The Microsoft Effect

The Microsoft Effect

Evaluating Microsoft’s Impact on the Enterprise Communications Ecosystem

RELEASE DATE
22-May-2018
REGION
Latin America
Research Code: 9ABD-00-33-00-00
SKU: TE03835-LA-MR_21926
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TE03835-LA-MR_21926
$1,500.00
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Description

For over a decade Microsoft has made concerted efforts to establish itself as a major provider of real-time business communications solutions, including enterprise voice and unified communications (UC) services. After gaining a considerable share in the premises-based communications systems market, Microsoft now aspires to capitalize on growing customer adoption of cloud solutions, in general, and hosted/cloud private branch exchange (PBX) and UC as a service (UCaaS), in particular.

Microsoft’s extensive technology acumen and market power make it a formidable force in the business communications and productivity tools space, compelling competitors to keep a close eye on its product roadmap and go-to-market strategy. Therefore, Microsoft’s frequent changes in strategic direction, including the recent transition from Skype for Business Online to Teams and strong push for Microsoft Phone System (formerly Cloud PBX), have caused simultaneously excitement, concern and confusion among businesses, technology developers, resellers, service providers and other market participants.

Frost & Sullivan believes that Teams and Phone System can significantly enhance Microsoft’s competitive position in the cloud communications market, if certain conditions are met. Overall, Microsoft Teams and Phone System are likely to experience rapid growth in the next six to seven years. Recent and pending solution enhancements will reinforce Microsoft’s competitive position and enable it to accelerate customer acquisition in the future. Microsoft’s determined foray into the cloud communications space, accompanied by frequent technology and strategic shifts, is likely to affect other market participants in various ways:

• Provide more options for businesses looking to adopt compelling cloud communications solutions, but also cause confusion and hesitation to move forward with solution upgrades and replacements.
• Create certain integration/interoperability challenges, but also offer growth opportunities for partners delivering solutions (e.g., infrastructure, endpoints, software) that complement Microsoft’s products and services.
• Delay sales, but also expand product and services opportunities for resellers as well as implementation, professional and managed services partners.
• Pose an immediate competitive threat (including price pressures, customer churn or delayed decision making) to other hosted cloud communications providers, but also help accelerate competitor innovation and compel providers to more effectively differentiate via solution functionality, service quality and reliability, and customer service and support.

Market participants must watch Microsoft’s strategy and cloud solutions roadmap closely to respond quickly and effectively to changes that can potentially have a significant impact on their business.

This study provides an overview of Microsoft’s position in the business communications market, including estimated installed user base and other metrics. It also discusses recent and upcoming enhancements of Microsoft cloud communications solutions, including Microsoft Skype for Business, Teams and Phone System. Finally, this study analyses the impact of Microsoft’s cloud communications portfolio and strategy on the enterprise communications ecosystem.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

Executive Summary (continued)

Microsoft’s Journey in the Business Communications Market

Microsoft’s Growing Role in Cloud Communications

Microsoft as a Cloud Voice and UCaaS Provider

Microsoft Straddles the Premises-Based and Cloud Worlds

Microsoft Straddles the Premises-Based and Cloud Worlds (continued)

Microsoft in Numbers

Microsoft Teams and Phone System Product Vision and Strategy

Microsoft Teams and Phone System Recent Enhancements and Roadmap

Microsoft Teams and Phone System Recent Enhancements and Roadmap (continued)

Microsoft Teams and Phone System Recent Enhancements and Roadmap (continued)

Microsoft Teams and Phone System Recent Enhancements and Roadmap (continued)

Workplace Communications and Collaboration—Drivers for Selecting a Cloud Provider

Cloud Deployment Trends—Global

Cloud Communications Trends—Implications for Microsoft

Communications Infrastructure—Integration, Global

Communications Infrastructure—Provider Replacement, Global

Communications Solutions Replacement—Global

IT and Communications Solutions—Top Reasons for Provider Replacement, Global

Customer Readiness to Switch Providers—Implications for Microsoft

Microsoft Skype for Business—Customer Adoption, Global

Microsoft Skype for Business—Customer Adoption, by Region

Microsoft Skype for Business—Customer Adoption Plans, by Region

Microsoft Skype for Business—Customer Adoption Plans, by Business Size

Microsoft Skype for Business—Customer Adoption, by Vertical

Microsoft Skype for Business—Customer Adoption Plans, by Vertical

Microsoft Skype for Business—Instant Messaging Adoption, by Region

Microsoft Skype for Business—Instant Messaging Adoption, by Customer Size

Microsoft Skype for Business—IP Telephony Adoption, by Region

Microsoft Skype for Business—IP Telephony Adoption, by Customer Size

Microsoft Skype for Business—Audio Conferencing Adoption, by Region

Microsoft Skype for Business—Audio Conferencing Adoption, by Customer Size

Microsoft Skype for Business—Web Conferencing Adoption, by Region

Microsoft Skype for Business—Web Conferencing Adoption, by Customer Size

Microsoft Skype for Business—Video Conferencing Adoption, by Region

Microsoft Skype for Business—Video Conferencing Adoption, by Customer Size

Microsoft Skype for Business—Broadcasting Adoption, by Region

Microsoft Skype for Business—Broadcasting Adoption, by Customer Size

Customer Perceptions of Microsoft as a UCaaS Provider

Microsoft Growth Opportunities

Market Drivers

Market Restraints

Microsoft Cloud Strategy—Impact on Customers

Microsoft Cloud Strategy—Impact on Customers (continued)

Microsoft Cloud Strategy—Impact on Customers (continued)

Microsoft Cloud Strategy—Impact on Technology Partners

Microsoft Cloud Strategy—Impact on Reseller Partners

Microsoft Cloud Strategy—Impact on Competitors

Legal Disclaimer

List of Exhibits

List of Exhibits (continued)

The Frost & Sullivan Story

Value Proposition—Future of Your Company & Career

Global Perspective

Industry Convergence

360º Research Perspective

Implementation Excellence

Our Blue Ocean Strategy

Related Research
For over a decade Microsoft has made concerted efforts to establish itself as a major provider of real-time business communications solutions, including enterprise voice and unified communications (UC) services. After gaining a considerable share in the premises-based communications systems market, Microsoft now aspires to capitalize on growing customer adoption of cloud solutions, in general, and hosted/cloud private branch exchange (PBX) and UC as a service (UCaaS), in particular. Microsoft’s extensive technology acumen and market power make it a formidable force in the business communications and productivity tools space, compelling competitors to keep a close eye on its product roadmap and go-to-market strategy. Therefore, Microsoft’s frequent changes in strategic direction, including the recent transition from Skype for Business Online to Teams and strong push for Microsoft Phone System (formerly Cloud PBX), have caused simultaneously excitement, concern and confusion among businesses, technology developers, resellers, service providers and other market participants. Frost & Sullivan believes that Teams and Phone System can significantly enhance Microsoft’s competitive position in the cloud communications market, if certain conditions are met. Overall, Microsoft Teams and Phone System are likely to experience rapid growth in the next six to seven years. Recent and pending solution enhancements will reinforce Microsoft’s competitive position and enable it to accelerate customer acquisition in the future. Microsoft’s determined foray into the cloud communications space, accompanied by frequent technology and strategic shifts, is likely to affect other market participants in various ways: • Provide more options for businesses looking to adopt compelling cloud communications solutions, but also cause confusion and hesitation to move forward with solution upgrades and replacements. • Create certain integration/interoperability challenges, but also offer
More Information
No Index No
Podcast No
Author Elka Popova
Industries Telecom
WIP Number 9ABD-00-33-00-00
Keyword 1 Microsoft
Is Prebook No
GPS Codes 9528-C1,9535-C3,9610,9656,9705-C1,9717-C3,9724,9847-64,9A59-C1,9A5B-C1