Worldwide Software Alliance Strategies 2005 Vendor Profiles: IP Telephony as the Basis of an Alliance Ecosystem

This IDC study describes how customers can reduce implementation risk by examining and understanding application ecosystems. Complex problems require complex solutions, and enterprise customers have a lot riding on the success or failure of their technical projects. Alliances that result from uniting multiple applications and infrastructure tools into a single ecosystem benefit customers by reducing costs, managing business changes, and improving integration. This document introduces the concept of application ecosystems, applies that concept to the complex notion of IP telephony (IPT), and illustrates how the relationship between two companies can result in a more robust solution.

"By working together to develop an IPT solution, participants in a functioning ecosystem can quickly integrate with traditional PBXs, ensure proper functionality, and support the deployment of advanced capabilities. The key is developing and maintaining functioning relationships." — Cushing Anderson, research director, Software Alliance Strategies