Unified messaging services and technologies have once again surfaced in the headlines, but they seem to chiefly reflect unified messaging's seemingly endless need for resuscitation. Active Voice also debuted an upgrade of its Unity Enterprise system, which puts unified messaging on Microsoft Exchange 2000 servers. Lakes Internet Inc., a rural Minnesota ISP with 20,000 business and residential subscribers will use Voice Mobility International Inc.'s Unified Communications software to provide unified messaging services to its users. Carrier-grade VOIP switch maker empowerTel has joined IPeria to leverage its Unified Services Exchange with the IPeria Service Node to deliver an enhanced services platform that includes unified messaging. Unified Messaging Systems AS and Brooktrout Technology announced they intend to develop a worldwide unified messaging network, using UMS's unified messaging platform and Brooktrout's voice and fax technology.
Hope springs eternal.
In 1999 U.S. businesses bought 9,029 unified messaging systems and, according to Blair Pleasant, director of communications analysis with the Pelorus Group, there were 556,000 seats running unified messaging clients. This year Pleasant forecasts an increase in shipments to 18,615 by year's end, and she projects sales of 39,425 systems by 2001. However, when she compares the pace and scope of voice mail adoption in the 1980s and email in the 1990s, unified messaging remains stuck in the slow lane. The problem is the lack of a clear value proposition for the enterprise. If you say 'messaging' and only 'messaging,' you are only talking about a subset of communications.