Expanding VoIP features can boost profits

VoIP providers should be adding features to their products to keep generating sales, according to one analyst.

Convincing a business to centralise their communications through VoIP is becoming easier as companies realise the potential benefits it can offer, however Jayanth Angl, a research analyst at Info-Tech Research, believes that integrating VoIP with email systems like Microsoft Outlook may be the future.

"Navigating your inbox is a lot more intuitive than trying to navigate through the audio problems of a voicemail system," he said, adding that linking voicemail and email lets workers be "more available, more accessible and more responsive".

Features which have been introduced by some of the larger VoIP companies include click-to-dial, which lets users dial out through clicking on a contact in Outlook, or the ability to see the connection status of colleagues on workers' buddy lists.

But despite the opportunities for innovation, Mr Angl suggests that a cautious approach should be taken by VoIP providers.

"It's important [for sellers] to look for ways where they can help smaller businesses get started with VoIP rather than pushing a full-fledged solution right off the bat," he said.