Unified communications and fixed/mobile convergence (F/MC) technologies—the former bringing multiple forms of IP-based communication into a single, integrated user experience and the latter making corporate IP voice communications available wirelessly, regardless of a user's whereabouts—have been around long enough to no longer be considered exactly cutting edge.

Even the melding of the two approaches—now often known by the term 'mobile UC'—has become a fairly mature communications option.

But the announcement last week by fg microtec of the release of a new fixed/mobile client for Windows Mobile devices marks the opening of a new chapter (albeit perhaps not a major one) in the evolution of IP communications technology.

What struck us as new is that the industry appears finally to have reached a point at which vendors realize they don't have to "reinvent the wheel" in order to make their offerings more powerful or more versatile.

Unlike existing client modules that enable PBX and UC-type functionalities on mobile handsets, which are proprietary, fg's new client is standards-based and interoperable with server technologies from other vendors.

Get the full story here at WiFiPlanet.com.