Converged networks: more than cost reduction! There are many compelling reasons to put voice, video and data traffic on a single Internet protocol (IP) network. Businesses report major savings on annual information technology (IT) costs by choosing convergence over a traditional network design. A consolidated communications platform is also easier and more economical to sustain than multiple networks built on diverse, separate infrastructures. Security and redundancy are simplified, support and maintenance are streamlined, and IT administration costs are reduced when multiple networks are converged onto a single pipe.

One of the most well-known benefits of IP convergence is the bypassing of international toll charges through Voice over IP (VoIP). However, the real value of migrating to a converged IP network is that it opens the door to creating next-generation customer relationship management (CRM) and contact center applications capable of integrating unified messaging, streaming media and intelligent call routing across many sales and customer support channels. These next generation converged applications will be the key to leveraging the full value of converged IP networks.

Converged applications add business value. A converged application can inject new functionality and reshape the way we think of interacting and communicating with our colleagues and clients. In sectors like banking and insurance, for example, converged applications can help forge a new model of doing business that blends the best aspects of tradition and technology.