How 5G May Help Mobile Unified Communications Improve
Unified communications has revolutionized collaboration and enabled enterprises to disregard geography when recruiting talent. With real-time communication through video conferencing and other collaborative tools, teams can improve business processes and efficiently exchange ideas.
But there’s one area where unified communications isn't as effective, and that’s mobile. While the lack of solid connectivity for features like video may have seemed fine a few years ago when the technology was new, mobile users are now accustomed to better unified communications. There are several aspects of the challenge that need to be included in the conversation:
Savvy apps whetted the appetite for unified communications. When apps first came out offering unified communications, remote users expected that the mobile versions would offer only some of the features in apps like WhatsApp or Slack. As unified communications developed, mobile users expected that mobile would adapt to offer the full range of collaborative tools.
Mobile is growing. The remote workforce is growing, and unified mobile communications need to match what’s available in an on-site office. As the demand for connectivity has grown, unified communications providers have mostly kept pace, allowing mobile users access to messaging and voice calls on the go.
Connectivity is a struggle. Mobile workers looking for a connection now have fewer issues when it comes to voice communication or messaging, but video remains a challenge. They’re forced to rely on finding a Wi-Fi access point to communicate through video. For IT personnel, their ability to help is essentially ended once the employee leaves the company premises because they have no control over bandwidth or connectivity outside of the physical enterprise campus.
5G may provide the answer. Telecommunications providers are developing the successor to 4G, which likely holds the answer to better unified communications for mobile users. While mobile video depends heavily on a cellular connection, that should be less of a problem once 5G finally arrives on the scene.
Mobile unified communications has come a long way, but it requires further improvement to make mobile a feasible way to stay connected in the future. Video collaboration is necessary for today’s market, and the remote workforce will increasingly depend on this technology for the efficient exchange of ideas and business processes.
At Enterprise Visions, our experts know how to leverage today’s most effective technology and telecom resources to help your enterprise grow. We can offer as much or as little help as you need. Contact us today to learn more.