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My take on expert's 3 VoIP predictions

Twice a week, I receive a free email newsletter called FierceVoIP. It's chocked with technology news and market analysis.
Written by Russell Shaw, Contributor

Twice a week, I receive a free email newsletter called FierceVoIP. It's chocked with technology news and market analysis. I recommend you sign up.

Today's FierceVoIP offers three VoIP predictions for this year. The predictions are from Rich Grange, president and CEO ofGolden, Col. (yes, home of Coors) outsourced telephony services providerNew Global Telecom.

Here are Grange's predictions, and my reaction to them:

Grange: "VoIP 911 Software Solutions Surpass Legacy PSTN" (911 software solutions).

Me: Not so fast. There are multiple problems, especially when you don't call from your IP connection of record. Robust solutions will happen, just not within the 2005 time frame.

Grange: "VoIP Wireline and Wireless Convergence." Grange views a typical scenario as one where you drive up to your company while you talk on your GSM/WiFi/VoIP device. As soon as you enter the building, your conversation gets handed off to your company's internal Wi-Fi network.

Me: Could happen. As Grange points out, "all that is needed is an integrated solution with IP Multimedia Subdomain 3G ProtocolStandards and a Mobile Virtual Operator agreement with a dominant wireless provider."

Grange: "Hosted Enterprise Application Deployments Will Surpass Residential Deployments."

Me: As VoIP propogates through the IT culture, usage will spike to the point that yes, we will see more hosted VoIP deployments than VoIP-subscribing households. Yet I'm betting that figure only holds up if you only count paid services. Once you get free or nearly free softphone services such as Skype into the mix, the sheer numbers of households with peopleattracted by free calling will still be greater than the number of corporate VoIP deploys.

OK, we've heard from Rich and Russ. You're next. Post a TalkBack.

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