sundance-communications.com/forum Forums General General Telephone & Systems Information TELECOM IN 10 YEARS....

I think Big Dog is right but it will take alot longer then we think. Voip works ok point to point but why bother, exsisting tech. can do the trick for less $ and problems. Voip should still be in alpha testing not in the field. Untill the infrastructure is there no matter how great the fiber in your town calling grandma in podunk will still sound like a cb radio.

VoIP is most definitely here to stay, as far as the desktop that is where your interface will be on the screen with either bluetooth or other cordless headsets. In Europe they have already embraced VoIP especially service providers like Skype, hot technology right now are WiFi/GSM mobile phone/PDA's, they are not quite 100% transparent in that you must initiate a call within the network to establish either WiFi or GSM link but they are pretty slick.

VoIP has also gone beyond Alpha testing where in most cases you are now almost assured of a toll quality or better connection all due to the continuing improvements of vendor equipment and plus all the providers are jumping onto the bandwagon which means improved QOS for everybody.

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One stop Voice and Data Solutions VoIP

This is how I see it. The question is about Telephones. That means protocols, transport medium and switching. ATM ISDN VOIP basicly all the same binary 1&0's needing bandwith. Wireless copper fiber coax all based on protocol bandwith needed to deliver. Switches connecting all this together into smaller service areas. So what does the end user get in 10 years? Technology is putting more 1's&0's in the air and that costs less than installing PTP medium. The major switch players are changing to voip at all levels because of strick protocol standards enabeling seamless interconnectivity. So as technology advances so will your telephone or should we start saying Personal Communications Device.

Here's my two cents worth on VOIP:

No doubt, it's here to stay whether it works or not. My take is that it has it's place in the current infrastructure that's going to be around for a long time.

Our most common use of VOIP is when tying two systems together for intercom calling or remote stations (work from home employees). It works OK, but certainly with limitations. Let's face it, the Internet is just like an interstate highway, it can get bogged down for any reason, affecting it's ability to handle traffic. Most of our customers understand this limitation and are willing to accept an occasional poor connection as opposed to the cost of cross-country calls between offices. Even with long distance rates barely above a penny per minute, free calls on VOIP still cost less (for now).

I see traditional telephone systems staying around for at least another ten years, as long as they can interface with VOIP. For now, I think systems that can offer wired/wireless (on-premise) and VOIP (off-premise) will be the norm for some time. The "new hybrid" will help everyone get used to VOIP, learn (and resolve) its limitations, and eventually let it blend into a 130 year old industry.

I sure hope traditional switching and routing doesn't go away. It's worked so well for so long. It's OK to bring home a new puppy; the older dogs know how things need to be and they will keep the puppy in his place. Make any sense to any of the rest of you out there?

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Ed
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How come there's always enough time to go back and fix it a second time?