Conduct of survey
On June 1 Miercom, in collaboration with Network World, launched its third annual survey of the voice-over-IP industry. This article represents an exclusive first look at the results of the data garnered by that survey. The first Miercom voice-over-IP survey, conducted in 1999, was delivered via a mix of e-mail, regular mail and fax.
This year's survey was distributed to 336 addressees, more than twice as many as last year's. All of these were believed to be suppliers of voice-over-IP products in some form. We eliminated responses from companies that, it turned out, did not produce voice-over-IP hardware or software - including service providers and resellers. We ended up with 96 valid responses, which we estimate represents about 40% to 45% of the entire voice-over-IP vendor community.
VoIP vendors pass SIP test
The enterprise VoIP update
Open-door policy
The changing VoIP landscape (chart)
VoIP pros and cons (chart)
We asked respondents what specific categories of voice-over-IP product they offered (multiple category selections were allowed). The top categories in which respondents offer products are voice-over-IP gateways (57%), voice-over-IP call controllers (47%), IP PBXs (37%), software for end users (32%), IP phones (26%), software for developers/integrators (20%), integrated access devices (18%), board-level products/components (11%) and voice-over-IP-oriented test equipment (7%).
We also asked whether the vendor sold mainly to carriers and service providers, to enterprise customers, to both of these markets without distinction, or to value-added resellers (VAR) and system integrators. Forty-five percent said they sold mainly to carriers and service providers, while 19% said they sold mainly to corporations and end users. Thirteen percent said they sold to both markets without distinction, while 11% said they sold mainly to VARs and system integrators.
All respondents could have checked a box on the survey form requesting anonymity, indicating they did not wish to be identified as the source of their particular responses. Several did check this option, and their anonymity wishes have been honored.
A series of follow-up surveys were also conducted for more in-depth analyses of specific product categories, including gateways, call controllers and IP PBXs.
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Mier is founder of Miercom, a network consultancy and product test center in Princeton Junction, N.J. He can be reached at ed@mier.com.
Miercom is also a member of the Network World Global Test Alliance, a cooperative of the premier reviewers in the network industry, each bringing to bear years of practical experience on every review. For more Test Alliance information, including what it takes to become a member, go to www.nwfusion.com/alliance.
VoIP vendors pass SIP test
Devices based on Session Initiation Protocol offer basic interoperability, but challenges remain for advanced features.
Open-door policy
Previous SIP interoperability forums have been closed-door sessions in which vendors have tested conformance of their products with SIP and ironed out various issues relative to interpretation of the SIP specification.
The enterprise VoIP update
Survey says deployment is being slowed by too many standards, not enough interoperability and concerns over quality of service.
The changing VoIP landscape
Statistics on vendors supporting their own protocol (from print).
VoIP pros and cons
A chart from print showing the main factors driving and inhibiting VoIP.
Vendor free for all
See how vendors' products interoperated with others' (a PDF file).
Guaranteeing your network can handle VoIP
The reality is that there are no definitive answers when it comes to deployment of voice over IP.
Network World, 05/14/01.
Broadband bill causes concern in VoIP community
Controversial telecommunications legislation that won the approval last week of a U.S. House of Representatives committee has raised a red flag among companies and organizations active in the development of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
IDG News Service, 05/16/01.
