<p>Announced at this week's Enterprise Connect in Orlando, HP's new open standards-based multiservice router solutions include what it calls the industry's first complete MSR Survivable Branch Communications Module and the MSR Open Architecture Platform with VMware vSphere Series. The offerings, including tighter integration with Microsoft Lync, and United Communications as a Service (UCaaS) are intended to address the growing complexity of enterprises adopting new communication tools like voice, video, instant messaging and shared desktop capabilities for distributed workforces, said Rob Owyang, Director, Solutions Marketing, HP Networking.</p><p>"Technology is inherently complex and certainly that's true with unified communications." While vendors and service providers tried to make things simpler with the likes of the Internet and instant messaging, things actually got more complicated, he said. "It's not only complicated on the users side, but also on the IT management side."</p><p>Owyang said in addition to complexity, the challenges facing enterprise Unified Communications include: inconsistent tools, user experience and lack of control; IT silos, network interdependency and integration; and constraints with time, UC expertise, and budgets. HP's new solutions will help streamline and simplify communications through interoperability with Microsoft and cloud-based platforms, enabling organizations to improve productivity, reduce cost and complexity, he said.</p><p>Simplification is an integral part of HP Network's game plan, said Bethany Mayer, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Hewlett-Packard Networking Group, in a recent analysts briefing. "Our value proposition is actually quite unique in the industry, but it's very, very compelling to CIOs, and that is really around simplification of their network. The network has been for many, many years, a very complex infrastructure, very fragile, very difficult to manage and change, and as a result, many CIOs have really struggled with making changes to respond to their business using the network. And so our focus within HP Networking and everything we do is focused around simplification of that networking, architecture, the infrastructure, and the operating activities that go on with that network."</p><p><a href="http://it-tna.com/2013/03/20/hp-says-less-complexity-will-drive-unified-communications/">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/hp-delivers-business-continuity-for-unified-communications-nyse-hpq-1769400.htm">HP Delivers Business Continuity for Unified Communications</a> (Marketwire (press release))</p><p><a href="http://thenextweb.com/microsoft/2013/03/19/att-picks-up-microsfots-lynch-for-its-unified-communications-product-boosting-microsofts-corporate-communications-client/">AT&amp;T Picks Microsoft&#039;s Lync for Its Unified Communications Product</a> (The Next Web)</p><p><a href="http://www.cbronline.com/news/att-adds-microsoft-lync-to-unified-communications-portfolio-200313">AT&amp;T adds Microsoft Lync to unified communications portfolio</a> (Computer Business Review)</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dMmZOtPlSB3KCcMsa29uld6uP_jEM&ned=us">13 additional articles.</a></p>