VoIP Gets The Call

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services have moved into the mainstream, with major companies like AT&T and startups like Vonage offering VoIP services directly to consumers. And enterprises increasingly recognize that VoIP can save them significant amounts of money on communications costs, as well as delivering new services using converged voice and data networks.

All this is good news for companies that sell VoIP-related products. Service providers need some way to deliver VoIP to the masses and to enterprises, so we're now seeing a slew of new products and services to help them do it.

The market for doing this is big, and getting bigger every day. A recent IDC forecast says that worldwide sales of IP-telephony equipment will increase by 48 percent in 2004 and reach $4.9 billion in sales by the end of the year. Sales will grow by more than 50% in 2005 and 2006, and will reach $15.1 billion in 2007, says the report.

Gartner Dataquest estimates that businesses spent $2.0 billion on IP-capable telephone systems in North America alone last year. It adds that enterprise spending for IP-phone systems will reach $4.2 billion in 2007.

To meet this demand, both well-known and lesser-known vendors have been releasing VoIP products for service providers, or preparing to release them.Cisco, for example, recently completed the purchase of Dynamicsoft, a pioneer in Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-based solutions that allow telecommunications service providers to deliver advanced Internet Protocol (IP) voice, data, and multimedia services. The move is designed to strengthen Cisco's VoIP solutions aimed at the broadband communications market, enabling service providers to build "subscriber aware" networks capable of delivering the next generation of VoIP applications and services.

Smaller companies like DataLogic target the market with devices such its turnkey server solution that comes with all the necessary billing software and hardware to support in-network calls, as well as to interface with any long-distance carrier for PSTN calls.

And it's not just hardware that's being sold. For example, Brix Networks and SupportSoft have combined to offer an integrated solution to streamline VoIP customer-service delivery and solve common issues associated with the installation and use of VoIP. The solution will help service providers more efficiently deploy VoIP during installation, as well as enhance customer service for households and small businesses.

Expect to see similar hardware, software, and services targeted at service providers in the coming months and years. VoIP is clearly the wave of the future, and service providers need all the help they can get to deliver solutions to consumers and enterprises alike.

Cisco Completes Purchase Of SIP Pioneer Dynamicsoft
Acquisition aimed at strengthening Cisco's VoIP solutions for the broadband communications market. Verisign Offers VoIP Providers Easy Way To Connect To Telecom Carriers
New service designed to reduce the complexity of internetworking, decrease capital spending, speed time to market

DataLogic Rolls Out VoIP Server
Turnkey solution targets VoIP providers, includes billing software and links to PSTN.

Brix And SupportSoft Join Forces To Enhance VoIP Service Delivery
Integrate their software to help service providers solve common issues associated with the installation and use of VoIP.

RedSiren Debuts Secure Managed Service For VoIP
Provides organizations with around-the-clock monitoring and incident management for VOIP installations.

DEEP BACKGROUND Cisco Releases Gateway For Migrating Businesses From PBX To IP Telephony
Appliance supports the interworking of voice signaling protocols with call-processing software, voice mail, and unified messaging.

Ford Dealers Move To IP Network
Reynolds and Reynolds and MCI build a secure, private IP network to replace a satellite network used by Ford dealers.

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