You want some hype? I'll give you hype!

Try unified communications, or UC, the technology that allows all data and voice communications to arrive at your one preferred device--no matter where you are! The concept is also referred to as unified messaging (UM), which illustrates just how hype-filled this topic is, since no one can agree on one name!

And, let me tell, you better get ready for it, because you're going to be hearing a lot more about it between now and 2010! Step aside iPhone, look out SOA and SaaS, and watch your back RFID and MDM! UC is here!

Unified communications is a breakthrough technology that is going to change how 21st century employees communicate--creating more efficiencies and greater time-savings for knowledge workers.

Boiled down, UC/UM can transform an employee's handheld device, for example, into a universal "inbox" for all communications--wireline and wireless voice-mail, e-mail, IM, text messaging, and location-based services. In addition, dual-mode handsets (like the new BlackBerry 8820, launched this week), can take advantage of cellular and Wi-Fi networks for both voice and data access.

It's an amazing picture of the future, isn't it? Always on, always reachable, via any communications device you choose.

According to In-Stat Senior Analyst David Lemelin, the three top benefits of a UC/UM environment are: Real, tangible and measurable cost savings related to productivity gains and time savings by employees; control over business processes involving collaboration and communications internally as well as externally; and integration with mobility needs, as well as empowerment of dispersed workforces.

That's all the good news. Here's the bad: CIOs and other execs aren't lining up to hop on board The Unified Communications bandwagon.

Lemelin reports that "IT managers and business decision makers want to hear about these benefits loudly and clearly from end users before they dedicate resources to make them available. To date, those voices have been rather muted."

One of the big hurdles for UC/UM players has to do with cost. "The challenge for the industry is to bundle and price the most impactful solution sets that emerging capabilities allow. Customers do not want to pay individually for every solution available to them, especially when capabilities change quickly. They want a simple to use, but powerful solution set that meets their immediate and occasional needs--at an affordable price," he says. "This is particularly a challenge in the business arena, where different employees or workgroups

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