IP convergence is being pursued by enterprises at present primarily for the cost-saving opportunities that it offers.
Yet, the technology has the potential to change the way businesses operate. Business-oriented improvements can be achieved based on coordinated activity. The issues related to widespread and quick IP convergence have as much to do with technology as with risk perceptions harboured by managements. IP networks are competing with the telephone systems that have been around for more than a century and with nearly 900 million users, it has nearly seven times the user base of the Internet.
- Excellent support for multimedia applications.
- A converged IP network is a single platform on which interoperable devices can be run in innovative ways.
- A converged IP network is easier to manage because of the uniform setup in which the system resources operate.
- An enterprise can achieve flexibility in terms of moulding its communication patterns to its management practices.
- A uniform environment requires fewer components in the network.
IP networks are growing at a tremendous pace but wholesale network changes cannot be undertaken without fully considering the implications of regulations on businesses and network providers.
