What is happening to the old PBX’es and how will you call your friends in the future?
One mobile company is pressing on that everything will be wireless. I doubt it. Yes, several of your terminals will interconnect through some wireless networks, but that is not the most important thing. It has been important with mobility latest 15 years, but now consumers demands more.
Communication has finally taken the steps from individual silos (a PBX system that does not talk to anything else) to deeply integrated in all your programs, from e-mail, IM, CRM to even your Word program. What happens is that you develop a different way of communicating.
You can first check who is available, then a short IM and then have a phone conversation, then go back to IM for a few wrap-up questions. This will boost productivity as long as you choose the correct ways. I hate long IM conversation when trying to explain things, then walk over to the co-worker or pick up the phone! I notice that e-mail has been abused in that way as well. Why do we sit down and write down everything, then pass it over to our co-worker when we easier could just walked over. Typing it all down takes time, and then the other has to read it as well.
Anyway, the generations coming into work life now demands IM. One friend of mine was denied IM access in a bank and she felt almost isolated from her friends.
Work hours will be expanded.
It will be easier to call a co-worker when you see him or her online in the evening with status “working” or similar. The communication channel has just been expanded to 24/7….
Most important is to take control of new technology and analyze the best ways of using these communication channels. Some can be very productive, others not.
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