VoIP proving popular among SMBs

Large numbers of small-to-medium sized businesses (SMBs) in the UK are considering setting up a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) connection in order to reduce communications costs and improve efficiency, new research shows.

A report published in Business World referred to a study by Cisco Ireland, which found that 60 per cent of SMBs have plans to invest in a VoIP system in the near future.

This increased interest from businesses has been prompted by falling costs for customers wishing to set up a VoIP network and bolstered by the adoption of these services by high-profile organisations such as the NHS.

Major benefits from a VoIP system for SMBs include cheaper call costs, greater worker efficiency and more ability to offer employees flexible working as they can remain in contact with the secure office IP PBX network using their home internet connection.

But despite this apparent enthusiasm for VoIP from SMBs, a recent report from ABI Research suggested that the future of the VoIP sector would depend on the take-up from large corporations.

Stan Schatt, ABI Research's vice president, said: "Increasingly, hosted services will interest larger organisations and will be offered by a greater number of service providers as premises-deployed, small-business VoIP solutions become more cost-effective."