<p>Mobility took "center stage" in unified communications offerings last year as employees demanded to use their personal mobile devices at work, observes Cindy Whelan, principal analyst for business network and wholesale services at Current Analysis.</p><p>UC vendors 8x8, Broadview, Comcast and Cbeyond all added mobile apps to support cloud-based UC features for Apple and Android mobile devices, including presence and instant messaging, call routing, Outlook integration and extension dialing, Whelan relates in a blog.</p><p>In addition, last year XO launched XO WorkTime, a containerization solution that enables Voice over Internet Protocol customers to switch between work and personal containers on their devices.</p><p>"As we move into 2014, mobility and BYOD will be key elements in the growth of UC solutions as carriers find ways to deliver services and features to the mobile workforce," Whelan says.</p><p><a href="http://www.fiercemobileit.com/story/mobile-apps-take-center-stage-unified-communications/2014-01-16">Keep reading...</a></p>