IBM and Microsoft are preparing to launch their respective unified communications products, which are designed to provide businesses with a single inbox for e-mail, voicemail and faxes.
Security flaws in Cisco CallManager and Unified Communications Manager could be exploited for cross-site scripting and SQL injection attacks, but a security update is available.
The 48-hour failure of Skype's internet telephony service earlier this month has highlighted the risks of using free web-based services in a business environment.
Microsoft is acquiring group chat and enterprise instant messaging provider Parlano to bolster its forthcoming Office Communications Server 2007 unified messaging platform.
By 2010, 60% of organisations will outsource major parts of their network management because of the difficulties and risks involved with managing services internally, Forrester Research has predicted.