Generally speaking, there are two methods for trying to predict how technologies might change in the future. One is the look at the history of the technology—how it developed, how it was received, when and by whom it was adopted—and use that information to project how the arc of history will continue on into the future. Another technique is to look at the status of the technology right now and use that observation to make predictions.
When it comes to Voice over IP
(VoIP) technology, the history is well-documented—from VocalTec’s (News - Alert) first offerings through the dot-com bubble and burst. The present-day reality of VoIP
is also well-known—including court-room battles between legacy telecom firms and much younger VoIP providers. There is plenty to look at, both in the past and the present, to base future predictions upon.
Given the fast-paced changes associated with the technology, however, most analysts would agree that the present is a better barometer of the future than the past. That’s the tact to be taken by presenters of an upcoming INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference & EXPO East 2008 session, Future Trends in IP Communications, scheduled for Wednesday, January 23, 2008 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Presenters of this forward-looking session—including Casey King from LifeSize (News - Alert) and representatives from Intelliverse, Aculab and Deloitte—will look at trends currently driving the IP communications industry and predict how those trends will continue on into the future. Included will be discussion about IMS
, collaboration tools, presence and fixed-mobile convergence (FMC).
Show attendees interested in learning more about the future of IP communications are encouraged to stop by the booth for Aculab (News - Alert) (#403). Even more information is available on the TMCnet.com Conference Phones and VoIP Developer channels, sponsored by LifeSize reseller KeyPhonesDirect.com and Aculab, respectively.
Mark your calendars! Internet Telephony (News - Alert) Conference & EXPO—the first major IP communications event of the year—is just days away. It’s not too late to register for the event, which takes place in Miami Beach, FL, January 23–25, 2008. The EXPO will feature three valuable days of exhibits, conferences and networking that you won’t want to miss. So what are you waiting for? Sign up now!
Mae Kowalke is an associate editor for TMCnet, covering VoIP, CRM, call center and wireless technologies. To read more of Mae’s articles, please visit her columnist page. She also blogs for TMCnet here.
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