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What Is "Mobile UC"?What Is "Mobile UC"?

A study confirms that enterprise users are adopting UC technology, but it's still unclear if they're using enterprise systems, or just the consumer features of their devices.

Michael Finneran

November 6, 2012

4 Min Read
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A study confirms that enterprise users are adopting UC technology, but it's still unclear if they're using enterprise systems, or just the consumer features of their devices.

While digging out from the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy last week, I ran across the Webtorials "2012 Mobile Unified Communications State-of-the-Market Report" (sponsored by Sonus Networks) that makes the claim that "Mobile UC is firmly established among 'early adopters' and growing toward mainstream adoption." The study is based on a survey of Webtorials' database that drew responses from approximately 200 individuals in companies with at least 500 employees, of which 57% are U.S.-based.

When asked to characterize the extent of their mobile UC deployment, 8% replied "Extensive;" 23% "Widespread;" 24% "Intermediate;" 21% "Limited;" and 24% "Just Starting."

In my work with clients on mobility projects, I'm not seeing anything near that level of adoption, certainly not when we look at the use of mobile clients offered by the UC and IP-PBX vendors. So unless the respondents were working for UC/IP PBX vendors, I'm at a loss to figure out what these organizations are using that they identify as "Mobile UC."

The report defines Mobile UC as "the ability to utilize unified communications capabilities in a mobile environment;" however, that definition could cover any number of possible implementations. Certainly the mobile UC clients on smartphones or tablets would fall under that umbrella, but so would lots of other things. For example, if I were using a traditional UC client on a laptop while on a Wi-Fi network at Starbucks or even on an airplane, that would also fit the bill.

However, the native capabilities on virtually any smartphone can provide click-to-call, click-to-join a meeting, access to multiple communications modes (text, email, voice, or video), and a number of other features that either by themselves or through the use of a network-based service like Skype could be called "UC." So which implementation are the respondents talking about?

Some of the data matches what I am seeing in the field, such as the fact that 63% of respondents see smartphone use as "Extensive" or "Widespread"; 29% claim this is the case for tablets. Further, the study found that roughly two-thirds of "knowledge workers" are mobile at least some of the time.

The report points to a number of factors that should signal a need for the types of capabilities that a mobile UC solution could provide. In the "Pain Index," the report identifies the difficulty in engaging capabilities when mobile, versus doing so inside the office. Among the biggest gaps were: "Participating in an impromptu video chat," "Participating in a multimedia conference," "Sharing files" and "Finding out if a colleague is available (presence)." The inclusion of that last feature is especially strange in that most of the mobile UC clients offer presence-enabled directory and have done so for some time.

The total time lost as a result of the shortcomings of existing mobile UC capabilities came to a whopping 2.6 hours per day, according to the report. Assuming that some of the tasks were not "mutually conclusive," the study pared that figure down to 1.5 hours per day, and assuming that only a third of that time could actually be recouped, they computed a potential estimate of the dollar value per employee per year of at least $5,500.

In the end, it is difficult to ascertain what the report actually tells us about mobile UC adoption, as they failed to ask one critical question: What mobile UC tools are you using?

Without a real understanding about what the respondents are actually commenting on, it's difficult to justify the final claim that, "The adoption of Mobile UC will be accelerating rapidly as enterprises see the combined power of new devices (smartphones and pad/tablet computers) as an enabling technology coupled with the demand from users to support these devices as a part of the overall consumerization of the network and BYOD trends."

It's good that we're starting to see some real analysis of the potential for mobile UC, but I'm afraid we're going to have to get a lot more "granular" to really understand where mobility fits in the UC picture and, from there, to come up with tools for enterprises that are as engaging as what users get on the consumer front.

About the Author

Michael Finneran

Michael F. Finneran, is Principal at dBrn Associates, Inc., a full-service advisory firm specializing in wireless and mobility. With over 40-years experience in networking, Mr. Finneran has become a recognized expert in the field and has assisted clients in a wide range of project assignments spanning service selection, product research, policy development, purchase analysis, and security/technology assessment. The practice addresses both an industry analyst role with vendors as well as serving as a consultant to end users, a combination that provides an in-depth perspective on the industry.

His expertise spans the full range of wireless technologies including Wi-Fi, 3G/4G/5G Cellular and IoT network services as well as fixed wireless, satellite, RFID and Land Mobile Radio (LMR)/first responder communications. Along with a deep understanding of the technical challenges, he also assists clients with the business aspects of mobility including mobile security, policy and vendor comparisons. Michael has provided assistance to carriers, equipment manufacturers, investment firms, and end users in a variety of industry and government verticals. He recently led the technical evaluation for one of the largest cellular contracts in the U.S.

As a byproduct of his consulting assignments, Michael has become a fixture within the industry. He has appeared at hundreds of trade shows and industry conferences, and helps plan the Mobility sessions at Enterprise Connect. Since his first piece in 1980, he has published over 1,000 articles in NoJitter, BCStrategies, InformationWeek, Computerworld, Channel Partners and Business Communications Review, the print predecessor to No Jitter.

Mr. Finneran has conducted over 2,000 seminars on networking topics in the U.S. and around the world, and was an Adjunct Professor in the Graduate Telecommunications Program at Pace University. Along with his technical credentials, Michael holds a Masters Degree in Management from the J. L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.