| 13th May 2004 - Although the market
for Private Branch eXchange (PBX) systems is generally
considered to be mature and, consequently, slow
growing, there is a significant transformation of
the underlying technology taking place that is creating
new opportunities for vendors to rapidly grow revenue,
reports In-Stat/MDR. A recent report from the high-tech
market research firm finds that this transformation
is a result of a shift away from digital, circuit-switched
voice communications toward a convergence of voice
and data communications networks, signified by the
use of Internet Protocol (IP) and packet switching
as the underlying communications technology |
|
Consequently, while the growth of the overall PBX market
is tied closely to the rate of general economic growth,
the replacement market comprised of IP-based systems
is expected to grow much faster. There are both cost
benefits and user benefits that are driving the adoption
of IP PBX systems. Cost benefits derive from lower operational
expenses and, eventually, lower capital expenditures
from deploying standards-based equipment and converging
voice and data networks. User benefits consist of potential
productivity gains by employees using applications such
as unified messaging and presence management.
In-Stat/MDR has also found that:
- As a result of the convergence of voice and data
networks, the companies selling IP PBX systems range
from traditional enterprise telephony system vendors,
such as Avaya and Nortel, to datacom vendors, such
as Cisco and 3Com. A number of smaller, IP PBX specialty
vendors, such as Shoreline Communications and Zultys,
are also active in the market.
- The shift toward standards-based architectures is
leading to a disaggregation of the IP PBX market.
With customers now picking and choosing components
of the voice system from multiple vendors, depending
on what best fits their needs, this market is witnessing
greater competition, increased innovation, and lower
prices.
- The overall market for PBXs will grow at a 4.2%
Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) between 2003
and 2008. However, while traditional PBX line shipments
will decline by a 15.4% CAGR over this period, shipments
of converged PBX lines are expected to grow at an
11.2% CAGR. Pure IP PBX line shipments are expected
to grow even more dramatically, at a 28.9% CAGR.
This Market Alert is drawn from the In-Stat/MDR report,
"IP
PBXs: A Market Hitting The Tipping Point",
which examines the market for IP PBXs, including an
analysis of market drivers and challenges, key market
trends, key vendors, 2003 vendor market shares, and
5-year forecasts of IP line shipments.
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