What does 2010 have in store for VoIP?
As many of us settle back to work, having had a restful Christmas and New Year with family and friends, now is a time to consider the year ahead.
So, what about VoIP in 2010?
At 500 we see the following:
1. Continued Increase in VoIP uptake.
Small and medium-sized businesses will continue to migrate to VoIP.
As a rule of thumb, we feel that hosted solutions are best suited to:
- Single sites with fewer than 10 users.
- Multiple sites with fewer than 10 users per site.
- Businesses utilising mobile and/or home workers
Larger enterprises are better suited to premises-based IP PBX VoIP systems, especially if they are:
- Single sites over 30 users.
- Multiple sites (as long as head office can allocate resource to administer the IP PBX)
Though there have been great economic pressures on all businesses during 2009, which will continue into 2010, businesses that have made the transition are now reaping the rewards of smarter working and lower costs.
Interesting statistics being quoted include some market research made by IBISWorld, an American market research company, they named VoIP as the greatest growth industry of the decade (2000-2009). They also predict that VoIP will keep this title during the next decade (2010-2019)!
VoIP as a technology will continue to allow users to work in a smarter way, be it in the office, at home or on the road. Video conferencing and mobile VoIP is coming of age.
2. Wireless VoIP.
Consumers are continuing to buy Smart phones over traditional mobile phones. Frost and Sullivan predict that within 5 years virtually all phones sold will be Smartphones.
VoIP providers have realised that they must continue to ensure that users can make VoIP calls using their Smartphones.
Also to be considered is the migration from 3G to 4G technology. This is more likely to occur beyond 2010, however TeliaSonera in Sweden has launched its 4G network based on Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology. Handsets will be available from mid-to late 2010. Importantly, the 4G technology is pure IP based and offers speeds up to 10 times that of 3G, the current standard.
3. Increased uptake in SIP Trunking
Fuelling the uptake in VoIP systems is the adoption of SIP Trunking. The financial downturn has ensured that decision-makers are making smarter investments. Businesses are again reaping the rewards in cost savings.
SIP Trunks allow a business to replace expensive traditional fixed lines with an internet-based SIP Trunking equivalent. This means reduced fixed line costs and, in addition, reduced call tariffs. We previously covered SIP Trunking in detail in an article ‘Have you considered SIP Trunking?’.
4. Cloud computing
Cloud computing was certainly one of the buzz words of 2009. Like VoIP, cloud computing allows a cost saving to most businesses. It is well suited to the needs of small and medium-sized business. We recently wrote an article ‘Cloud Computing? Keep your feet on the ground…’ where we provide a long list of advantages to any business considering Cloud Computing. The migration to cloud computing will continue well into 2010 and beyond.
5. Unified communications
The uptake of all the above points, mean that more and more businesses will unify their communications. During 2010 users will continue to work faster, smarter and with greater flexibility.
500 wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year!
