SMEs Ripe for IP Managed Services, Says Nortel

Fifty percent of SMBs surveyed have voice networks three or more years old, and despite the fact that nearly half characterize themselves as "early adopters" or "on the leading edge of new telecommunications technology," only 40 percent have actually implemented VoIP or any IP-based mobile convergence solution.

"The research clearly indicates a great opportunity for service providers to target SMEs," says Alf deCardenas, Nortel general manager.

The research conducted by Ronin Corporation involved surveys of some 900 SME and enterprise decision makers across the United States, France and the United Kingdom.

Among other findings, the research found that SMEs are more likely to go to service providers than resellers for voice hardware and Internet services. The ability to make phone calls over WiFi and cellular networks using a dual-mode phone is the service SMBs are most likely to consider for implementation, followed by Web services like click-to-connect and converged desktop applications that allow them to easily control calls from any cellular phone using a laptop application.