In information and communications technology, the term 'convergence' means carriage of more than one type of 'traffic' across a network. That traffic can be voice, data, video or multimedia. Today's convergence solutions are usually based on the network technology known as Internet Protocol (IP).
With widespread adoption of the Internet and the availability of cost-effective, high-speed data connections, IP convergence has become a realistic option for corporate communications. Even the most mission-critical and real-time communications such as voice can now perform at the level required by business.
IP convergence technology delivers a range of practical business applications that save time, reduce operational costs and streamline the ways businesses communicate within and outside of their organisations. Voice, data, video and enhanced collaboration and management capabilities are converging on the desktop and via mobile communication devices. Employees can be more productive through better methods of communicating to get the job done.
In summary, financial benefits of IP convergence include:
- Reduced communications costs - no call costs between branches on your network, reduced external long-distance call costs and significant savings on voice and video conferencing
- Economies of scale - by combining voice and data traffic over larger but reduced numbers of telecommunications links
- Enhanced productivity - through convergence applications that improve personal efficiency and collaboration between individuals working teams, wherever they are located
- Improved remote access - delivering enterprise resources to telecommuters and travelling staff
- Lower management costs - through centralised remote management, simplified infrastructure and plug-and-play relocation of equipment
Voice over IP - or VoIP - is the major application (besides data transfer) running over converged networks and is frequently the principal driver for implementing a converged network. VoIP involves transporting some or all of your voice traffic over an IP network, usually - but not always - over the same links you use to carry your inter-office data and Internet access. There is much confusion between VoIP and IP Telephony. With the addition of IP gateways, traditional PABXs can send VoIP traffic between locations, and you can continue to use your existing handsets. However, only migration to a true IP Telephony system enables enhanced communications and new productivity applications to converge on the desktop.
IP Telephony offers considerably more operational flexibility and personal productivity than traditional voice systems:
 IP Telephony: Beyond Quality of Service and Toll Bypass
For more information on the business benefits of convergence technologies:
IP convergence - What can it do for your organisation?
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IP Convergence
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