Microsoft Addresses Mobile UC Demand

Nemertes Impact Analysis:

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) announcedavailability of a Windows Phone mobile client for its Lync unified communications platform, and that it has submitted clients for Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS devices, Google’s (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android operating system, and Nokia’s Symbian OS to the Apple, Android, and Nokia app stores for approval.

While Microsoft largely delivered feature parity among the various mobile platforms, mobile users still lack features of its Lync desktop client, such as video, call transfer, and emergency services location tracking (though third-party offerings can provide these services). Still, Microsoft’s move reflects the growing importance of mobility in a UC strategy – 80% of companies are integrating, or planning to integrate mobile devices into their UC strategy.

Impacts:

Enterprises: Evaluate UC products and services on their ability to support your mobility device/operating system strategy. Compare features and capabilities across devices.

Vendors: Differentiate your offerings via mobile feature support, aim to provide feature parity between desktop and mobile, across any mobile OS/device.

Investors: Rising mobile UC demand is good news for Aastra (TSX:AAH), Cisco (NASDAQ:CSCO), CounterPath (TSX-V:CCV), ShoreTel (NASDAQ:SHOR) and privately held Avaya, OnRelay, and Varaha.

Sign Up To Receive Nemertes Impact Analysis By E-mail Follow Nemertes Research on Twitter Become a Nemertes Fan on Facebook