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