Federation-capable Unified Communications Software such as ProCall 4.0 Enterprise are poised to replace Social Networks among Business Users
Starnberg, Germany – 17 May 2011. Independent unified communications software vendor ESTOS presents ProCall 4.0 Enterprise
In addition to computer telephony integration, Office integration, presence management and instant messaging,
ProCall 4.0 Enterprise
- the latest unified communication software version from ESTOS - is enhanced with so-called federation technology. Designed for corporate use, it is an Internet communication concept founded on the social networking principle. Based on open standards (e.g., SIP/SIMPLE) and secure protocols (e.g., TLS), it creates a confidential framework for communication among the employees of ‘friendly’ companies with the goal of improving overall collaboration. In a manner similar to that of social networking, the user decides with whom he or she wishes to establish a ‘friendship’, as well as exchange instant messages (chat) and presence information.In contrast to popular public networking services, federation-capable UC solutions afford companies their own flexible networking platforms. Such platforms allow their administrators to define, in accordance with company policy, with which other companies confidential networks may be established and developed. Each administrator also defines the profile and quality of transferable information as well as the services that may be used in each case. Once the initial network handshake is made (with, for example, a customer, a supplier or business partner), the two companies’ employees may then begin networking amongst themselves. At this stage, each individual user decides what information is visible to befriended contacts by setting security access levels accordingly. Available presence information ranges from simply ‘Available’ or ‘Busy’ to more detailed information, such as ‘In a meeting’ accompanied by the corresponding Outlook Calendar subject heading. The networking solution’s benefits are clear: By joining individual users together, regardless of their different physical locations, communication processes are simplified and made more agile, thus improving the efficiency and productivity of their respective companies.
The concepts of social networks in the public domain and federation networks differ in three essential ways. In the case of federation networking, it is immediately clear from the user’s perspective that the addresses being employed in communication indicate the affiliated company of each user, as well as, generally speaking, his or her e-mail address. ESTOS assumes that rules of etiquette will develop which will be similar to those now taken for granted in e-mail communication. Today, it is generally expected that business e-mail correspondence be conducted using e-mail addresses that indicate company affiliation, while private communication is typically conducted using e-mail addresses provided by public service providers. The second difference, and one which is greatly important for individual businesses, is that communication takes place directly between the associated companies, rather than via any third-party servers. The precise weakness of public-domain service providers is that their business models require them to analyse the contents of user communications. Thirdly, federation is based on open standards, thus allowing widely differing systems to be networked – including even public-domain networks, where desired.
Federation technology allows ‘friended’ companies to link themselves and their employees up independently and directly, thus rendering Facebook and its competitors obsolete in the business environment. In future, there will also be interfaces available for communicating with parties who only operate in such public communities. In the business environment, these public networks will only play a secondary role comparable to that of AOL or Compuserve in the context of current e-mail communications.
Christoph Lösch, Managing Director of ESTOS: “It’s in no business’s interest to have its employees sharing confidential information that offers a basis for other companies’ business models. But on the other hand, employees value modern communication services like presence information and instant messaging, and increase their productivity by using them. Federation technology provides the solution to this dilemma by enabling the company to reclaim its authority over and control of information, while at the same time making the value-adding application available to all employees. With its presence information and instant messaging features, it offers the alternative to popular social networks in the public domain for inter-corporate communications. Unlike with Facebook, ICQ, Skype and their competitors, a company using federation is able to design and organise its own network and communication tools amongst its employees, and - when required - supervise their use, as well. This is why professional unified communications solutions featuring federation technology will eclipse social networks very rapidly in the coming years, and force them back into the private-use environment. It’s doubtful that companies like Facebook will then be able to justify their supposedly enormous value. In this sense, you can consider federation technology to be the Facebook killer!”
ProCall 4.0 Enterprise featuring federation technology is available from specialised distributors and authorised retailers. UC Solutions with Federation Technology - A Facebook Killer?