VoIP usage study shows North America lagging

I've just downloaded the U.K. Department of Trade and Industry's International Benchmarking Study, which reports on techology usage and trends in 11 countries. This year's survey has canvassed 7,716 business users in 12 nations - including 500 in the U.S.

When it comes to adoption of VoIP by nation, we're lagging. In South Korea, 21 percent of respondents are using VoIP,followed closely bythe Republic of Ireland with 20 percent. Yet only 9 percent of U.S. and 9 percent of Canadian businesses surveyed are on the VoIP bandwagon.

"Adoption in the USA and Canada, despite having high broadband penetration has been significantly lower," theagency comments. "One reason for this may be the very low cost of long distance calls in both these countries."

OK, reality check here. I realize I may be canvassing the already converted, but the fact that many of youhave been converted speaks to the fact that you have chosen VoIP despite low rates for long-distance calls.

Still, many of you are early adopters. When it comes to the teeming masses that constitute the enterprise space, do you think theU.K. Departmant of Trade and Industry has a point?

In the U.K. as well as in the rest of the world, the Financial Services sector had the highest percentage of VoIP users. In the U.K., Government and Transportation ranked second and third. In the rest of the world, Transportation and Manufacturing were second and third.