ENTERPRISE CONNECT 2016

David Stein of the independent consulting firm Stein Technology Consulting Group (STCG) delivered the 2016 Enterprise Connect session entitled “IP Telephony and Unified Communications System (Cloud and Hybrid Solutions)” at the recent 26th edition of the conference. The objectives of the session were to enhance understanding of leading Cloud and Hybrid IP Telephony System /UC offerings through a review and analysis of RFP responses, discuss highlights and differentiators of vendor offerings including core IP Telephony systems, Unified Communications, Fixed Mobile Convergence and Systems Management, provide guidance for Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) as well as recurring costs for voice/UC services, trunking, and maintenance.

Five vendors proposed seven solutions focused on cloud-based/hybrid offerings. The proposing vendors come from a variety of backgrounds ranging from over 100 years of telephony experience to very recent entrants into the enterprise cloud IP Telephony market. Integrators in addition to manufacturers were allowed to propose solutions they thought best met the requirements stated in a 60 page “mock” RFP. This allowed a diverse set of responses, encompassing the leading manufacturers’ solutions.

The vendors that responded to the RFP included NEC, Sprint (Microsoft Skype for Business, Cisco HCS and Dialpad), Masergy (Broadsoft), Vonage (Broadsoft) and 8x8. The RFP was modeled on a fictional “Enterprise Connect” organization that included a main headquarters operation, two large remote offices of different sizes as well as several small offices. The small offices were included to solicit proposals for OTT service delivery. Much of the RFP content