Since it's founding in 1997 Unified Concepts has evolved from a data networks service company to a highly specialized Unified Communications solution provider specializing in all aspects of Unified communications.

In 2001, we realized the future of communications was moving towards convergence. With our core competency being communications we needed to choose the direction we wanted to go. In order to accomplish this we had to answer 2 critical questionsÉ

• Which solution would be in the BEST interest of our clients?
• Which offered the best END-to-END solution?

Knowing the questions we started down a long, tedious path for the answer.

Several different criteria points were examined and scored during the process. The main drivers of our analysis were:

• Initial cost
• Performance
• Brand recognition
• Features
• Inherent ability to generate cost savings
• Compatibility
• Ease of maintenance
• Standardization
• Scalability (most of our customers are 100 users or more with multiple locations)

The core of Unified Communications has two major components. The infrastructure (routers and switches) and the phone switch (virtual PBX). Using the criteria listed above we reviewed all of the major players including:

• Avaya
• Cisco
• Nortel
• Mitel
• Lucent

After extensive research and testing in our lab we determined that Cisco was the superior solution for both components. In recent years Shoretel and Microsoft have entered into the market and we have reviewed their solutions Ð neither has measured up to our expectations. We will continue to review the newer core products as they are released.

Since then we have continuously reviewed add on features and functions like IP Surveillance, Digital Signage, Wireless, etc... One by one we've selected the individual pieces we now represent using the same methodology that got us where we are today. We work for our customers... and that's why we'll always be driven by the criteria we use to select the vendor partnerships we offer.