The IP telephony revolution is here, nearly

Angus Kidman
Thursday, 07 December 2006 06:38

IT Industry - Strategy

Better service delivery rather than cost savings is driving businesses to integrate their data and voice networks, but despite widespread adoption of IP phones, traditional TDM systems are still more commonly used, new research suggests.

In a survey of 250 Australian IT managers by CA, 35% said that improving service delivery was the most important driver for moving to a single IP network. The finding challenges the popular notion that reduced maintenance and calling costs are the major drive for such transitions; cost was cited by 26% of respondents.

According to the study, common challenges involved in rolling out integrated networks include difficulties in managing the network (cited by 54%), security and risk management concerns (21%) and difficulties in measuring ROI on the project (15%).

Other internal CA research suggested that a failure to measure existing voice and network traffic prior to rolling out a new single IP-based network was a common cause of failure, CA enterprise systems management business unit director Simon Barnier told a breakfast briefing in Sydney this morning.

While the transition to IP telephony may appear irreversible, businesses are taking their time in making the shift. Since 2005, IP telephony equipment has outsold traditional PABX equipment, IDC senior analyst David Cannon told the briefing.

However, of the six million currently active business telephone lines in Australia, only 2 million are currently running on an IP network. "Come this time next year, though, it's going to be a 50:50 split," Cannon said.