2014 Will Be A Big Year For Desktop-as-a-Service

Scott Davis, CTO for VMware’s End User Computing B.U. shares his vision for technology in 2014.

“I think we will see a growing realisation that mobile app to cloud services is the key distributed application construct to focus on. That means less focus on securing and managing physical devices, as well as less reliance on VPNs and the corporate LAN itself since it is becoming a less significant boundary. There will be a greater focus on app to cloud service security technologies. I think we will see more embracing of mobile/cloud applications in our day to day lives. The apps on your phone will become the brains for your car’s navigation and audio systems, and the car dashboard becomes just the display technology,” says Davis.

As part of this broader movement to the mobile/cloud, he predicts 2014 will be a big year for Desktop-as-a-service (DaaS) aka Windows-as-a-Service. With users demanding greater mobility and access while IT departments look for ways to reduce TCO of enterprise desktops, DaaS is an ideal approach for enabling/delivering access to business critical Windows applications for mobile users in a cost effective manner.

He further adds, “Our phones will also become more common as a payment engine in stores. I also predict that our phones will be used more pervasively as identification mechanisms – text message password callbacks and the Apple iPhone 5s-like fingerprint authentication will become prevalent as a replacement for 2-factor authentication. I also think we may well see our mobile device front-end backed by cloud services become our IDs, replacing physical driver’s licenses and corporate badges/key cards. Wallets are going to follow watches into the realm of fashion accessories, and will no longer be essential entities that everyone carries.”

There have been interesting studies lately on how crowd sourced shopping reviews are changing our behaviours, especially with regard to effectiveness of consumer product marketing. “I think automated analytics on consumer reviews will become more pervasive and mainstream. I suspect that our mobile devices wilI help us pick not just which products to buy, but also our service providers, automatically based on these analytics. I predict that cumbersome tasks such as deciding on home service workers and contractors will be intelligently sourced through our devices. Instead of hoping you get somebody reliable recommended through your friends and colleagues, the aggregate ratings will provide you with better vetted services. I also think the trend of our devices as remote controls for physical world devices brokered through the cloud will continue as well. We will advance from home cameras, remote DVR control and thermostats to more pervasive controls and robots. In five years I look forward to the day when the maps app on my mobile device drives my car from point A to point B, starting with driving itself from a remote parking lot to the door of the building I’m in,” continues Davis.

He concludes, “I could go on and on, but I hope the pattern is clear here. Mobile/cloud applications are quite different than the PC client/server applications we used. They are more pervasive, they make our lives easier. And as you can see, the use cases they enable are completely foreign to the PC-based client/server world. Very exciting times for our industry!”

Avaya 1600 Series IP Desk Phones

Available Models:
Designed for walk-up users in building lobbies and other public spaces, the 1603 supports three line appearances/feature keys, each with dual LEDs to show status. Fixed feature keys include conference, transfer, drop, hold, mute and a 2-way speakerphone.

Also for users with basic communication needs, the 1608 supports eight line appearances/feature keys with dual LEDs. It includes several fixed feature keys for common tasks, including conference, transfer, drop, hold and mute. In addition, it features a two-way speakerphone, a headset jack and an extra 10/100 Ethernet port for a co-located laptop or PC.

Built for call-center environments, the 16CC is a cost-effective deskphone that brings SIP and basic ACD (automatic call distribution) to the agent desktop.

Designed for users with basic communication needs, this model includes all of the 1603’s features, but has an extra 10/100 Ethernet port for a co-located laptop or PC.

With support for 16 line appearances, bridged appearances, or feature keys, the 1616 model is designed for users who monitor their own extensions in addition to other lines. It features a backlit display on a separately adjustable hinge, and like the 1608, it provides a headset jack and an extra 10/100 Ethernet port.

Integral to Unified Communications solutions, headsets provide comfort, clarity, and mobility across all communication channels. Learn about the many leading vendors that have tested headsets and accessories for Avaya products through the Avaya DevConnect program.

 For businesses with basic communications needs, the 1600 Series IP Deskphones deliver familiar features at an attractive price point. They are ideal for office, branch, and call center use, and can be deployed alongside other Avaya phones, ensuring that all employees have exactly the functionality they need.
The 1600 Series combines the features of traditional and IP deskphones, delivering capabilities often found in higher-priced devices. All models feature backlit displays, high-quality full-duplex speakerphones, and buttons with dual LEDs (red and green) that give the user easy-to-read status information. They can support from three to 16 line appearance/feature keys and display up to four lines.

These phones are designed to work with the Avaya Aura® and IP Office platforms.
Features and Benefits
Get more for less
The 1600 Series offers telephone features not typically found in similarly priced models. These include backlit displays, support for multiple call appearances, a two-way speakerphone, dual-lamp LEDs, fixed feature keys, and a context-sensitive user interface with soft keys.

Reduce transition and training time
For employees accustomed to traditional digital telephones, these models offer a familiar user interface—including context-sensitive displays and fixed keys for conference, transfer, and hold. This improves productivity and eases the upgrade process.

Make a lasting investment
The 1600 Series IP Deskphones deliver security, reliability, and performance.