Podcast: Much Rides on UCIF's Success

There has been no shortage of news in the world of unified communications. During the past year or so, The Unified Communications Interoperability Forum was formed, Logitech bought LifeSize, Cisco bought Tandberg -- and later unveiled the Cius -- Avaya introduced the Flare, Microsoft rebranded under the Lync label, and Polycom realigned its operations and brought in Cisco's Joseph Burton and other talent.

I spoke this week to Forrester Research Senior Analyst Henry Dewing about these events. An overriding theme is how the industry gets to standards – standards that are internal and reach to outside companies as well. The world of UC is in a far better place if meaningful standards take hold and, Dewing said, the next few months are vital.