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• 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

• Definitions to Get Started

  • vishing (voice or VoIP phishing)
  • VoIP (voice over Internet Protocol)
  • jitter
  • data transfer rate (DTR)

  • unified communications and collaboration (UCC)
  • 4K video resolution
  • cloud PBX (private branch exchange)
  • real-time application (RTA)

  View All Definitions

• 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

• leased line

  A leased line is a bidirectional telephone line that has been rented for private voice, data exchange or telecommunication use.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

• UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service)

  Unified communications as a service (UCaaS) is a cloud delivery model that offers a variety of communication and collaboration applications and services.Continue Reading

• Video conferencing standards, protocols and interoperability

  Irwin Lazar explains what video conferencing standards and protocols are and why they are necessary to enable interoperability and promote successful video communications.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

• virtual meeting room

  A virtual meeting room is a cloud-based collaboration space that allows people in disparate geographical locations to meet in real time.Continue Reading

• Real-Time Transport Control Protocol (RTCP)

  Real-Time Transport Control Protocol (RTCP) is a protocol that works with Real-Time Protocol (RTP) to monitor data delivery on large multicast networks, mainly for streaming media, telephony and video conferencing.Continue Reading

• Open Settlement Protocol (OSP)

  Open Settlement Protocol (OSP) is a client-server protocol that manages access control, accounting, usage data and inter-domain routing to make it easier for Internet service providers to support IP telephony.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

• analog telephone adapter (ATA)

  An analog telephone adaptor (ATA) is a device used to connect a standard telephone to a computer or network so that the user can make calls over the Internet.Continue Reading

• eavesdropping

  Eavesdropping is the unauthorized real-time interception of a private communication, such as a phone call, instant message, videoconference or fax transmission.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

• ILEC (incumbent local exchange carrier)

  An ILEC (incumbent local exchange carrier) is a telephone company in the U.S. that was providing local service when the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was enacted.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