Despite the hype, IP convergence does not happen overnight. Navigating the IP convergence market is not easy. Some network equipment makers are taking traditional voice over IP (VoIP) product lines and rebranding them as unified communications offerings. But beware: While closely related, VoIP and UC are not the same. Generally speaking, VoIP equipment allows universities to converge voice communications onto IP networks. This can greatly reduce administration costs and ongoing telecom service expenses. But UC goes much further; it blends VoIP with a range of rich applications that follow users wherever they go. A typical UC system includes the following elements, according to In-Stat analysts: presence; instant messaging; IP telephony; audio conferencing; web conferencing or data collaboration; unified messaging (common message store for voicemail, email, and faxes); mobility; and videoconferencing. This article discusses how colleges and universities can embrace UC and merge disparate data, voice, and video networks into one powerful, unified network.