Voice over IP (VoIP) is the hot product in the networking and telecommunications markets right now. Some channel companies are continuing to work on VoIP projects, but are pinning their hopes on unified communications (UC) -- an integration of VoIP with email, instant messaging, voicemail, conferencing and other applications.
The potential for cost savings, functional improvement and better manageability are making VoIP the leading architectural candidate for new telecom installations or significant upgrades and enhancements, according to Stuart Chandler, president and CEO of Optivor Technologies LLC in Jessup, Md.
"Currently about 5% to 7% of our [customer] base is working with unified communications, but we expect that to grow to more like 80% within five years," Chandler said. "We're just tapping the surface of that now."
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What is unified communications?
How VoIP works
Moving further into UC
Vendors and packages
Defining business benefits
Counting cost, defining success
UC technical concerns
More information on unified communications and VoIP:
Is unified communications the answer for all my clients?
Unified communications and SMBs: It's a matter of trust
Enterprises still face UC learning curve
VoIP Implementation Services Project Guide