Nonetheless, Ovum expects unified messaging to becoming nearly pervasive in the next few years, reaching into most businesses and even some homes. By 2006, three-quarters of businesses will use unified messaging technology. Meanwhile, more than a third of households in advanced countries will subscribe to telecommunications services that include unified messaging. Server products integrate directly with an existing enterprise telephone system and network to provide unified messaging capabilities. Subscription services supply unified messaging functions for fees based on both the number of users and the scope of services provided.
Users can then select specific messages to play back or view.
Most systems also provide a notification function that alerts users to high-priority messages via a pager or mobile phone. For callers, the technology means that a message left on voice mail or sent by e-mail or fax all have an equally good chance of being received by the recipient at the earliest possible opportunity. People are amazed at how responsive we now are. They don't expect to be able to find you at an airport, for example. When they do, they're amazed.