I am somewhat surprised that the name given by Microsoft (News - Alert) to its new mobile operating system platform is a 'phone.'” After all, the term 'phone' comes from the Greek word for 'voice.' The word “telephone” means 'far voice.' Just because the mobile device/system will handle voice applications, in addition to visual data, doesn't make it just a 'phone.'
But maybe because Apple (News - Alert) took the lead in calling their multimedia device the 'iPhone,' everything that can also handle voice applications will have 'phone' in its name.
Of course, voice is just a piece of the “unified communications' picture, which enables application speech interfaces as well as real-time contextual voice contacts with people. But various forms of real-time text messaging are already replacing traditional phone calls, especially by online self-service applications that need timely contact with a specific person.
So, it’s really not just about voice coming into play here, but other mobile interfaces as well!
Art Rosenberg, a veteran of the computer and communications industry, contributes his column, The Unified-View to TMCnet. To read more of Art’s articles, please visit his columnist page.Edited by Stefania Viscusi