Several enterprise customers noted that their companies have eliminated all unnecessary travel, but because they have been able to meet with customers, co-workers and partners via videoconferencing, they have been able to maintain the relationships and get their jobs done without having to get into a train, plane or automobile. In addition, videoconferencing helps make meetings more effective than audio-only conferences, because you can see what the other person/people are doing; in short, video helps to ensure that participants pay attention to what’s being presented and discussed, instead of checking their Blackberries or doing other unrelated activities.

Overall revenue in the quarter declined 7.5% year-over-year to $9.1 billion, and net income was $1.5 billion, off 27% year over year. Product revenue declined year-over-year by 11% and, in what Cisco calls its “core product areas” – switching and routing — year-over-year revenue was down 23%. Unified Communications revenues also declined, but only by single-digits – down 5% year-over-year.

But, there’s an alternative view: Microsoft is solving enterprise communications problems differently. It looks to me like they asked themselves the question: What would be the best way to deliver communications for a “people-ready business” that would reduce costs, improve business outcomes and provide both productivity and control to the users? If the new software also fills in the PBX checklists, that’s so much the better.