<p>Mobility is changing the way enterprises are buying, deploying and using unified communications, according to research firm Canalys.</p><p>The increase in mobile users is fueling a move toward cloud-based UC or unified communications as a service, which enables firms to manage operational expenses by combining mobile and fixed use on a per user monthly basis, explained Phillip Pexton, research analyst at Canalys.</p><p>"The emergence of multi-tenant platforms offering voice, video, messaging, presence and contact center capabilities from a single source will accelerate the move from on-premises solutions. It will enable channel partners to offer more innovative packages to customers," Pexton added.</p><p>Overall, worldwide UCaaS revenue is forecast to grow at 18.8 percent per year to reach $4.1 billion by 2017. This growth in UCaaS is expected to spur UC vendor consolidation, predicted Canalys.</p><p><a href="http://www.fiercemobileit.com/story/mobility-changing-way-enterprises-deploy-use-unified-communications/2013-09-29">Keep reading...</a></p>