Microsoft vs. Cisco: Enterprise Connect 2016 Reveals What's New in Competing UC Strategies - and Whether your Business Needs to Support Both

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- When it comes to a strategic Unified Communications platform of choice, are businesses aligning more with Microsoft or Cisco? According to a recent survey, a majority of enterprise IT organizations aren't choosing sides just yet. So in this atmosphere of continued uncertainty, Enterprise Connect 2016 will feature several sessions aimed at helping enterprises evaluate the choices and make the decision that's right for their organization.

In addition to in-depth breakout sessions on this critical decision, Enterprise Connect, the leading event for enterprise communication and collaboration professionals, will spotlight top executives from both Cisco and Microsoft, who will take the keynote stage to share their respective strategies.

Enterprise Connect 2016 will take place March 7-10 at the Gaylord Palms in Orlando, FL. For more information and to register, visit: enterpriseconnect.com/orlando/.

Results from a recent survey of the Enterprise Connect community, conducted by the event's online editorial site, No Jitter, reveal that a majority of enterprise IT organizations feel they don't need to support both Lync/Skype for Business and Jabber clients—yet 35% choose to do so anyway. Enterprise Connect Orlando 2016 will grapple with the question of whether enterprises should continue to balance strategic relationships with both Cisco and Microsoft as the competing vendors evolve and refine their UC strategies.

To Live in A Dual Vendor World or To Plan an Exit Strategy?
As Microsoft moves to focus more on the Office 365 Cloud and Cisco emphasizes the Spark collaboration client and Tropo platform for APIs, the Cisco-Microsoft dilemma will continue to evolve in new directions. A featured Enterprise Connect session, Microsoft vs. Cisco: New Issues & Decision Factors, will highlight recent changes in each company's strategy and offerings, as well as explain the pitfalls and benefits of each. Its key question: Should enterprises be plotting a migration to a single-vendor UC strategy, or is a mix of both most sustainable for the future?

• Speakers: Phil Edholm, President and Founder, PKE Consulting & Brent Kelly, President, KelCor, Inc.
• Date/Time: Tuesday, March 8, 2:45 – 4:00pm

What's Next for Skype for Business?
For those companies who are making the decision to choose only one UC platform, Microsoft has a slight edge. The research revealed 24% plan to standardize on Microsoft or already have done so, in comparison to the 11% for Cisco.

As the emerging platform that's challenging Cisco's UC incumbency, Microsoft's Skype for Business has been a hot topic in the industry for the past several years. Enterprise Connect 2016 will present sessions dedicated to Skype for Business strategy, uncovering adoption tips, the latest developments in video conferencing, and management challenges:

• Succeeding with Skype for Business: Decoding the Cloud, Licensing, and Hybrid Options
• Integrating Skype for Business into the Enterprise Video Conferencing Universe
• Third-party Management for Lync/Skype for Business

Microsoft and Cisco Executives Take the Keynote Stage 
In morning keynote sessions, enterprise IT professionals at the event will hear from both Microsoft and Cisco firsthand. Top executives from each company will explain their UC strategies – exploring recent developments and providing a glimpse into the future. Keynote speakers include:

• Cisco: Rowan Trollope, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Collaboration Technology Group
• Microsoft: Zig Serafin, Corporate Vice President, Skype Business Services

For a full conference schedule, visit: enterpriseconnect.com/orlando/conference

For more information about cited Microsoft vs. Cisco research, visit: nojitter.com/post/240170166/cisco-vs-microsoft-survey-says

Follow Enterprise Connect:

• Facebook: facebook.com/enterprise.connect
• Twitter: @enterprisecon
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/groups?gid=2710052

About Enterprise Connect 
For more than 25 years, Enterprise Connect has been the leading conference and exhibition for enterprise IP Telephony, Converged Networks and Unified Communications in North America. Enterprise Connect brings corporate IT decision makers together with the industry's vendors, analysts and consultants to focus on the issues central to enterprise networks and communications. Enterprise Connect owns and produces No Jitter, (nojitter.com), providing daily blogging and analysis of enterprise communications, and it also serves the community with a weekly email newsletter, a Webinar Series and Virtual Events. For more information, visit enterpriseconnect.com. Enterprise Connect is organized by UBM Americas, a part of UBM plc (UBM.L), an Events First marketing and communications services business. For more information, visit ubmamericas.com. 

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SOURCE Enterprise Connect