VoIP Market Shift Presents New Opportunities Around Support Service Spending, IDC Says

Business Wire, Oct 17, 2006

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- An evolutionary shift in the worldwide VoIP equipment market will push network support services spending to $1.27 billion in 2010. IDC expects the walls between telephony and IT will continue to erode as network equipment vendors move from proprietary hardware and software solutions and toward software running over dedicated servers. Traditionally, networking vendors have experienced very little competition for support services due to the proprietary nature of their products. But, as the market shifts toward software solutions running on general purpose servers, a slew of third-party support services providers and systems vendors have an opportunity to provide support services for the hardware.

"As the IP PBX market shifts from proprietary systems to software applications running on a general purpose servers, the model for support services will begin to look more like the model for other mission-critical software applications," said Matt Healey, senior research analyst for IDC's Software and Hardware Support services program. "In this model, the VoIP vendors will be responsible for supporting the software in partnership with a systems vendor or a third party will be responsible for supporting the hardware."

Additional Findings

* To capitalize on emerging opportunities, server vendors should look to partner with network equipment vendors

* As this market shift advances, VoIP equipment vendors will need to evolve from a hardware-centric support model to a software support model.

This study, Worldwide VoIP Support Services 2006-2010 Forecast and Analysis (IDC #203221), presents a 2006-2010 forecast and competitive analysis for the worldwide VoIP support services market.

To purchase this document, please contact IDC Sales at 508-988-7988 or sales@idc.com.

About IDC

IDC is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. IDC helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community make fact-based decisions on technology purchases and business strategy. Over 850 IDC analysts in 50 countries provide global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends. For more than 42 years, IDC has provided strategic insights to help our clients achieve their key business objectives. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research, and events company. You can learn more about IDC by visiting www.idc.com.

All product and company names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.