Like any new product, service, or technology, one of the most important factors for the expansion of VOIP technology and use of VOIP phone systems is the need to offer a strong enough package of services to displace whatever is already taking up their potential space in the market place. Not only do VOIP services have to be impressive enough to convince people to switch off of land based lines and cellular phone towers, but to win consumers over rival VOIP companies. The development of VOIP phone services has lasted long enough, and developed enough strong positives, that it is not likely to be just another flash in the pan, here today and gone tomorrow bout of technology. Unlike eight-tracks, VOIP is here to stay. The spread of VOIP has been successful enough that there are several large competing companies, as well as many smaller ones, vying against one another and traditional telecommunications companies in an attempt to win more consumers. While different companies are obviously going to have different service plans, prices, and optional features; there are a number of general advantages that virtually all VOIP service companies will have in common, as all of them need to keep a leg up on the older and more established technological systems. One notable example is that all of these companies will offer an abundance of extra features that come included in the basic service plan with no additional costs or hidden fees. Many of those service plans will also be comparable in cost with what you would usually have to pay for a normal land based phone line. Some of the extra features and services that most VOIP companies offer to customers for free that traditional phone companies charge extra for include voice mail, caller ID, last number dialed calling, call transfers, call forwarding, call waiting, and voice mail. Obviously different companies have different packages, so before making a decision always be sure to check the offers of each individual company you are considering. Additional VOIP services focus around the flexibility that having VOIP allows. Many of the aforementioned bonuses are even better because since VOIP uses the Internet, the settings on your VOIP phone can be changed and used from anywhere you can access your account online. For example, you can use any computer with Internet to use call forwarding. If you are an independent businessman or just anyone who finds themselves in a situation where you need to have calls to your home or office number forwarded to your mobile phone, this feature allows you to still set that up via online, even if you forgot to set it up at your office or back home before leaving. Some company’s plans allow you access to voice mail through your online account or have it forwarded to your email. These are just some of the great VOIP services that are offered by various companies, and can be a great blessing to someone who needs those extras but hates paying extra for services that have become necessary.
Posts Tagged ‘Market’
Voip Services-fighting For The Market
January 5th, 2010Upgrades Fuel Voip Enterprise Market As Companies Replace Aging Technology
December 14th, 2009San Francisco, California July 26, 2006: Largely due to the integration of computer-telephony networks and communication tools, enterprise hardware spending has rebounded from the slow economic growth that plagued much of the market in 2001-2003.
According to Internet News, revenue for enterprise equipment reached $98. 3 billion in 2005 and is expected to reach $121. 7 billion by 2009. Fueled by next generation technology and the need to replace aging hardware, voice-processing equipment also rebounded in 2004-05. Following three years of steady declines, Computer-telephony integration (CTI) was the fastest-growing piece of the enterprise market in 2005, with a 10. 5 percent increase to $5. 7 billion.
According to a study conducted by the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), earlier this decade most enterprise equipment was relatively new; however, by 2004, leases were expiring and companies were seeking to upgrade to newer technology. Products from the late-1990s like the Cisco AS5300 VoIP Gateway were being upgraded to newer models like the Cisco AS5300 for improved performance and fuller feature sets. Currently the AS5350XM, with an even faster processor, has replaced the AS5350 as the cutting-edge gateway in the family.
Interest in IP telephony has also exploded largely in part to the overall value and cost savings, as well as additional features such as virtual numbers and videoconferencing.
These service options offer Telcoms as well as cable and internet service providers (ISPs) the opportunity to diversify their product offerings and explore additional revenue streams. As more companies engage in marketing aimed at bringing digital phone service to the mainstream, we can expect to see demand for the hardware that powers the digital phone revolution to increase in kind.
With solutions like VoIP and video conferencing emerging as the future of business communication, companies are increasingly transitioning towards newer technologies in order to maintain a competitive advantage in their market. Anticipating the total revenue from enterprise equipment to reach $121. 7 billion by 2009, TIA predicts the demand for legacy technology such as PBX to drop in over-all market growth to a mere 1. 1% by the year 2009. While in the short term, IP/converged systems will incrementally boost PBX sales, once the installed base becomes predominantly IP, we will see a sharp decrease in replacement demand for these older technologies.
While many companies have already embraced this new technology, much of the mass-market is still uncertain of the reliability and ease of use associated with VoIP technology. Unlike the technology-savvy market segments, which have been generally accepting of this new technology, the average consumer still needs reassurance that the benefits of computer-telephony can be easily integrated into their present communication lines. For instance, questions surrounding access to 911 emergency services has been a major factor in the acceptance rate of digital-phone service. With industry cooperation, and a targeted marketing campaign to increase awareness about the advantages of VoIP, the average user will be more comfortable with the switch from traditional telephony.
