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Windows 7 to Beat Out Android? ITEXPO West Speaker Interview

SIP Trunking

Enterprise VoIP Featured Article

August 26, 2010

Windows 7 to Beat Out Android? ITEXPO West Speaker Interview

By Susan J. Campbell
TMCnet Contributing Editor
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Communications is nothing if not full of trends. And those that capture the most attention today include moving to SIP trunking and Unified Communications. At least that is the opinion of Mykola Konrad, director, Enterprise Product Management at Sonus Networks (News - Alert).


Konrad sat down with TMC’s Rich Tehrani for a conversation in preparation for ITEXPO West 2010. When asked what one product or service the market really needs, Konrad pointed to a platform agnostic session management platform. As for when Unified Communications will go mainstream, Konrad believes it will be in 2012. When asked to identify the winners in the smartphone/tablet wars, Konrad pointed to the service providers.

Social media has certainly changed the way Konrad communicates with customers, yet he believes widespread HD voice is still a few years away. As for mobile video chat or conferencing, he believes the market is demanding it. As for the leading mobile operating system, Konrad believes the real battle will be between Microsoft (News - Alert) and Google as they fight for number 2 behind iOS4. When asked if wireless networks will replace wired environments, Konrad noted he believes such a change is many years away. In addition, the current business has seen little impact from the growth of cloud-based services.

When discussing the net neutrality debate, Konrad believes all packets from the service provider should be treated equally. As for the most overhyped technology? Can you believe Konrad highlighted the iPad? His ITEXPO (News - Alert) West session will focus on the evolving role of an SBC in the enterprise. Thos attending his session should take away the knowledge that the SBC of the future will take on many functions. As for his bold technology prediction for 2011, Konrad taps Windows 7 to beat Andriod in the smartphone market.

Their full conversation follows:

What is the most significant trend in communications today? Why?

In enterprise communications there are two significant trends – the move to SIP trunking and the move to Unified communications. Sip trunking is significant as an enabler of both cost efficiencies and new services. Unified Communications is significant in that it will drive the next round of productivity enhancements for large enterprises.

What is the one product or service the market is most in need of?

When it comes to large enterprise communications - large enterprises are looking for a platform agnostic session management platform. They want one centralized element that brings all of their network’s call routing into the IP core.

This centralized routing scheme allows enterprises to enjoy the lower operating costs of IP technology, enhanced features and more efficient use of their existing network resources.

When will unified communications go mainstream?

This depends on your definition of “mainstream”. If you define mainstream as the time when greater than 50% of Global 2000 enterprises are actively using IP voice, chat, video and presence then I believe 2012.

Who will win the smartphone wars? Tablet wars?

I think service providers are the winners – they will be providing services and bandwidth to all of these devices. If you want to talk about Apple (News - Alert) vs. RIM vs. Nokia, etc in terms of devices I would not count anyone out, it seems that all it takes is one good device to propel you back to the top. I do think that Apple has a great lock in with their iTunes concept, but a great device (software and hardware) from Motorola/Microsoft/Nokia/etc could lure people to a different storefront. I do admit that it seems no one has been able to keep up with Apple’s rate of innovation, so they will remain the leader for the next 12 months.

Has social media changed how you communicate with customers?

Increasingly yes – we have a Facebook page and twitter account and are actively looking to see how to get better customer feedback through these channels.

Nearly every phone manufacturer is now incorporating support for wideband codecs.  Will we finally see widespread HD voice deployments in 2011?

No. We will see the beginning of HD voice deployments in 2011, but widespread will not be there until 2012 or 2013. This is because there are different pieces of the network that need to be upgraded to allow HD codecs to function. Most enterprises will stick with tried and true G.711/G.729 for now.

What are your thoughts on the viability of mobile video chat or conferencing?

I don’t think there is any question as to technical viability and market viability. The market wants this type of service as proven by Apple. From a technical perspective the offerings are average today but are just going to get better in terms of software and codec quality. Now, in terms of the business model from a bandwidth perspective- that is where the question of viability comes up. I believe that service providers will have to come up with solutions that enable the market need.

Which wireless operating system (Android (News - Alert), iOS4, Microsoft, etc) will see the greatest success over the next three years?  Why?

Well, it’s tough not to bet on iOS4 as they have the momentum going into the next 3 years. I think the real battle will be between Microsoft and Android. If the new Windows Mobile 7 platform is any good then I think Microsoft and Google battle it out for #2 for the next two years. The winner of that battle then takes over Apple to be number 1 in year 3. The reason that the winner becomes number 1 is that the winning platform becomes the standard for all manufacturers’ phones (similar to the PC ecosystem).

Some have suggested wireless networking will soon replace wired networks in the enterprise.  Do you agree? Why or why not?

I think that depends on your definition of “soon”. IF soon is 5 years then no, I do not agree – it will take more time than that for IT departments to cycle through all their legacy switches and implement all the wireless security and management that they would need to full replace wired. Additionally, I think the need for high speed video as part of unified communications solutions will keep wired in the game longer then people think.

What impact has the growth of cloud-based services had on your business?

It has not impacted current business, where it has made an impact is on our technology roadmap. Enterprises are looking for cloud based products and we are exploring that route for our products.

What do you think of the net neutrality debate?

Personally, I am with Vinton Cerf and Tim Berners-Lee on this one – when I connect to my Service provider I expect that all packets be treated equally. However, I do have to say that within a private enterprise network that certain payloads are more important than others  and should be treated as such.

What is the most overhyped technology in your opinion?

iPad – I mean it’s very cool, but at the end of the day when you are sitting on your couch with it, what can you do with it that you couldn’t do with a netbook?

You are speaking at ITEXPO West 2010.  What is your session about?

I am speaking about the evolving role of an SBC in the enterprise. Session Border Control started out as a security issue and evolved into an interworking issues. As unified communications takes off and networks move to “all SIP” the role of the SBC becomes more important in enterprise networks.

What will attendees take away from your session?

The session border controller of the future will take on many functions – including managing video, chat and presence security – that depend on a scalable, performance based architecture to succeed.

Please make a bold technology prediction for 2011.

Windows 7 mobile is launched and beats Android in the smartphone world.


Susan J. Campbell is a contributing editor for TMCnet and has also written for eastbiz.com. To read more of Susan’s articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Stefania Viscusi


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