Unified Communications
Overview
Unified Communications is a set of services that provides a consistent unified user interface and user experience across multiple devices and media types. Unified Communications integrates real-time communication services such as instant messaging, presence, telephony (mobile, fixed and IP), video conferencing and call control with non real-time communications services such as voicemail, email, SMS and fax. For businesses such unification of communications leads to optimized business processes, increased efficiency and effectiveness. This allows operators to benefit from opportunity emerging around the convergence of IT and telecoms networks.
OCS Integration
Microsoft Office Communication Server (OCS) is transforming the workplace, introducing new sophistication in communications between colleagues and between businesses, their clients and partners. The ARTA platform uses the desktop functionality of OCS’s presence awareness and enhances it for the mobile environment. ARTA:
- Co-joins OCS desktop presence features with mobile presence determination;
- Facilitates one single phone number to reach both mobile and desktop devices;
- Allows for extensive call diversion scenarios based on time, location, the importance of an incoming call and so on;
- Enables seamless GSM-WIFI voice handovers.
Scenarios for engaging with OCS
- At the office. Logging on to OCS triggers a change in the user’s status and applies call routing information accordingly. When the availability status in OCS changes, e.g. shifts from being available to in a meeting, ARTA registers that altered status and can adjust routing rules (e.g. divert a call to another colleague).
- Out of office. A user’s status can be automatically updated to out office when the ARTA platform detects a user moving out of range of the office wireless environment and adjust accordingly. Work related calls can be given new priorities and be routed to colleagues or voice mail.
- Intelligent flexibility. The status of a user (determined from mobile, fixed or IP networks) is fed back into OCS applications, including Outlook Calendar, Email and Messenger. Faxes and voicemail can be delivered by email and user’s can control their call routing scenario’s if need be, including how their personal data is kept, who has access to it and with what authority they can access it. ARTA means to users that they can set much more than just a forwarding number; any number of call diversion scenarios can be established based on time, location, established importance of a call and so on.
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