Although VoIP is a known face among the CIOs but very few have implemented it in their networks. The reason-they are not able to validate the investment required in replacing a reliable telephony network with an IP transport layer.

Implementing VoIP is not a child's play. It requires extensive preparation in the form of network, security and employee and costs of a single IP handset for business use can cost more than $350. The promise of cheaper calls on which VoIP is based doesn't seem to excite enterprises.

Let's see the figures-Around 11% of Siemens 16,000 enterprise telephony customers have deployed or are in the process of migrating to VoIP. Broader industry adoption is estimated to be around 25%.

According to Martin Northend, Head-Portfolio Business Management, Siemens Communications:

Don't get wrapped up in technology discussions. This has got to be about business benefits. Benefits in the broader sense and not just voice communication but messaging communication, email communication and conferencing to improve the way you do business.

IP applications rather than voice seem to be the tipping point for business adoption but as VoIP is still developing, these applications are neither numerous nor are mature enough.

VoIP would be a good investment in sectors having a high propensity to talk within the company and it includes government, public and private sector enterprises. Companies which have to make a lot of outbound calls will find it difficult to justify the investment in this technology at this stage.

Vendors might be coming among with lovely figures regarding the implementation of VoIP by enterprises but the fact is that majority of them have still not implemented it. Since there is a lack of VoIP applications, it has hazed the technology business scene but it is expected that VoIP would ensure a mass adoption with all its guns blazing.