VoIP 'an innovative approach to voice' 

One of the most important progressions in the digital industry over recent years is voice over internet protocol (VoIP), it has been suggested. Simon Milner, director of group industry policy at BT, highlighted that learning to evolve is an issue affecting every digital industry, especially ones that are affected by changing consumer behaviour.

Coming up with innovative ways of approaching voice has become an important challenge for the telecoms industry, as well as many others, the expert suggested. One of its many plus points is its ability to draw consumer interest back towards a certain company or product, he explained. "The best way to respond to consumer behaviour which is not good for your business is to find a way to bring consumers back to you," Mr Milner explained.

His comments followed findings from research and consulting firm Frost & Sullivan, which emphasised just how resilient VoIP has proved in light of the recession. Statistics showed that throughout 2009, the industry recorded growth of 40.1 per cent in relation to its user base. Revenues, on the other hand, increased by 22.3 per cent over the year.

Frost & Sullivan program director Elka Popova commented: "Service providers are investing in enhancing their VoIP access/trunking services in terms of survivability, redundancy, and trunk pooling to be able to offer greater value." She emphasised that many providers have now overcome their initial difficulties with voice access and are able to offer "different classes of service".

The group noted that in some cases, VoIP may prove more expensive to implement than companies believe. Some firms even identified to the organisation that awareness of VoIP availability and the benefits it can offer is often somewhat lacking.