Written by: Amelia Gurley
According to three new reports from Infonetics research division; covering Communication Expenditures and IP PBX Vendor Ratings, VoIP and UC Services and Subscribers, and Enterprise Unified Communication, VoIP, and TDM Equipment; business is improving for hosted VoIP services and unified communications. Despite many financial setbacks due to the recession in 2009, worldwide revenue from hosted/service provider VoIP grew by 20%. This stands in sharp contrast to the measly 3% growth in the enterprise unified communication, VoIP, and TDM equipment markets. Overall revenue for these programs also dropped 21%.
Why the recent success in hosted VoIP? According to one writer, "companies that are looking to save money on short-term expenditures will look at hosted VoIP since it has a much lower upfront cost vs. purchasing an IP-PBX." Perhaps there is a silver lining to the recession after all, at least for VoIP providers, as harsh economic conditions make the advantages of VoIP communications more and more obvious.
Thankfully for IP-PBX systems suppliers, the Infonetics report also “predicts that [hosted VoIP and IP-PBX] revenue to grow in 2010, led by pure IP PBX phone systems, as worldwide economic conditions improve.” This is especially good news for NEC and Aastra, two relatively small-scale companies that made “huge gains” in IP-PBX in 2009, although in Aastra's case these gains may be distorted by the newness of Aastra's IP-PBX program.
Before it became a necessity during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, many companies had already begun realizing the benefits inherent in embracing remote work. These benefits are substantial and signal that (even when the pandemic is but a memory) remote work will continue to flourish and become a mainstay in the redefined workplace - particularly when it comes to VoIP. This guide will demonstrate how the workforce is changing and leaning toward remote work as a permanent business choice, explain the critical role VoIP will continue to play in supporting remote work, and highlight some of the new trends and innovations coming in 2021 for VoIP. more