The Unified Communications and Unified Messaging market is expected to total $537 million by year-end 2003 and $4.7 billion in 2007.

Unified Messaging allows users to receive multiple message types (i.e. email, voicemail, fax, etc.) from a single, universal inbox. Unified Communications is the term that refers to the combination of unified messaging with real-time communications functionality. As a whole, the UM market is expected to total $537 million by year-end 2003 with an installed base of 9.2 million users. Over the next four years revenue is expected to grow by an average rate of 73% to total $4.7 billion in 2007.

Research and Markets have announced the addition of the "Unified Messaging Market Trends, 2003-2007" report to their offering.

This study provides an analysis of the Unified Messaging market in 2003 and its potential growth over the next four years. The study provides a detailed analysis of market trends, drivers, barriers, and opportunities, as well as an in-depth discussion of available and emerging technologies.

For each market segment, we provide data on current worldwide mailbox installed base, vendor market share, revenues, and forecasted market growth (i.e. revenues) from 2003 to 2007.

All market numbers, such as market size, forecasts, installed base, revenue information, and any financial information presented in this study represent worldwide numbers, unless explicitly otherwise indicated. All revenue numbers are expressed in $USD.

In the messaging industry, there are several terms used to describe 'unified messaging or UM- like services. We use the following definitions for these terms:

- Unified Messaging: An application or service which allows users to receive multiple message types (i.e. email, voicemail, fax, etc.) from a single, universal inbox. Typically, unified messaging systems allow users to send and retrieve messages from a number of devices such as a phone, personal computer, PDA, etc.
- 'True Unified Messaging: Same as unified messaging, but with an added implication that all message types are stored in a single message store, typically the email server. This architecture is convenient for administrators since all message types can be managed from a single point of contact.
- Integrated Messaging: A type of unified messaging solution which stores different message types in separate message stores (i.e. a separate store for voicemail, email and fax). While end-users still receive messages in a unified inbox, the back end architecture remains separate. This approach often increases the complexity of administration.
- Unified Communications: This term refers to the combination of unified messaging with real-time communications functionality. These real-time features often include call screening, call return, single number reach, presence management, IM, conferencing/collaboration, and much more.

The data and analysis in this report consists of data collected from service providers, vendors, and corporate enterprises via interviews and surveys.

Secondary research sources have also been used to cross-check the data collected. These include company annual reports and market size information from various related market segments of the computer industry.

The focus of the research was worldwide, with emphasis on the European and North American markets, where most key developments in UM are currently occurring.

No longer limited to just the integration of email, voicemail and fax -- Unified Messaging is increasingly being replaced with the term Unified Communications which more aptly describes the integration of a wide range of technologies, such as: presence, instant messaging, text-to-speech (TTS), automatic speech recognition (ASR), etc.

- Many UM vendors prefer the more fashionable 'Unified Communications branding over 'Unified Messaging, while wireless carriers which offer UM- like services have avoided both terms in favor of names such as 'mobile email and 'mobile messaging.
- At the heart of this shift is the need to provide better communications to mobile corporate workers. Mobility" has become the key business driver for unified communications.

The developing market for Unified Communications is seeing major competition not just among vendors but more importantly among different technology areas such as: traditional unified messaging companies, wireless carriers, wireless device manufacturers, VoIP vendors and an emerging group of collaboration platform developers.

For the sake of simplicity, this report will continue to use the term 'Unified Messaging to refer to both unified messaging and unified communications products.

This study segments the unified messaging market according to the following categories:

- Enterprise Vendors: This segment includes companies that develop and sell CPE (customer premise equipment) solutions to enterprises.
- Service Providers: This segment represents companies that offer unified messaging services to businesses or consumers, usually on a per-user, permonth subscription basis.
- Suppliers to Service Providers: These are companies that offer unified messaging solutions to service providers.

As a whole, the UM market is expected to total $537 million by year-end 2003 with an installed base of 9.2 million users. Over the next four years revenue is expected to grow by an average rate of 73% to total $4.7 billion in 2007, and installed base is expected to grow at an average rate of 74% to total 77.6 million users in 2007.

Service providers will drive the majority of this growth. Wireless carriers in particular will have a positive effect on UM uptake, especially within the consumer market.

- Many wireless carriers offer UM-like services, such as 'mobile email, which deliver key benefits such as mobility and efficiency.
- Increased uptake of advanced mobile phones and wireless PDAs is fueling demand for rich multimedia communications services like UM.
- Although several pure-play UM service providers announced large gains in 2003, overall growth for this sub-segment of the market was limited.

The deployment of CPE UM systems increased slightly in 2003.

- The replacement of legacy communications systems continues to be a key source of growth for UM Enterprise Vendors.
- VoIP is expected to have a positive impact on UM uptake in coming years.

According to a survey of 50 companies worldwide, conducted in Q2 2003, 22% of companies indicated that at least part of their organization is using UM. The figure below illustrates this adoption rate for UM.

- However, companies which have adopted UM usually have not done so on an enterprise-wide basis. In fact, only 3% (15,039 employees) of the total survey installed base (510,470 employees) are actually using UM.
- Due to the high cost of UM, many companies indicated that they deploy UM to only a select group of users which they believe have the most critical need for the features and functionality which UM offers.

This report provides a comprehensive study of the Unified Messaging and Unified Communications market, including:

1. Market Trends, Market Size Revenues ($), Installed Base (IB), and Four-year Forecasts for:

- UM Enterprise Vendors.
- UM Service Providers.
- UM Suppliers to Service Providers.

2. Results from a recent corporate user survey covering deployment, procurement plans, and attitudes on UM.

3. Analysis of key technology developments reshaping the world of Unified Messaging. In-depth Analysis of key market players, including:

- Enterprise UM Vendors: Active Voice, Avaya, Cisco, Nortel, Siemens, & many others.
- UM Service Providers: j2, TeliaSonera, uReach, Verizon, Vodafone, & many more.
- UM Suppliers to Service Providers: Comverse, CTI2, LogicaCMG, SS8, & many more.

For a complete index of this report click on http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/35245

REPORT DATA SUMMARY:
Unified Messaging Market Trends, 2003-2007
Number of Pages: 279
Category: Computing & Technology, Telecommunications & Networks
URL: www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/35245

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