They may not have the name recognition, but part of what distinguishes our 10 emerging unified communications and VoIP vendors is the crackerjack UC and networking channel talent driving their executive teams.

Each of these companies sees an opportunity to steal market share away from the established unified communications and VoIP providers, and each has a bold vision for UC, collaboration, video, or services -- and how to help channel partners make money with those things in the future.

Here's a look, in alphabetical order.

President and CEO: Tom Racca

It emerged from stealth mode in September 2010 with 50 customers at launch and a 100% indirect-channel sales model. Products and services convert enterprise video content for easier management and distribution.

Founder and CEO: Martin Steinmann

At launch, eZuce's open-source UC offering had already seen seven years of development via SIPfoundry. Its software helps businesses migrate from their traditional PBX infrastructure.

CEO: Larry Dorie

RHUB positions its TurboMeeting as an all-in-one Web conferencing tool for SMBs: a rival to the WebExes and GoToMeetings of the world that packs everything from chat and file transfer to display adjustment.

Director of Sales: Ian Robin

Why is Skype an "emerging" vendor? Well, its business and enterprise penetration is still relatively small and it's only in the past year rolled out a formal channel program and allied itself with big-name vendors such as Avaya.

Regional Channel Manager: Tommy Lee

Snom has been best known for its IP phones but in late 2010 jumped full-bore into the IP-PBX systems market, debuting Snom One, a full-fledged IP-PBX that’s open-source-based and enabled by SIP technology.

Executive Vice President: Shawn Chute

A lot of vendors push their products as "communications-in-abox," but for Sutus, the descriptor is absolutely true. Its two-year-old SMB-focused Business Central has gained many a fan in the channel.

Director of Channel Development: Linda Bickelman

Though it offers videoconferencing and telepresence, Telanetix is best known for the hosted VoIP services it provides to SMBs as SaaS bundles—the AccessLine brand.

Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales: Rob Hughes

There is no more exciting emerging player in videoconferencing and UC than Vidyo, whose software-based personal telepresence technology has earned it channel raves and a number of high-profile strategic alliances.

Director of Sales and Marketing: Jon Lunetta

A video collaboration startup, offerings sit on top of Skype and Microsoft’s Lync UC suite to enable a richer videoconferencing experience. VuRoom and VuCast can be deployed on-premise or as a SaaS solution.

Co-Founder: Akash Seraf

Consider Mumbai-based Vu, a much-buzzed-about startup focused on SMB customers and SOHOs, among vendors that see the small-business videoconferencing and telepresence as definitely up for grabs.

For more on UC and VoIP providers, check out the 2011 Need To Know: UC & VoIP Vendors.