If you’re a carrier, competition from Web-to-telecom entrants like Google Inc. in today’s increasingly cloud-based world is probably something you’re thinking about. A lot. Alcatel-Lucent is here to help, launching a platform for telcos that can give operators a way to take on Internet-based unified communications services like the high-profile Google Voice.
ALU’s platform, the Rich Communications Manager, lets operators roll out a Web portal that both fixed and mobile users can use to centralize photos and videos, plus bring together voice mail, SMS, MMS, e-mail, fax, calendars and address books, with voice-to-text functionality.
Google Voice has a similar approach, bringing together fixed and mobile messaging and mailbox services, integrated with some telephony features.
