The Next Generation of Communication

In the past 18 months, the world has experienced a whirlwind of changes, in every industry. With a heavy reliability on technology, the technology industry itself had a huge push to advance and evolve to accommodate every business and enterprise’s needs, big or small. This progression period has brought the world to the data era, where information is at your fingertips, employee freedom is evolving and the communication industry is peaking. Transforming all ways of communication, the next generation of communication is here.

For the first time, Comms 4.0 is taking communication beyond voice, allowing easier use of communication and collaboration within the business landscape. At the same time, businesses are able to adapt to the future world of work with a dynamic workforce. Bringing and enabling freedom, the dynamic workforce can work from anywhere. Comms 4.0 embraces innovative software and technology that is no longer about voice, this advanced software is the collaboration of the future.

The previous generations of Comms 4.0 have paved the way for the advancement of communication.

This foundation to our present revolutionary era of communication, began with Alexander Graham Bell in 1876. The Scottish-born scientist, engineer, and inventor was credited with inventing and patenting the very first telephone. Bell’s invention revolutionized the world, from the previous use of telegraphs. For the first time in history – voice could be used as a means of communication whilst being in completely different areas, but this was only the beginning. This break-through consisted of using vibrations to create an electrical circuit with acid, to generate electrical signals and analog lines – which opened up another world for communication, known as Comms 1.0.

Opening up the world of communication allowed for a spiral of enhancements and changes to develop the original revolutionary invention, giving users more abilities to strive for improvement and removing any barriers. ISDN took the communication world to the next level – this was the digitalization of communications using the abbreviation in the name (Integrated Services Digital Network). Unlike analog lines, these integrated services had a digital approach, being first deployed to the world in 1986. This type of digital communication enabled a user to use voice, data, and other network services over the same cable. With up to 30 calls using one line, this had never been done before. Thus, ISDN replaced the old landline technology, and communications emerged into the digital era – taking the name of Comms 2.0.

The next generation of communication was just around the corner as the internet took the world by storm. The world opened up as people were able to go online, and there was a mass growth in big tech companies such as Microsoft. It then seemed only natural that the next generation of communication would follow in the footsteps of the internet and the digital era. Thus, VoIP began, and the digital revolution in communications evolved. VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is defined as a group of technologies for delivering voice communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol networks. VoIP works by analog voice calls, that are converted into packets of data. These data packets travel over the public internet or any private internet protocol (IP) network. At this point in the timeline there were no need for collaboration tools, voice was a major aspect of communication. In recent years, this method of communication was commonly and widely used all over the world. This is digital transformation was Comms 3.0.

Today, businesses are dealing with the seismic shift in ‘normality’ that has ushered in the beginning of Comms 4.0. On the back of present-day communications is freedom, with the ability to have contact and to collaborate with employees as you would if you were next to them in the office – you can be anywhere at any time. Comms 4.0 is contributing to the new freedom that employees deserve and more importantly has defined the new era in communications that has for the first time gone beyond voice. SCB Global are leading the way in Comms 4.0, challenging the limitations of current collaboration and communication by delivering innovative advanced solutions.

As communications continue to evolve, ask yourself: Where will communications be in 5-10 years? The possibilities are unlimited. The Metaverse is already fast approaching and the digital world is becoming our reality.