ShoreTel Launches Mobility 8

ShoreTel launched the latest update to its mobile collaboration software today. The newest version, ShoreTel Mobility 8, provides mobile-enabled video conferencing, as well as integration with the ShoreTel Communicator desktop call control suite and a virtualized ShoreTel Mobility Router.

According to the announcement, ShoreTel Mobility allows for video communication between iOS and Android devices, using the ShoreTel Mobility Client as a link between devices. The 8^th edition allows users join in multi-party video sessions, connecting to room-based video communication systems from their mobile devices, and supports video communication via ShoreTel Communicator from Windows desktop computers. However, it is still not compatible with Windows Mobile devices.

The most noteworthy update from ShoreTel's announcement is the one-touch participation with SIP-compliant room-based video systems. Users can join in GoToMeeting, WebEx, and Lync meetings, with video supported across mobile WiFi as well as 3G/4G/LTE connections.

Additionally, ShoreTel has included integration with the ShoreTel Communicator. This is intended to provide additional control, capabilities, and communication, as the ShoreTel Communicator can extend the company's call control capabilities to the mobile devices, and can be combined with the ShoreTel Dock to provide an alternative to the traditional desk phone.

Not everyone is a fan of mobile UC clients, however. UCStrategies UC Expert Michael Finneran notes that end users prefer the user interface on their smartphones and tend not to use mobile UC clients. He doesn't expect the availability of video and mobile collaboration to change user behavior, noting that it's easier for users to simply use their smartphones to do whatever a mobile UC client can do.

UCStrategies co-founder Blair Pleasant asked ShoreTel's Director, Product Management, Ed Wright why ShoreTel Mobility 8 might be different and get more traction than other mobile UC clients. Wright explained that, "There's a well-established trend that users have an intimate relationship with their smartphones and tablets, but less so with their PCs or deskphones. As long as you can deliver capabilities to the mobile device to make enterprise communications easier and not more difficult, they'll use it. ShoreTel Mobility peels the layers of complexity away and makes it as easy as the native dialer on a mobile device, providing users with single-touch access to enterprise-class UC capabilities from any device."

Wright added: "ShoreTel's new release of the mobile client provides access to the corporate directory, ensuring that contacts are always updated, and provides a simple way to reach contacts. In addition, users can join a meeting with a single click, removing some of the complexity of joining meetings using a mobile device. The single click access works not just for ShoreTel meetings, but for WebEx and GoToMeeting events as well," making it more useful to a larger audience.

In short, ShoreTel Mobility 8 provides mobile access to ShoreTel Communicator and room systems communication from all supported devices. It uses a one-touch video calling system to make setting up calls simple, and does not require any additional software, or hardware.

For more information, visit www.shoretel.com.