In the IP communications industry, managed or hosted VoIP solutions are growing in popularity, especially among smaller companies. This trend is helped along by the increasingly popularity of VoIP services generally, which typically offer significant cost savings to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

 

VoIP adoption by SMBs is especially strong in the U.K., according to a new BT-commissioned report out this week from Vanson Bourne. The technology market research firm found that 25 percent of small businesses surveyed currently are using VoIP services, and that number is projected to nearly double during the next 12 months (to an estimated 48 percent).

 

For this study, Vanson Bourne queried decision-makers at companies with up to 50 employees, asking various questions about the use of VoIP services. As it turns out, companies on the smaller end of that spectrum are leading the way when it comes to VoIP adoption. Among companies with 2-10 employees, 57 percent are planning to use VoIP during the next year. The number is just slightly lower (48 percent) among one-man shops.

 

By comparison, only 20 percent of companies on the larger end of the SMB spectrum (31-50 employees) indicated plans to use VoIP during the coming 12 months.

 

Company size, the study found, is not the only indicator of which businesses adopt VoIP and which do not. There are regional trends, too. In the U.K., percentages of SMBs surveyed currently using VoIP broke down geographically as shown in the list below: 

Unsurprisingly, the cost savings and convenience that VoIP offers are driving adoption. But, these aren’t the only reasons. When asked to cite their reasons for hopping on board the VoIP train, a third of businesses with 31-50 employees also cited mobility (remote access, flexible working, etc.) as a key motivator for using an Internet-based calling service.

 

Bill Murphy, managing director at BT’s business unit, noted that, despite growing popularity of VoIP in the U.K., there remains a sizable proportion of the SMB community that could benefit from a more solid understanding of what VoIP is and how it can help them.

”Making VoIP calls over your broadband connection gives you a cost-effective additional line, as well as offering you capped-price calls to mobile and international destinations,” Murphy said. “VoIP also gives you advanced calling features, include voicemail, call waiting, call forwarding and call barring, offering greater flexibility and the opportunity to increase productivity by bringing voice, e-mail, instant messaging and conferencing together in one place.”

To learn more about how VoIP can benefit SMBs, especially hosted VoIP solutions, please visit the Hosted VoIP channel on TMCnet.com.

 

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