History and background of IP networking

However, at the other end of the scale the traditional technology drip-feed has now reached smaller companies to such an extent that they can begin to take advantage of the cost savings and efficiency improvements that IP networking has to offer.

But, why now? The answer is twofold. First, many experts believe that the internet has finally come of age, that the security and reliability issues that blighted the dotcom boom era have finally been solved. In turn, this has led to businesses trusting the internet more and placing more of their important business applications online.

The second is that real business applications that run across IP networks are now available. It is no longer a case of technology for technology's sake, but rather technology because it is a cost-effective way to achieve competitive advantage. And, crucially, technology that works.

There are many examples of this. Voice over IP allows phone calls to be routed over IP networks and the internet at a fraction of the cost of traditional circuit switched services. IP-based video conferencing can remove the need to visit customers, suppliers or business partners in person, IP-based virtual private networks allow private business to be conducted on public networks … the list goes on.

In short, because all of these different communications technologies are being converged on a single IP-based network, flexibility, as well as simplification, is greatly improved.

Ian Sherring, business development manager for unified communications at internet giant Cisco Systems UK & Ireland, said that his company has shifted eight million IP handsets globally since 1999.

Sherring explained that early concerns over security, reliability and scalability have all but disappeared, and that convergence has moved on to the third phase, which he refers to as the "convergence of user experience".

What this means is that applications, whether they be video, PowerPoint slides, voice or data, can all be unified on the same platform so that everyone can access it simultaneously.

The underlying network is standardised, therefore anything you want can be run and accessed over it. In essence, this is the story behind convergence.

Find out what the latest IP-based communications can do for your business at the vnunet.com Networked Office hub.