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A Look at the Features of Unified Messaging These days, employees wishing to get in touch with one another or to get in touch with clients can do so through a variety of mediums. In the past, business communication was done primarily in faceto-face meetings or over the phone. But today, workers have many other tools at their disposal as well, such as email, SMS, voicemail and fax, among other modes of communication. Dealing with all of these technologies, however, can be challenging. But thanks to unified messaging, users can access all of these communications through a single interface. Rather than having to check multiple devices to see whether someone is trying to reach you, users instead just check the single interface, which can be accessed from multiple devices. The precise features of the solution will vary from vendor to vendor, but the service generally includes: ¡ Voicemail to Email: Rather than having to listen to your voicemail via a phone, the platform allows for access to voicemail via email. With companies looking for more ways in which to save money, the interest in collaboration tools is continually increasing. If there’s an important voicemail in your email, and you need to share it with your coworkers, you can simply forward that email with the voicemail attached as a sound file. This saves time and allows for voicemails to be safely stored, and time is money. ¡ Fax to Email: In the same vein as voicemail, unified messaging platforms allow faxes to be routed to your email as well. Workers are no longer static employees who stay in the office all day long. In this increasingly mobile world, employees are always on the go. Rather than having to stand next to a legacy fax machine and wait for important documents to come through, virtual fax service allows faxes to be sent to an inbox. Whether it is via Gmail or Microsoft Hosted Exchange, messages can be easily forwarded to associated team members and even accessed from a mobile device. ¡ Instant messages: If you need to let your coworker know something but you know that colleague is busy and don’t want to disrupt him or her, simply send an instant message that the person can view immediately and respond to at their earliest convenience. ¡ Voicemail notification: Because unified messaging sends voicemail to your email, those who are on the go will see notifications alerting them that messages are waiting for them. This means that you’ll be able to quickly listen to and respond to important messages from your coworkers or clients. As decision makers continue to seek ways in which to be more creative with their budgets, the use of collaboration tools continues to rise. The tools allow companies to work smarter and faster. Companies that utilize this technology provide their team with the tools they need to be successful in today’s fast-paced business environment and note increased organizational efficiencies that allow them to be as productive as their larger competitors. Author Box: Momentum is one of the best hosted VoIP solutions providers that offer a wide range of services for residential, small business, and enterprise level use. Along with other services like unified communications, hosted contact center, SIP trunking and virtual fax service.