Convergence - is the hype now a reality?

Sixty-five per cent of companies expect to achieve some form of voice and data integration over the next two years, according to an NOP survey.

Sixty-five per cent of companies expect to achieve some form of voice and data integration over the next two years, according to an NOP survey.

The survey, conducted for Miller Freeman at its Networks Telecom and CT Expo shows, threw new light on the hot topic of convergence. With 41 per cent of respondents claiming to have already begun integrating voice and data technologies, it appears that the marketing hype is finally becoming a market reality.

Miller Freeman's report, Voice and Data Convergence 1999-2000, suggests voicemail will be the most popular CT product of the future. Sixty-five per cent of companies have it, with 15 per cent having bought a system in the last six months.

It is the small to medium-sized enterprises that present the real sales opportunity for voicemail, though. Penetration of SMEs is only 42 per cent, compared with 84 per cent of enterprises.

Overall, the more mature PBX still dominates, penetrating 74 per cent of UK companies, but alternative methods of managing voice communications (LAN-based PBX, CT server) are gaining ground.

CT servers were the most popular buy in the first half of 1999, followed by CT-enabled customer software, unified messaging systems and fax on demand.