<p>The Defense Information Systems Agency has a bottom-line approach to network convergence and unified communications. "We know that it's five times more expensive to maintain a legacy telephony network versus an IP-based converged environment," says Cindy Moran, director of the network services directorate at DISA.</p><p>DISA has taken the lead with UC in the Defense Department by piloting some 200 softphones based on Cisco Systems Jabber technology. In DISA's network services and CIO operations groups, agency leaders and staff use presence, instant messaging, video chat and conferencing over Jabber. While most employees run Jabber with headsets, Moran says users who prefer a traditional phone can choose an inexpensive IP handset.</p><p>DOD's technology agency plans to roll out the softphones to 10,000 users across DISA and offer the technology to the various branches of the service. Moran says while a specific contract vehicle hasn't emerged yet, she expects that any future contract will offer UC technology from Avaya, Cisco and Microsoft. $1,200</p><p>The amount of money organizations can save per T-1 line each month by opting for a hosted UC infrastructure and converging voice and data</p><p><a href="http://www.fedtechmagazine.com/article/2013/09/feds-take-practical-approach-unified-communications">Keep reading...</a></p>