting down to business

  This guide will get you up to date on what's happening in the world of UC, including how UC employs AI now, and what's new with UC tools for business messaging and contact centers.Continue Reading

• How do you craft an immersive video meeting experience?

  Increasing focus for remote meetings is achieved through crafting an immersive meeting experience. Proper placement of technology such as audio and monitors can enhance immersion.Continue Reading

• Understanding the components of team collaboration tools

  Refresh your knowledge of which team collaboration components are essential to team workflows and what IT leaders should keep top of mind to prevent potential problems.Continue Reading

• VoIP migration requires telephony network planning, security scrutiny

  A PBX to VoIP migration requires careful planning to ensure call quality. Learn how to ready the network, evaluate architecture options and set the right security policies.Continue Reading

• Breaking down the parts of a CPaaS platform

  Cloud-delivered communications are the backbone of many organizations. Review the key terms around CPaaS platform features and development tools with this glossary.Continue Reading

• 5 best practices for cloud calling success

  Organizations looking to augment their communications features while also cutting costs and improving scalability are turning to the cloud for their calling services. But migrating to cloud calling ...Continue Reading

• How well do you understand UC cloud SLAs?

  Getting the right unified communications cloud SLA can be difficult for organizations. This quiz covers the essentials of SLAs, from the basic components to IT's role.Continue Reading

• How can IT approach a cloud-based unified communications migration?

  Migrating to cloud-based unified communications can offer organizations greater agility, but benefits need to be weighed against the loss of IT control.Continue Reading

• Brush up on your knowledge of speech technology terms

  Vocal commands are one way speech technology is making its way into business applications and services. This mini glossary will refresh your knowledge of speech technology and some of its use cases.Continue Reading

• UC adoption programs support users and business goals

  Transforming a business with unified communications takes more than deploying new apps and services. End users must adopt the services and incorporate them into their daily workflows. For many ...Continue Reading

• Are you ready to adopt cloud video conferencing?

  Video is an important tool for enterprises looking to support dispersed employees. Take this quiz to see how much you know about cloud video conferencing.Continue Reading

• What role does UC mobility play in digital transformation?

  Organizations that value employee engagement, innovation and customer experience are more likely to focus on mobile UC as part of their digital transformation road map.Continue Reading

• Collaboration tools are must-haves, but not one-size-fits-all

  Choosing the best tool for collaboration in your enterprise takes much more than simply assessing vendors in the market and comparing their products' capabilities.Continue Reading

• A collaboration program is essential for effective teamwork

  Learn what steps must be taken in order to create effective enterprise team collaboration in an era when IT no longer controls what applications and platforms workers choose to use.Continue Reading

• Understand UC quality issues and which QoS tools can solve them

  Improving UC quality means knowing what causes problems and which QoS tools are available. This mini-glossary will help you navigate the terms related to QoS.Continue Reading

• Go back to the basics with a glossary of VoIP terms

  This mini glossary defines essential vocabulary associated with VoIP. Read through these VoIP terms to refresh your knowledge of IP-based telephony.Continue Reading

• How SD-WAN can unlock UCaaS benefits

  Reaping UCaaS benefits means taking a hard look at your network configuration. Learn how SD-WAN can help optimize performance and reliability for UCaaS applications.Continue Reading

• What should users expect from speech technology applications?

  Workers can start to expect more from speech technology applications than just voice-activated search. As capabilities evolve, new business use cases will emerge.Continue Reading

• How does cloud SIP trunking differ from traditional SIP trunking?

  Traditional and cloud SIP trunking perform the same tasks of initiating and ending call sessions, but the method and costs of access create distinct differences in these services.Continue Reading

• Reap UCaaS benefits by preparing network, staff and users

  Organizations migrating to cloud-based unified communications must examine IT and end-user needs. Finding the right balance can help companies realize UCaaS benefits.Continue Reading

• How do you prepare for porting business phone numbers?

  Porting business phone numbers to your UCaaS provider may be more complicated than you realize. Learn three ways you can prepare your organization for porting.Continue Reading

• 8 best practices for adopting cloud video conferencing services

  Ready to migrate to cloud video conferencing? Keep these eight best practices in mind to pick a service that employees will use so you can achieve adoption success.Continue Reading

• Make VoIP the starting point for hybrid communications

  Moving to VoIP is the first step toward creating a hybrid unified communications architecture. Learn how to test and maintain voice quality for a successful migration.Continue Reading

• How to deploy team collaboration platforms successfully

  How an organization deploys team collaboration tools depends on its overall UC strategy and end-user needs. Discover the deployment options available and how to ensure adoption.Continue Reading

• How does embedded communication work with an IP PBX infrastructure?

  Adding communications capabilities to your web browsers or mobile apps? Be sure to use the right protocols for successful interoperability with your IP PBX or telephony infrastructure.Continue Reading

• Improve the contact center experience with 3 key integrations

  Organizations that want to offer a modern contact center experience can turn to AI, messaging apps and UC to improve agent productivity and customer service.Continue Reading

• Understanding MOS for voice quality

  Looking to improve the quality of voice calls? Learn which mean-opinion-score models measure and rate the user experience and the factors that influence voice quality.Continue Reading

• What are speech technology applications beyond contact centers?

  Speech technology applications aren't confined to contact centers. Our expert explains the use cases for the technology, including personal digital assistants and knowledge management.Continue Reading

• Test your knowledge of VoIP fundamentals

  Do you want to test your knowledge of VoIP fundamentals and how VoIP works? Take this VoIP quiz and see what areas of voice technology elude you.Continue Reading

• 7 steps to select the right product for deploying SD-WAN for VoIP

  Ready to deploy SD-WAN for VoIP? Networking expert Terry Slattery offers seven tips for selecting the right product to support real-time voice needs.Continue Reading

• How chatbot AI in contact centers can improve self-service

  Deploying AI in contact centers can address IVR pain points and improve customer self-service with chatbots that create a conversational and streamlined customer experience.Continue Reading

• 4 ways to prep the network when planning to implement VoIP

  Before deploying VoIP platforms, make sure you have the infrastructure to support your communications needs. Learn what factors influence the network technology you'll need to support VoIP.Continue Reading

• Should you use CPaaS vendors or develop communications in-house?

  While some organizations prefer to develop communications capabilities in-house, deploying vendors' communications APIs offers benefits. Two factors can influence the best approach.Continue Reading

• Best practices for large video conferencing room design

  Large-room video conferencing systems are seeing renewed growth, as corporate mandates and employee demand drive enterprise deployments. Following best practices ensures the right design for large room video.Continue Reading

• 4 ways AI services can improve video meeting room technology

  AI is making its way into meeting rooms to improve productivity and enhance collaboration. AI services are addressing employee collaboration needs in four ways.Continue Reading

• What is the difference between UC platforms and UC apps?

  Platform and app are not interchangeable terms in a unified communications deployment. UC expert Jon Arnold explains how to differentiate between UC platforms and UC apps.Continue Reading

• Five steps for a successful video conferencing strategy

  When deploying video conferencing successfully, you simply can't install a video client and give users a webcam. Organizations with a robust video conferencing strategy see more deployment success ...Continue Reading

• Design huddle rooms to mirror team collaboration workflows

  Different teams conduct different types of meetings. As a result, small conference rooms should be customized to accommodate specific collaboration workflows.Continue Reading

• Use cases for IoT and UC integration starting to emerge

  The convergence of IoT and UC technologies seems to be emerging. IoT tools, for example, could track the use of meeting rooms and interact with collaboration apps.Continue Reading

• Integrated communications extends UC capabilities

  Organizations that want to drive greater value from their unified communications deployment should look to integrate communications into other parts of their business. Integrated communications ...Continue Reading

• What are the steps to ensure SIP implementation success?

  A robust strategy and several steps are needed to deploy SIP successfully. Networking expert Carrie Higbie Goetz explains the pieces that comprise a SIP strategy, from creating an RFI to documentation.Continue Reading

• CPaaS vs. UCaaS platform: Which should you choose?

  While the CPaaS vs. UCaaS debate might focus on overlapping features, the two technologies can be complementary, according to industry analyst Michael Brandenburg.Continue Reading

• Conference rooms of the future target meeting efficiency

  When overhauling your meeting room technology, don't forget the basics, such as high-speed network connectivity and power accessibility for all end users.Continue Reading

• The evolution of unified communications technologies

  Over the years, unified communications tools have evolved to incorporate different modes of collaboration. Enterprises need to be receptive to this ongoing innovation.Continue Reading

• How to configure VoIP on a network

  VoIP configuration requires significant preplanning to meet the requirements of voice traffic. Learn the steps to take when configuring VoIP on your network.Continue Reading

• Video conference hardware simplified, affordable for huddle rooms

  Video conferencing vendors have aimed to simplify deployments with cost-effective kits that include cameras and audio peripherals for small meeting rooms.Continue Reading

• Should your unified communications strategy include UCaaS?

  Unified communications-as-a-service offerings are getting better, but it's a complex market that requires understanding your company's true needs.Continue Reading

• Take this WebRTC architecture quiz to boost your tech skills

  The WebRTC architecture demands widespread knowledge of different computer science disciplines. Take this quiz to test your WebRTC technical expertise.Continue Reading

• This CCNP Collaboration quiz tests your Cisco UC smarts

  The Cisco Collaboration certification covers several technological components from ports to protocols. Take this quiz to test your knowledge of Cisco UC technologies.Continue Reading

• How do media servers differ from media gateways?

  Expert Carrie Higbie explains how media servers differ from media gateways and how media servers are useful in video and voice environments.Continue Reading

• How does a volts direct current signal relate to telecom?

  Expert Matt Brunk explains how a volts direct current signal is used in telecommunications.Continue Reading

• What is a UC client?

  What do vendors mean when they refer to a UC client? Learn what a UC client is and how it is used.Continue Reading

• scalable video coding (SVC)

  Scalable video coding (SVC) is an extension of the H.264 (MPEG-4 AVC) video compression standard for video encoding.Continue Reading

• Ethernet/IP (Ethernet Industrial Protocol)

  Ethernet/IP (Ethernet Industrial Protocol) is a network communication standard capable of handling large amounts of data at speeds of 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps, and at up to 1500 bytes per packet.Continue Reading

• rich presence technology (RPT)

  Rich presence is an enhanced form of presence awareness in which participants can determine if other users are online and if so, observe to a limited extent what they are doing and how they are doing it... (Continued)Continue Reading

• SDP (Session Description Protocol)

  SDP (Session Description Protocol) is a set of rules that defines how multimedia sessions can be set up to allow all end points to effectively participate in the session. In this context, a session consists of a set of communications end points ...Continue Reading

• call control

  Call control is a process that is used in telecommunications networks to monitor and maintain connections once they have been established.Continue Reading

• call signaling

  Call signaling is a process that is used to set up a connection in a telephone network.Continue Reading

• call deflection

  Call deflection is a feature of voice over IP (VoIP) that automatically redirects a call from the called endpoint to another endpoint (usually a voice mailbox) when the called endpoint is busy.Continue Reading

• call detail record (CDR)

  A call detail record (CDR) in voice over IP (VoIP) is a file containing information about recent system usage such as the identities of sources (points of origin), the identities of destinations (endpoints), the duration of each call, the amount ...Continue Reading

• call admission control (CAC)

  Call admission control (CAC) is the practice or process of regulating traffic volume in voice communications, particularly in wireless mobile networks and in VoIP (voice over Internet Protocol, also known as Internet telephony)... (Continued)Continue Reading

• E911 (Enhanced 911)

  In the United States, E911 (Enhanced 91 is support for wireless phone users who dial 911, the standard number for requesting help in an emergency.Continue Reading

• hop off

  Hop off is a term used in telecommunications that refers to a point at which a signal or call leaves a network and moves to another network.Continue Reading

• Skinny Client Control Protocol (SCCP)

  Skinny Client Control Protocol (SCCP) is a Cisco proprietary standard for terminal control for use with voice over IP (VoIP).Continue Reading

• hairpinning

  In general telecommunication, hairpinning is returning a message from an origin endpoint back in the direction it came from as a way to get it to its destination endpoint.Continue Reading

• jitter buffer

  In voice over IP (VoIP), a jitter buffer is a shared data area where voice packets can be collected, stored, and sent to the voice processor in evenly spaced intervals.Continue Reading

• centrex (central office exchange service)

  Centrex (central office exchange service) is a service from local telephone companies in the United States in which up-to-date phone facilities at the phone company's central (local) office are offered to business users so that they don't need to ...Continue Reading

• IP PBX (private branch exchange)

  An IP PBX is a private branch exchange (telephone switching system within an enterprise) that switches calls between VoIP (voice over Internet Protocol or IP) users on local lines while allowing all users to share a certain number of external phone ...Continue Reading

• virtual phone number

  A virtual phone number is a telephone number is used to route calls to the user's actual phone number or numbers.Continue Reading

• regional Bell operating company (RBOC)

  Regional Bell operating company (RBOC) is a term describing one of the U.S. regional telephone companies (or their successors) that were created as a result of the breakup of American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T, known also as the Bell...Continue Reading

• Vonage

  Vonage is a communication platform as a service (CPaaS) provider for consumers and businesses that makes it possible for customers to connect and communicate on any device through cloud-hosted voice, video, chat and short message service (SMS).Continue Reading

• softphone (soft client telephone)

  A softphone (software telephone) is an application program that enables voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone calls from computing devices. In the enterprise, softphones are sometimes referred to as soft clients.Continue Reading

• CLEC (competitive local exchange carrier)

  In the United States, a CLEC (competitive local exchange carrier) is a telephone company that competes with the already established local telephone business by providing its own network and switching.Continue Reading

• dedicated line

  A dedicated line is a telecommunications path between two points that is available 24 hours a day for use by a designated user (individual or company).Continue Reading

• Erlang B

  Erlang B is a modeling formula that is widely used in call center scheduling... (Continued)Continue Reading