Has your business swapped out its old phones for IP phones? If the answer is still “no” you’re in the majority – but only until 2013.

 

VoIP penetration among U.S. businesses will increase rapidly over the next few years, reaching 79 percent by 2013, compared with 42 percent at the end of 2009, market research firm In-Stat reported.

 

What’s more, according to In-Stat’s (News - Alert) latest “U.S. Business VOIP Overview: Optimization Trumps Expansion” report, is this growth reflects the fact that many companies have a VoIP solution deployed in at least one location.

 

“VoIP adopters have a good understanding of the cost savings associated with VoIP, and have oriented their limited budgets to optimizing efficiency and savings by replacing legacy TDM voice solutions,” said David Lemelin, In-Stat analyst. “With businesses opening up fewer new locations than we have seen in recent years, much of this current investment is occurring at headquarters locations where efficiencies and savings can be maximized.”

 

Additional research by In-Stat has revealed that 33 percent of businesses that have already deployed VoIP technology report that recent economic conditions have caused them to slow additional deployment plans, compared with 30 percent reporting no change in plans.

 

One of the big reasons VoIP is gaining ground has a lot to do with today’s IP phones. Many are equipped with highly sophisticated features, including touchscreen technology and high-definition TFT color display.

 

One manufacturer that’s seen a growing interest in VoIP is snom, which in July unveiled its snom 870 desktop IP phone, is the latest addition to the company's “8” series of fourth-generation SIP phones for small- and mid-size business markets.

 

“This phone give a lot of flexibility and provides enterprise customers a lot of capabilities,” said Mike Storella, director of business development for snom.

 

The phone’s touchscreen capability is enhanced with a high-resolution, color 4-by-3-inch display with 24-bit color depth. The touchscreen can handle complex applications like swapping calls or establishment of conference calls for up to five participants via a simple “drag and drop” menu, TMCnet reported.