IBM foresees no email, phones nor PCs

IBM is predicting the virtual office will become the norm driven by expanded globalization and environmentalism. The new workplace will be centered around mobile computing with instant messaging the preferred method of communications. Unified communications suites will be built around IM platforms, rendering email, desk phones and desktop PCs things of the past.

The scenario for the next workplace was detailed by the general manager of IBM Lotus software Mike Rhodin at VoiceCon 2008 this week. He predicted Enterprises will go beyond click-to-call and presence to integrate with business processes and this would be where the greatest benefits would be.

He said demand for interoperability and maturing of industry standards will force providers to embrace interoperability. "Converged, aggregated, and rich presence" will drive office and personal productivity.

The final five-point prediction was that the whole concept of meetings would change rapidly as 3D and gaming tools would enable far more instantaneous and ad hoc contact.

Rhodin announced a partnership with Forterra a developer of "virtual world" (i.e., Second Life-like) technology and unveiled its unified telephony suite as a middleware component in the multi-vendor world that characterizes many UC deployments.

For more:
- IBM made five predictions at VoiceCon Release [1]

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