Impact of Convergence in Western European SMBs, The

Publication Date	October 2006
Publisher	IDC
Product Type	Report
Pages	39
ISBN Number	not applicable
Product Code	IDC04844

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Summary

This study examines the impact of convergence in the small and medium business market. The focus will remain on voice and data convergence as well as fixed-mobile convergence, understanding the appeal to SMBs, current offerings targeting the market segment, and the results and adoption trends observed so far.

In addition, and in order to better understand SMBs' awareness and adoption trends on voice and data convergence as well as on fixed-mobile convergence, IDC's Vertical Market Survey asked 1,282 SMBs about their usage of these emerging solutions. Results are divided by company size (20-49, 50-99, 100-249, 250-499 employees) in the top 5 Western European countries in the following vertical markets: banking; insurance and other finance; discrete manufacturing; process manufacturing; healthcare services; transport, telecommunications, media, and utilities; retail and wholesale; business services; education; and government.

"Attracted by the simplicity and lower costs, SMBs are closely following the benefits that convergence brings to the consumer market. In the voice and data convergence scenario, PC-based propositions such as Skype helped to raise awareness of IP and VoIP and to increase adoption in the SMB market. In the fixed-mobile scenario, BT's original offering to the consumer market, BT Fusion, was extended to reach SMBs. However, small and midsize firms are still not fully aware of the security risks they incurred when using consumer-like solutions in a business environment," said Laura Converso, senior research analyst with IDC's European Small and Medium Business service.

Content

IDC Opinion
In This Study
- Methodology
  - Conceptual Framework
  - Sample Design
    - Sampling Unit: IDC's Economic Entity
    - Sample Quotas
    - Table: Vertical Market Quotas
    - Table: Company Size (20-499 Employees) Quotas
    - Sample Frame and Sampling Method
    - Table: Number of Completes by Country
  - Respondents
  - Interviews
  - Questionnaires
  - Interview Schedule
  - Confidence Intervals
  - Weighting
  - Analysis of the Data
- Definitions
  - Vertical Markets
  - Voice and Data Convergence
    - Voice Over IP
    - IP PBX System
    - IP Trunking
    - Hosted IP PBX
    - Shared IP Centrex
    - Hosted Voice Features
  - Fixed-Mobile Convergence, Enabling Technologies
    - Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)
    - IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)
    - Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA)
- Introduction
  - A Definition of Convergence
  - Voice and Data Convergence
  - Fixed-Mobile Convergence
  - The Future of Convergence
- Voice and Data Convergence
  - VoIP's Appeal to the SMB Market
  - A Multiplicity of Offerings Targeting the SMB Market
    - PC-Based
    - VoBB
    - IP PBX Deployment
    - Managed IP PBX
    - Shared IP Centrex
    - Hosted IP PBX
    - Hosted Voice Features
    - Figure: The Value of VoIP Solutions for Service Providers Targeting SMBs
  - A Reality Check: Case Studies of VoIP Deployments in the SMB Market
    - HSJ Accountants Case Study: Pure IP PBX Deployment in a U.K. SMB
      - The Company
      - Challenges
      - Solution
      - Results
    - Hurra Communications Case Study: Managed VoIP Solution in a German SMB
      - The Company
      - Challenges
      - Solution
      - Results
- Fixed-Mobile Convergence (FMC)
  - FMC's Appeal to the SMB Market
  - The FMC Market Landscape
Situation Overview
- Voice and Data Convergence
- Table: Western Europe SMBs, Status of Adoption of a VoIP Solution by Company Size, Country and Vertical Market (% of Companies)
- Table: Western Europe SMBs, Current Most Prevailing Status of Adoption of VoIP Solution in the Organization by Company Size, Country, and Vertical Market (% of Companies)
  - Fixed-Mobile Convergence
  - Table: Western Europe SMBs, Ratingof Importance of Fixed-Mobile Convergence (FMC) to the Organization by Company Size, Country, and Vertical Market (Scale 1-5)
Future Outlook
- Voice and Data Convergence
- Table: Western Europe SMBs, Expected Most Prevailing Status of Adoption of a VoIP Solution in the Next 12 Months, by Company Size, Country, and Vertical Market (% of Companies)
- Table: Western Europe SMBs, Key Benefits/Expected Benefits of a VoIP Solution by Company Size, Country, and Vertical Market (% of Companies)
- Table: Western Europe SMBs, Key Obstacles to the Adoption of a VoIP Solution by Company Size, Country, and Vertical Market (% of Companies)
  - Fixed-Mobile Convergence
  - Table: Western Europe SMBs, Change in the Current Communications Services Strategy if the Service is Available/Would be Available in the Country by Company Size, Country, and Vertical Market (% of Companies)
  - Table: Western Europe SMBs, Key Drivers Behind the Current Use or Future Adoption of the Service
  - Table: Western Europe SMBs, Key Inhibitors for Not Considering the Adoption of the Service
Essential Guidance
Learn More
- Related Research
- Synopsis