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