VoIP – just a load of hot air?—Posted on October 6, 2007
One of my colleagues overheard two guys in the pub last week, one asking the other when he thought his work would move over to VoIP in order to take advantage of the cheap phone calls. Anecdotal maybe, but still a clear indication that the average worker seems to have bought in whole-heartedly to the mantra that VoIP (running voice over the same network as data services) saves you money. Sorry to muddle the seemingly azure waters, but is that really the case?
In our experience, VoIP as a standalone technology rarely delivers the cost savings heralded by some in the media or the telecoms industry. But don’t get disheartened just yet; VoIP can be a great cost-saving business tool if it is implemented as part of a wider network convergence.
If an SMB is really keen to save money on communication and data charges it should investigate whether a migration to a next-generation network is a viable option. An NGN allows all types of traffic; voice, data and internet to be sent over a single, cohesive platform. So, not only can other media ‘buzz’ applications, such as video-conferencing be supported, it can improve productivity and operational costs across the board. Of course, you need to plan this sort of change carefully – its important to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and make sure that your business is geared up for the transformation. If not managed carefully, the cost of change can outweigh the benefits, especially if you think about the risk that if your single network goes down the cost to your business is felt more widely.
When convergence forms part of a wider strategy, however, it means that not just your network, but your applications and your employees can all work more efficiently and effectively. Does this mean that SMB owners will have more time and more money to discuss other new and hyped telecoms technology down the pub? Possibly not!
Laura Joseph - Head of Product Portfolio