Studies predict UC & telephony growth, but warn of downturn

Two recent reports focusing on enterprise telephony and unified communications found that despite poor economic conditions, the industries should continue to grow without major setbacks. Despite some evidence of a marginal slowdown in the space, the Dell'Oro Group predicted slowing, but continued growth in the enterprise IP telephony space. Another analyst firm, the Radacti Group, predicted that UC revenues will double in the next four years, from $730 million globally in 2008, to $1.5 billion by 2012.

Both reports noted that 3Q financial statements showed a slight slowdown in the quarter, likely to be followed by a bigger drop-off in 4Q.

Dell'Oro analyst Alan Weckel told voipplanet that the slowdown may turn out to be sector specific, as capex expenditures nose-dive, but value-added services remain viable growth models. The total enterprise telephony market was up 5 percent for 3Q to $4.2 billion in revenues. But Weckel cautioned that 4Q and 1Q2009 could be slow times for the industry, as the general economic downturn begins to affect customers and partners more directly.

The Radacti survey estimated that 31 million use UC in the enterprise presently, but that number is set to more than double to 67 million by 2012. Radacti based the prediction on low percentages of existing installations and overall awareness of the value propositions of UC. Radicit cautioned that the numbers used to make the predictions were pre-downturn numbers, and could be in need of downward revision if the economy worsens significantly. 

For more:
- see the Voipwatch.com article here 

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