Migrating to cloud-based services can be intimidating for many organizations. With its newly released line of processors, Intel is hoping to make the jump easier. Read on to learn more about this and other Unified Communications stories for the week of March 27 – April 2.

1. Top
Unified Communications
Stories of the Week
First week in April, 2016

2. 1. Intel’s new line of processors and drives to
address demand for cloud migration
Intel plans to target the increasing demand for software-defined infrastructure with its
new family of processors and solid-state drives. These products, which were unveiled at
the company’s Data Center Group Cloud Day on March 31, are aimed at companies
ready to invest in cloud-based services but apprehensive to make a major move to the
technology. As reported by Shirley Siluk in CIO Today, Intel’s new offerings include a line
of E5-2600 v4 Xeon processors as well as several solid-state drives optimized for the
processors. According to Intel, the products are designed specifically for next-generation
data centers running on SDI. The company also released various new collaborative
offerings under its Cloud for All initiative.

3. 2. Video conferencing aids
communication at NATO
With 28 member countries throughout Europe and North America, the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization depends on reliable collaboration and communication technology.
Video conferencing is an important tool when members need to respond to world conflicts
quickly and efficiently. Gus Mommers, branch head of NATO’s conferencing management
services, discussed the organization’s VC system with Jessica Scarpati for a TechTarget
article published April 1. According to Mommers, video conferencing is a helpful cost-
saving option for NATO. As the organization relies on VC more and more, he is tasked
with monitoring and making improvements in regard to bandwidth and session board
controllers. Not surprisingly, security is another major priority.

4. 3. AT&T rolls out cloud-based
collaboration solution
AT&T hopes its new collaborate solution will help businesses become more productive
and mobile. Fittingly called AT&T Collaborate, the cloud-based solution offers hosted
voice and collaboration services designed to improve productivity. The service, which will
be available by the end of April, features a range of tools, including instant messaging,
content sharing and audio/video conferencing, Rather than offering mix-and-match
capabilities, Collaborate comes in three packages with different sets of features. As
reported in a March 29 article by Robbie Pleasant for UCStrategies, the service allows for
easy integration with premises-based solutions such as Microsoft Skype for Business.

5. 4. Keeping businesses together
through UC&C
According to Warwick Communications’ Doug Mason, UC&C allows businesses to make
faster decisions and transactions — a necessity in today’s evolving workforce. Mason
made the case for unified communications and collaboration in an April 1 interview article
for Smart Business by Jayne Gest. As mobile device technology improves, Mason says
an increasing number of companies will deal with remote workers. UC&C is vital for
keeping remotes engaged with their employers. Mason went on to explain how UC&C
can help eliminate unseen communication roadblocks in different departments of a
business. It’s important to evaluate the tools employees need to complete work efficiently.

6. 5. Hyper-converged market buzzes
around Cisco’s HyperFlex
While Cisco HyperFlex Systems was just unveiled in early March, the product line is
already generating excitement. A company spokesperson confirmed that HyperFlex has
generated a healthy pipeline of potential customers after only a few weeks. The hyper-
converged infrastructure product line features Cisco UCS servers and software-defined
storage technology developed through the startup Springpath. In a March 30 article
for CRN, Mark Haranas reported that midsize customers, Fortune 500 companies and
even federal agencies have expressed interest in the system. Partners say that
HyperFlex is standing out in the competitive hyper-converged market by offering
combined compute and software-defined storage technologies.

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