Oracle Expands UC Suite With WebRTC Integration

Oracle wants to make it easier for communications service providers to more easily spin out cloud-based communications and collaboration services to their customers.

The software giant earlier this month unveiled the latest iteration of its Oracle Communications Unified Communications (UC) Suite, which includes integration with the company’s Communications WebRTC Session Controller. The integration with the WebRTC controller means that service providers will be able to offer real-time and near real-time communications services, according to Oracle officials.

The WebRTC protocol is designed to enable browser-to-browser video communications with no need for special plug-ins or clients, such as those required for other modes of video communications. The protocol leverages JavaScript APIs and HTML5. Essentially users can leverage a range of communications tools—including chat, messaging, audio conferencing and video collaboration—by opening a browser rather than having to put any software onto their systems.

For service providers, the WebRTC integration in Oracle Communications UC Suite 6 represents one more avenue for them to take to offer services and monetize the investment they have made in building out their networks. Communications service providers and carriers are under increasing pressure from the growing number of over-the-top (OTT) mobile apps and messaging software that enable users to bypass services offered by wireless carriers.

“Communications service providers must offer compelling services if they want to regain control of the communications experience,” Bhaskar Gorti, senior vice president and general manager of Oracle Communications, said in a statement. The vendor’s enhanced communications suite “provides [communications service providers] with a cloud-ready solution that can enable them to expand their brand equity and generate revenue, all by using existing network resources to deliver an integrated set of collaboration and communication tools to enterprises of any size.”

Oracle’s UC solution includes messaging, calendar, IM, audio, video, screen sharing, email and other features in a secure, multitenant environment. It can easily scale to accommodate enterprises both large and small, as well as government agencies, according to company officials.

Along with the WebRTC integration, the upgraded solution also includes multitenant architecture and provisioning capabilities, which officials said enable service providers to spin out differentiated services, optimize network resources and increase profit margins.