A report published by Infonetics Research on the latest VoIP and unified communications (UC) trends has indicated that there has been a nine per cent growth in the market in 2012, taking total revenues up to £41 billion.

Cloud-based services, hosted VoIP and UC services revenue climbed by 17 per cent over the last year when compared with figures from 2011.

The use of SIP trunks jumped by a huge 83 per cent in 2012 from the previous year, as multi-site businesses adopt the technology in a bid to tap into the significant cost savings and flexibility it provides.

This figure backs up what was discovered in a similar report last month from the organisation, which discovered that the use of SIP trunking will grow from 38 per cent now to 58 per cent in 2015.

Managed IP PBX services, which focus on dedicated enterprise systems, remain the largest business VoIP services segment, and sales grew nine per cent in this area across the last 12 months.

Diane Myers, a principal analyst at Infonetics Research, said that the market has now moved beyond the early adopter stage that was seen in the past and is now gaining mainstream status as it becomes more widespread and well used by businesses.

"New geographic regions are opening up and SIP trunking and hosted UC continue to heat things up, fuelling growth. Vendors are increasingly pitching cloud telephony and unified communications services alongside SIP trunking as more multi-site businesses seek out hybrid solutions," she added.

The future for VoIP appears to be bright, as the researchers at Infonetics have predicted that the market will grow to £54.1 billion in 2017, as more and more businesses look to take advantage of the significant benefits available to them from the service and technology.

Research from Forrester has suggested that telecoms could be pivotal in the success or failure of companies in the next ten years, particularly as companies now have a presence all over the UK and the world.

The vast distances between premises makes the use of new technology crucial and the industry and new innovations within it are now key priorities for boards and executives looking to make advances and get ahead of the competition.

Globalisation, virtualisation and the bring your own device (BYOD) trend are all key points at the moments, but the need for unified communications appears to trump them when it comes to importance.

Staying connected is absolutely imperative in today's business world, as many firms grow and expand to new premises at home and around the world and more and more staff are working flexibility or taking advantage of the benefits of mobile devices.

Poor telecommunications systems and unreliable technology can hamper even the largest organisation, when it comes to collaborating and ensuring work is completed on time.

One way to access reliable and versatile ways of communicating within a business is through voice over internet protocol (VoIP).

This technology can be used within an office or on the move, providing the best of both worlds. Ultimately, it allows companies to save huge amounts of money on calls and it is simple and easy to set up.

It will also bring any user into the 21st century when it comes to telecommunications, and, as Forrester recently suggested, this aspect will become increasingly crucial in the coming years as businesses battle for consumers.

Having an advanced method of making calls, which runs through an internet connection, means that firms have a host of benefits, including increased continuity measures, call forwarding to employees and extended voicemail options, all of which make for the smooth running of a business.

The integration of Inter-Group Communications, Arrow's 4th acquisition in the last 3 years, will reinforce Arrow's focus on the delivery of innovative telecoms services to the business market as well as strengthen headcount across its technical and engineering teams.

Arrow, headed by Chris Russell, specialises in telephony solutions for business users and offers a diverse connectivity portfolio ranging from SIP, Leased Lines, EFM and hosted telephony through to mobile voice, data, enterprise mobility security and professional services.  "This acquisition is another great opportunity for Arrow to expand its nationwide customer base and provide further opportunities for growth across all of our product offerings," says Russell.

Cliff Barclay, owner of Inter-Group, was pleased to complete the deal stating, "Arrow is a great match with IGC and we are excited to be part of a larger team with access to an expanded business connectivity portfolio".

Customers, suppliers and employees of Inter-Group and Budd Communications will be integrated into the Arrow business which will be re-branded Arrow Business Communications Limited. Staff will continue to offer local support to their customer base and will operate from their existing premises.

Arrow continues to deliver against its strategy of stability and growth in 2013 by enhancing the range and depth of products provided to customers whilst developing overall customer experience by continued investment in innovative solutions and technical expertise.

<Ends>

For more information, please contact:
Catherine Ingram, Marketing Manager
Tel: 0333 240 9835
Email: catherine.ingram@arrowcommunications.co.uk
Web: www.arrowcommunications.co.uk

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicated that 33 million adults in the UK use the internet every day of their lives.

This is a rapid rise from the 16 million who admitted to doing so in 2006, which means that there are now more web-savvy Brits than ever.

A rise in the number of clued up people has led to many businesses expanding their knowledge base of new technologies and allowing workers to make use of them, such as cloud computing, VoIP and personal smartphones and tablets.

VoIP seems to be something professionals in the UK are coming around to, with 32 per cent of respondents to the ONS survey indicating that they had made a telephone or video call over the internet in 2012.

This is double the figure estimated in 2009 of 16 per cent and well above the eight per cent recorded in 2007.

With IP telephony providing a cheap way of businesses and their employees to communicate from all over the world, it is no surprise that so many people have embraced VoIP.

It allows cheap calls over the internet, rather than paying the more expensive rates of traditional telephone operators, with international calls a great deal cheaper, making it much more cost-effective for companies that have staff around the world.

As well as cost savings, the implementation of VoIP within a business brings a whole host of new features that can help the company be more productive and efficient.

More in depth voicemail features is one addition companies will get through VoIP, as it allows workers to come and go as they please without the fear of losing important calls or information by being away from the phone for a few minutes.

That is according to a new study by Sonus Networks, which found that a higher degree of understanding about the technology and its potential applications and business gains is leading more companies to investigate its possibilities.

Steve Taylor, editor-in-chief and publisher for Webtorials, said that unified communications has "taken hold" within enterprises and it is continuing to evolve.

"There are new trends gaining traction, such as the shift from room systems to desktop video, the growing focus on hybrid clouds and changes in the positions of the lead horses or vendors. Since there isn't a dominant vendor in the market, interoperability – both within the enterprise and for intercompany communications – will be a key factor."

Enterprises Place 2013 Unified Communications Bets: How Many Horses in This Race surveyed over 200 enterprise IT professionals and found that 78 per cent had either partially or fully developed unified communication solutions.

The majority of those who have not embraced the technology said they were planning to in the future.

When questioned about the reasons behind the move to UC, respondents said creating an "enterprise voice" was the main factor, followed by "unified messaging" and "mobile clients for smartphones and tablets".

"Desktop video conferencing" was ranked higher than "room size video conferencing" and "web conferencing", which rounded out the top five.

Customer premises-based solutions for SBC functions look set to continue to dominate, although a slight shift to hybrid with solutions by service providers is expected as the reach of these solutions becomes more all-encompassing.

Wes Durow, vice president of global marketing & go-to-market operations at Sonus, said: "As enterprise deployment of Unified Communications grows, SBCs play an increasing critical role in helping companies overcome interoperability, service quality and security challenges often faced when implementing multi-vendor Internet protocol (IP) networks."

The survey also discovered that the average savings recorded by companies using hosted telephony and PBX hitting the 33 per cent mark, when compared with traditional methods.

Reduced cost and improved productivity were highlighted as the main reasons for businesses now beginning to embrace the technology, as they look to cutback on outgoings wherever possible.

Research conducted by The Eastern Management Group indicated that small businesses benefited greatly from the technologies in 2012, with companies operating less than 30 phone lines accounting for almost 70 per cent of sales worldwide.

The organisation also discovered that those who have implemented hosted and cloud systems are very happy, with 70 per cent of customers around the world saying they were very satisfied with their purchase. Less than one per cent reported significant dissatisfaction with the hosted and cloud system.

Webtorials estimates that SIP-based unified communications (UC) infrastructure could boost productivity, reclaiming as much as 23 per cent of the time lost on inefficient communications systems in larger firms, where employees need to collaborate across various office premises and even with those who work flexibly through their tablets and smartphones.

SIP trunking also offers companies a host of other benefits, including the centralisation for phone lines, rapid disaster recovery and business continuity should the worst happen and a resilient and reliable method of clear communication, between workers, departments and offices.

The technology allows the flexibility to re-route calls in an emergency situation, such as flooding or heavy snow, which may prevent staff from coming to work. The flexibility can also be utilised to help the business deal with a rapid rise in incoming calls. SIP trunks help provide a robust service to ensure that the company does not miss any important calls.

Installation is simple and non-disruptive and is suitable for the majority of organisations and SIP trunks allow the company to retain local numbers even if an office is located elsewhere, which can improve customer relations a crucial part of today's business climate.

Improving this aspect of a firm is vital for boosting efficiency and productivity, but in the past it has been difficult and expensive to promote collaboration and teamwork between staff who work in different buildings or even different parts of the county.

However, the growth and development of voice-over internet protocol (VoIP), has changed the landscape for businesses.

Leiden Johnson of Business2Community.com feels that the technology could be just what small firms need to get their communications systems right from the very beginning of their venture.

"VoIP technology is a game changer for the telecom industry, and the many businesses who rely on phones for communication," Mr Johnson wrote.

"To really understand VoIP, it is similar to a system that can convert your voice, and your data, to digital formats that can be transferred to another user using the Internet, not through the underground copper wires traditionally used by phone companies."

He went on to point out that the technology is a cheaper and more flexible alternative to traditional phonelines, before pointing out the benefits of scalability, which allows companies to increase or reduce their requirements as needed.

This is particularly beneficial if a business opens new premises as services can be up and running in no time. The Inclarity solution provided by Arrow can expand or contract to accommodate specific projects, marketing campaigns or seasonal fluctuations, with new features and sites easily added on a flexible contract basis.

"Through a reputable provider, anyone can make long distance calls, both national and international, using the internet. This VoIP service allows businesses, even small ones, to send an internet fax, have a virtual PBX system, or even have free 800 numbers," he added.

Some VoIP offerings can now also add contacts and details of people from social media sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook, which of course means that businesses can keep in touch with clients and suppliers much easier than ever before.

It is one of the fastest growing technologies being used within the world of business due to the improved productivity and efficiency it offers. There are a host of benefits associated with hosted VoIP communications and it could be a great addition to your business.

One of the main benefits of the technology, which was highlighted in a recent blog post for Cloudtweaks, is the scalability it offers. As a business builds the technology it can grow with it, without any problematic and disruptive work needing to be carried out. With a hosted telephony system, it is possible to easily increase or even decrease your telephony services, usually with limited financial penalties.

This is particularly beneficial if a business opens new premises as services can be up and running in no time. The Inclarity solution provided by Arrow can expand or contract to accommodate specific projects, marketing campaigns or seasonal fluctuations, with new features and sites easily added on a flexible contract basis.

Continuity is another major benefit of hosted VoIP services, as the nature of the technology means if something goes wrong at one office, say it is flooded, calls can be transferred to one that is fully functioning. As the PBX is hosted in a secure data centre away from your premises it will still be fully operational and enable your company to continue operating, without consumer and customers being aware of the difficulties.

You can set up dial plans in advance or quickly transfer any incoming calls to employees' mobile phones or unaffected offices. This improves customer service and can give businesses the time they need to get back on their feet without any service disruption.

When it comes to costs, hosted PBX solutions are also very manageable and can help save companies a significant amount of money. Free calls between sites, lower call and line rental costs and no expensive maintenance contracts, mean a hosted VoIP solution can save a business money and make the telephone costs predictable every month, which can make a significant difference when it comes to budgeting, finances and adapting to changing business requirements.

The fourth major benefit of joining the hosted telephony revolution is that it allows you to conduct business wherever and whenever, which can also boost productivity in the long run. The technology makes it much easier for employees to talk to colleagues and customers from a number of locations.

Having the ability to reduce downtime for staff is a great way to boost collaboration, productivity and ultimately the bottom line for an organisation.

The Inclarity solution also the ability to record calls, which is good for training purposes, as well as keeping a record of what was said in a client call. It is PCI and FSA compliant and allows a business to access and search on any set of call attributes.

A final benefit to highlight is the reduced time and effort spent on maintenance and adding new lines. Unlike traditional telephony systems, hosted PBX systems can be administered through a secure web-based interface, which will give the IT department a break and once again boost the operation of the business.
 

The consultation examines the options for the numbers, which include maintaining the status quo as it is, aligning the number with 080 as a free-to-caller service, capping charges from mobile phones or completely withdrawing the number range.

Ofcom's preferred option is to completely remove the 0500 range. The organisation claimed the removal would offer "the greatest new benefit to the consumer", as it would reduce consumer confusion, secure the best use of telephone numbers and enhance the simplicity of the new freephone 080 system.

Currently the 0500 numbers are a freephone range like the 080 prefix, but active 0500 have been decreasing in recent years, along with the volume of calls to the numbers. A very large proportion of 0500 calls are to a small group of numbers operated by fewer than 30 organisations, indicating that the service is not being used as was originally intended.

Ofcom has consulted most of the major 0500 users and noted that they generally prefer that 0500 is aligned to 080, but recognise the poor consumer understanding of the range and are open to other options including withdrawal of the range.

The watchdog is aware that removing the range of numbers will lead to costs being incurred by existing operators of the numbers. During initial enquiries, the major operators said they would be open to a withdrawal of the service if it was done in a way that diminished costs and disruption.

Ofcom's investigations indicate that costs are likely to be small and that disruption to services will relate, in the most part, to the speed with which migration from 0500 would need to be undertaken.

A longer period for the withdrawal of 0500 numbers would lower costs for affected organisations, which is why the watchdog has proposed an implementation period of as much as two years.

The organisation predicted that over-the-top (OTT) VoIP services are not about to replace traditional telephony, but noted that they will have a major impact on the revenues of telecoms companies.

Forecasts from the global analyst firm reveal that OTT VoIP will cost the global telecoms industry $479 billion in lost cumulative revenues by 2020, which represents 6.9 per cent of cumulative total voice revenues.

Research suggested that voice traffic is simply shifting to other technologies, rather than collapsing completely. Ovum believes that a focus on creating cloud-oriented telephony apps, and efforts to maintain the relevance of telephone numbers will ensure that operators have a place in the future communications landscape.

Jeremy Green, principal telecoms strategy analyst at Ovum, said: "Where operators have seen voice telephony as a service without a future, they have chosen to compete on price in an effort to eke out any remaining revenues from the market.

"However, taking such a pessimistic view obscures some important commercial realities and opportunities in the voice telephony market."

The long-term trend within telephony is towards a richer and more complex communications environment, where voice serves a different need and traditional telephony plays a smaller role within a business.

Ovum also noted that the continued existence of the telephone number is important, as it is a key asset for telecoms companies, providing them with a reason to have a relationship with their customers.

"The major threat posed by OTT VoIP is that it weakens customers' attachment to their telephone number and transfers their attachment to a new address. This may turn out to be a more significant factor than the direct impact on telephony revenues," Mr Green added.

He urged operators to view telephone numbers as the identifier and address for cloud-based technologies, which will allow customers to choose numbers that are relevant.