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Is VoIP the way forward? Is the landline about to go the way of the telegraph or slide rule? That's what Zack Whittaker over at ZDNet.com asked the blogosphere recently. In his popular iGeneration blog, he writes: "With all the technology we hold today; unified communications, interoperability amongst technologies, protocols spreading and sharing rules, an ever expanding phone and networked systems - are we really heading towards a VoIP only world?" Sure seems like it Zach. Recent data from the IT marketplace shows the hourly rate VoIP-related service work to be roughly double that of traditional IT categories. Simply put, this means that the demand for VoIP-related work is greatly exceeding the supply of expertise, as reflected in the unusually high hourly rates. So as VoIP becomes a more attractive option for businesses, we can expect these rates to continue upward in the short-term, and level off (comparatively) over the long haul, as more technicians become VoIP savvy. In any event, the steady increase in VoIP work indicates the technology is no mere fad, but perhaps this doesn't signify the end of the traditional landline (just yet).
Whittaker raises some economic issues of his own. As he points out: "VoIP seems to be generally less costly, and expanding the VoIP network is probably a lot easier than the physical phone lines." Integration with web services like Google Talk and Windows Live Messenger, he adds, would also improve efficiency, as it would be a more direct connection with no "major complicating devices in between."
He is, however, quick to realize the drawbacks of VoIP, noting that "The backend architecture can take a while to perfect, you rely on having an Internet connection, and it’s essentially Skype on your phone."
As TMCnet.com editor Tim Gray notes, even leading VoIP companies like Eyeball understand that ironically, "the main driving force behind VoIP adoption also poses one of the biggest challenges – VoIP calls do not work well in many broadband situations."
If recent progress in this field serves as any indication, it's quite reasonable to suspect that today's VoIP problems will be a novel afterthought in the near future,
Or maybe not. As Whittaker concludes: "Is VoIP that important? Do we need to evolve our communications network for the near-future and beyond? What good/bad could come out of it? Is VoIP currently an essential business tool or a useful gimmick for the poor student?"
Stay tuned. |
The Future of VoIP