Value-added distributor Westcon-Comstor is confident the recent assimilation of Polycom telepresence, video and voice solutions into its product offering, offered via its UC and Collaboration Solutions Practice, will enhance the uptake of Unified communications -as-a-Service (UcaaS) within Southern Africa.

"Email has long been the de-facto communications tool for companies of all sizes, but it's not the ideal way to exchange ideas, particularly with progressive organisations," said Tiens Lange, Director Unified Communications and Collaboration at Westcon-Comstor Southern Africa. "Our resellers need a practical alternative that will enable their customers to work more easily and cost-effectively in real time via myriad devices and locations."

"While Westcon-Comstor has enjoyed a relationship with Polycom, this agreement to include Southern Africa is a big win for resellers in this region," states Lange.

Daniel Schmierer, area vice president Middle East and Africa for Polycom, said, "As a revolutionary in this space, we are ideally positioned to enable customers to take a forward-looking, leadership approach to enterprise collaboration."

According to Lange because of the infrastructure costs associated with UC, it is a relatively large investment initially if it is Capex-based. UcaaS, he says, offers customers the Opex option and in certain cases allows them to adopt a phased Capex approach.

"For example a customer can buy Video Conferencing end points up front, and use a hosted bridge or service initially, then later investing in their own VC bridge for their core infrastructure," he says.

Lange explains that because the barriers to acquiring solutions are far less than they were a few years ago, coupled with cheaper and available bandwidth, the adoption rate of UcaaS in Southern Africa is strong and is expected to increase, with higher rates within the private sector. "...but as Public sector expenditure is being reduced on travel currently, and the foreseeable future, we should see more activity in terms of this specific service."