Enterprise IP

Migration Strategies

Flexibility is the key for vendors, VARs and integrators to guide enterprises into the IP Communications world. by Richard Grigonis

IP Communications, like Windows NT and early ceived benefits. As it so happens, we now have a nice ‘ conver-laser devices, were all initially aboard the same “solution in gence’ of events, of the timing of the equipment replacement search of a problem” boat. Early adopters of IP had some cycle with the existence of the real proof of IP’s benefits.” ^{vague notions about saving money on voice calls, but ran up} against inflexible vendors with one-size-fits-all platforms to Is IP a Cost or a Strategy? which the enterprise would have to conform. Given that it’s time for enterprises worldwide to change their

Today things are much different. The emerging reality of communications infrastructure, the question arises: How IP’s concrete benefits is further magnified by supremely flex- quickly should the organization move to IP? Incrementally or ible vendors capable of adapting their platforms to any cor- all-at-once? In all cases it’s a matter of corporate culture: If the porate culture. company is small and the CIO rules, look out for a big forklift Time for a Change ^{upgrade. Such companies have a long-term view of IP as a stra-} tegic component. On the other hand, if the enterprise is large In the business world, a seven-to-eight year cycle generally and the CFO rules, expect a conservative, incremental, site-by-governs PBX and phone system replacement. Interestingly, site conversion to IP. Such organizations equate IP with simple nearly every enterprise PBX replacement cycle was synchro- voice calls (the perfunctory, perennial ‘killer app’) and have yet nized by Y2K fears in the late 1990s. to discover the many things IP applications have to offer.

As Steve Kowarsky, executive VP of CosmoCom says: Joan Vandermate, Siemens’ VP of product management, “We’re into 2006 now, and the last big technology replace- agrees: “You encounter two very distinct strategies,” says ment cycle in telecom was triggered by Y2K. When you come Vandermate. “One is a conservative, site-by-site approach; as to that point in that six or seven-year cycle where you have each site’s PBX ages out, they swing over to a hybrid or distrib-to decide whether to ‘refresh versus replace,’ what you do is uted system. Legacy equipment is held as long as possible. To strongly influenced by the state of the technology and its per- conservatives, voice is simply a required service. Other cus-