| IP telephony, or Internet Protocol telephony deploys | | | | markets still remain unconvinced by its efficacy. In |
| the Internet infrastructure to transmit voice and fax | | | | the developed world too the picture is not so rosy. |
| calls. IP phone systems digitize voice and transmit it in | | | | As per estimates put forward by world telecoms |
| the form of packets to unique IP addresses | | | | major Ericsson, 'pure-play VOIP phone system PBXs |
| designated by the user. Slow to get off the blocks, | | | | account for less than five per cent of customer |
| Internet phone systems have gained significant | | | | premises equipment (CPE) shipments' across the |
| ground in the recent years. This is largely due to the | | | | globe. Apart from this, businesses implementing VOIP |
| rapid rise of convergence as the ultimate destination | | | | phone systems too prefer to remain on line with the |
| for communication technology. In this context, voice | | | | traditional wire line telephony. The reasons are not |
| over ip phone systems are seen as a crucial first | | | | hard to find. META group studies point towards the a |
| step in the march towards achieving seamless | | | | still lingering adverse public perception about reliability, |
| low-cost connectivity by integrating data, voice, and | | | | degree of integration with legacy systems, and the |
| video onto a single Internet based platform. | | | | money that needs to be pumped into the new |
| Enterprise communications at the cross-roadsA | | | | applications.Besides, a number of countries, including |
| recent study by META group, a subsidiary of the | | | | India and China, are still to recognize IP telephony, |
| global consultancy major Gartner, indicates that | | | | which puts a big question mark over its usability in |
| convergence is fast catching up among businesses | | | | these fast growing markets. Apart from this, |
| across the globe. As per the study, 26 per cent of | | | | convergence require a high degree of customization |
| the Global 2000 Enterprises are in the process of | | | | for companies in different sectors. Experts also point |
| migrating to converged networks, whereas another | | | | out that converged networks are still to come up |
| 42 per cent will be taking it up in the next one to | | | | with common technical standards that are essential |
| two years. Impressive figures indeed! In the same | | | | to make the technology ubiquitous.An idea whose |
| vein it predicts that the IP lines deployed by the | | | | time is nighDespite the remaining hurdles, it clearly |
| hybrid 'computer phone systems', are bound to see a | | | | emerges that the future belongs to converged |
| 50 per cent growth annually in the coming years. One | | | | networks, which means that we are in for a greater |
| reason why enterprises are boarding the IP | | | | proliferation of voice over IP phone systems both at |
| telephony bandwagon is that it enables them to | | | | the workplace and in life away from office. The |
| generate substantial cost-savings by using their | | | | technology has got too many things going for it. |
| existing IP infrastructure for voice traffic. Plus, | | | | After all how can we turn away a system that |
| prominent communication equipment vendors, such as | | | | offers advantages such as greater efficiency and |
| UK based Actimax Plc, have clearly cast their | | | | productivity while lowering your total cost of |
| mandate in favor of the Internet phone system. | | | | ownership? Those of you who have had a feel of |
| Going by the Actimax Web site, the benefits of | | | | concepts such as 'Computer Telephone Integration' |
| adopting an IP phone system include:1. Connecting | | | | will know what we are talking about. And, to those |
| remote workers at no extra cost | | | | still to get a taste of this upcoming communication |
| 2. Integrating IP applications with telephones to | | | | revolution, we can only say: Go out and try it for |
| harness the best of two technologies | | | | yourself. It makes more sense to be an active |
| 3. Connecting geographically disparate sites together | | | | participant in the technology sweepstakes than to |
| at no extra call costIP telephony - the roadblocks | | | | wait and let the convergence wave sweep you off |
| From the above, the IP phone systems appear | | | | your feet.John Massey is the Managing Director of |
| simply unstoppable and clearly the future of the | | | | whose background in the communications industry |
| global communications. But then why is it still moving | | | | goes back over 30 years is invaluable in the company |
| at a relatively slow pace? For example, an | | | | being one step ahead of the competition. |
| overwhelming majority of enterprises in upcoming | | | | |