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Key Factors Driving Business VoIP Market
Voice-over-Internet-protocol (VoIP) is now beginning to
impact businesses and the enterprise market in a
positive way. The declining costs of communications
equipment and adoption of high-speed networks,
especially by small businesses, has set the stage for
delivery of low-cost, feature-rich VoIP services without
the need for high levels of communications
infrastructure investments. Furthermore, VoIP phone
systems allow businesses, aside from affordable phone
calls, advanced functionalities such as video
conferences for pennies on the dollar, or in some cases,
even free.
Business VoIP Has Moved Beyond Early Adoption Stage
According to a report by market research firm In-Stat,
although VoIP usage may not yet be considered mainstream
among business users, this technology has certainly
moved beyond the early adoption stage. Business VoIP
systems are, in fact, gaining more traction and emerging
as a viable tool to add functionality, efficiency, and
savings to the voice service needs of US businesses. One
of the major drivers for the growing acceptance of VoIP
is the significant cost savings on long distance and
overseas calls. End-users, particularly owners of small
businesses, feel less constrained from the costs
associated with using VoIP for their business calls. In
addition, small businesses are also realizing additional
management and equipment costs savings from using VoIP
services and installing VoIP phone systems.
In
another report released by communications equipment
maker Lucent Technologies, businesses and consumers were
found to be willing to pay a premium for next-generation
mobile high speed data services such as VoIP. As part of
this enterprise research, the company gauged interest in
five applications―VoIP, video conferencing, communicate
and collaborate, multicasting, and business continuity.
VoIP, which consisted of basic VoIP and IP PBX features,
generated the greatest willingness to buy among
enterprise communications technology decision makers and
was the top driver for switching service providers.
VoIP Service Providers Developing More Solutions to
Benefit Businesses
Business VoIP adoption is expected to gain more momentum
and win over the small business and enterprise markets
over the next couple of years. VoIP service providers
are well aware of the opportunities in business VoIP and
are continuing to differentiate their products and offer
VoIP solutions to gain business in an increasingly
competitive market. VoIP service providers are currently
developing more advanced technologies and benefits to
offer businesses in order to establish a foothold in the
market. Easy calling capabilities and collaborative
video conferencing are now commonly available to
businesses and more types of differentiated VoIP
services are expected to come.
VoIP
phone systems also allow people to communicate with just
the use of one inward dial number and a choice of
devices such as a laptop soft phone, a desktop
microphone and headset system, a VoIP desk phone, or a
PDA. This therefore creates more opportunities for a
flexible working environment, especially for companies
which have many remote or regularly traveling employees.
VoIP phone systems provide you with the flexibility of
how you want to be reached and at a fraction of the
price of mobile or landline-based calls.
Business VoIP Offers Compelling Business
Benefits
In
summary, some of the major reasons why companies will
continue to adopt and switch over to business VoIP phone
systems and VoIP services are: significant savings on
long distance and overseas charges; the capability to
provide strategic voice and video applications; relative
lower cost of ownership compared to traditional PBX
hardware; lower operational costs compared to
traditional PBX systems; and simpler administration and
maintenance.
Although there may be issues from time to time with
connections and voice quality or in instances of power
disruptions, VoIP may not work, a growing number of
businesses appear to be planning their switch to VoIP
phone systems and VoIP services since the business and
economic benefits are becoming more compelling. Some of
the major communications and technology companies such
as AT&T, Cisco Systems, Avaya, and Nortel Networks are
now offering VoIP solutions that are based on best of
breed and open standards technology. VoIP solutions and
VoIP PBX systems offered by these companies provide
small businesses and the enterprise market the benefits
of flexibility, scalability, and cost effectiveness.
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