VoIP 'top ten technology of last decade'

VoIP was one of the top ten most important technologies of the last decade, according to a new report.

Indian telecoms resource Voice & Data revealed IP telephony emerged as a substitute for traditional phone systems during the last ten years, paving the way for cheaper calls via the internet.

Commenting on the development of VoIP, Telxess Consulting Services director Amitabh Singhal described it as a marriage between voice and data, adding it had been the biggest factor for change in the industry for 100 years.

Now, he continued, the technology is the default for any communication involving the transfer of data, voice and video over land and air-based systems.

Chandan Mendiratta, vice-president of systems engineering at Cisco India, said: "The biggest advantage of IP telephony is its cost effectiveness for long distance call[s] and the software-oriented nature of IP telephony makes it easily scalable, making it possible to integrate other services and applications as well."

Demand for VoIP services increased rapidly in 2010 as businesses and consumers alike started to take advantage of its benefits, Mike Dolan recently stated on FierceVoIP.