A majority of organizations are moving towards IP based intelligent communications- especially large multi-location organizations including large enterprises, government, retail, manufacturing, and BFSI.

IP Telephony adoption has been receiving good response as customers are beginning to appreciate the tremendous benefits of IP Telephony based intelligent communication. India is embracing IP Telephony rapidly due to the inherent and tangible benefits of this technology. A majority of organizations are moving towards IP based intelligent communications'especially large multi-location organizations including large enterprises, government, retail, manufacturing, and BFSI. However, today mid-sized organizations are also seriously evaluating this technology.

On the growth drivers of the Indian voice solutions market

• Enterprise thrust on converged communication and fall in prices of telecom bandwidth.
• Unified communication within enterprise: the increase of mobile workforce, presence in different locations, and increased thrust on cost control over communication spend.
• BPO and call center business is growing, so are the collaborations with overseas partners.
• The new TRAI de-regulation allowing home-agents on IP.

On the impact of the slowdown on the market

Customers today are looking for solutions that give them guaranteed RoI, help them generate additional revenues, boost their own employee productivity through unified communications and help them serve their customers better. Customers in certain verticals have also deferred their decisions especially those dependant on outsourced business. However, certain verticals remain recession proof like healthcare, government, and education.

On the key demand verticals

Almost all organizations are seriously considering IP based intelligent communications especially large multi-location organizations including large enterprises, government, healthcare, education, retail, manufacturing, BFSI, IT/ ITeS verticals. Domestic and mid-sized organizations have also realized the value proposition accruing from these solutions and are keenly evaluating this technology.

On the key challenges faced by the players in India

Customers are unwilling to invest in solutions that only provide cosmetic value. They want value for money for every dime invested by them. Customer expectations are changing and vendors need to offer solutions that offer guaranteed RoI and help them generate additional revenues.

On major policies or regulatory issues that are affecting the growth of the market

Almost all organizations are moving towards IP based intelligent communications. Hybrid and IP-PBX systems are also gaining ground; businesses can make use of their converged IP networks to transport voice along with data and video. However, regulatory issues are still at large restricting seamless connectivity across TDM and IP networks. But, the new TRAI de-regulation allowing home-agents on IP will also spur IP Telephony growth.

On the future of voice solutions market in India

Globally, the IP telephony market is growing at a fast pace and so is the Indian market. As per the latest Frost and Sullivan estimates, the Indian IP Telephony market showed an explosive growth in 2007. It contributed to 60.4 percent of the overall enterprise telephony market of USD 346 million (Rs. 1,660.8 crore) in 2007 and is estimated to contribute 73 percent in 2009 of the overall enterprise telephony market. In APAC region too, IP Telephony is expected to contribute 64 percent in 2009 of the overall enterprise telephony market as per Frost and Sullivan estimates.