Insider: VOIP Lacks Management

NEW YORK -- Enterprises continue to accelerate their deployment of voice over IP (VOIP) service in their networks, but expanded use of VOIP by enterprises is exposing some critical weaknesses in the tools available to manage VOIP traffic across converged voice and data IP networks, according to the latest report published by Light Reading's Enterprise VOIP Insider (www.lightreading.com/entvoip), a subscription research service from Light Reading Inc. (www.lightreading.com).

"The VOIP Management Gap: Problems and Solutions" details and analyzes the key challenges that VOIP poses to managers of enterprise networks, including factors affecting service quality and issues arising from deployment of VOIP across converged IP networks. The impact of less-than-adequate management tools on enterprise VOIP deployment is reviewed, as are efforts by IP PBX manufacturers to provide rudimentary management tools with their products.

The 18-page report identifies and profiles 18 different suppliers of VOIP management systems that target enterprise customers, including Brix Networks, Empirix, Fluke Networks, InfoVista, Network General, and Spirent. It discusses the differences between active and passive VOIP management tools and identifies the important features and functions required for enterprise VOIP management. It also evaluates different approaches that enterprises can use to assess VOIP management products prior to deployment.

"As with many emerging technologies, truly effective and efficient management tools for VOIP have lagged initial application development," notes Christine Hartman, research analyst for Light Reading's Enterprise VOIP Insider and author of the report. "VOIP represents the merging of the voice and data worlds – worlds that have largely operated independently. And aside from convergence issues, IP telephony presents challenges that are new to traditional enterprise telecom management."

Key findings of "The VOIP Management Gap: Problems and Solutions" include:

• Voice is a challenging application for data-centric IP networks, requiring new tools to manage factors such as jitter, latency, and packet loss.
• As enterprise VOIP deployments expand, customers are demanding functionality that goes beyond what current management tools can deliver.
• Measuring performance is a key requirement for VOIP management, as is facilitating rapid trouble resolution.
• Large data tool providers such as HP, IBM, and Cisco Systems are moving into the VOIP testing arena by acquiring smaller players, rather than funding internal development.

"The VOIP Management Gap: Problems and Solutions" is available as part of an annual subscription (six issues) to Light Reading's Enterprise VOIP Insider, priced at $1,295. Individual reports are available for $900.

Launched in December 2005, Light Reading's Enterprise VOIP Insider offers deep insight and hard-to-get market data and intelligence on the core issues facing enterprise network managers, VOIP service providers, technology suppliers, and systems integrators as they set out to reengineer network architectures to center on packet-based voice and related applications.

To subscribe, or for more information, visit: www.lightreading.com/entvoip.

For more information about Light Reading's full line of Insider research services, please visit: www.lightreading.com/research.

To request a free executive summary of the report, or for details on multi-user licensing options, please contact:

Jeff Claudino
Director of Sales
Insider Research Services
619-229-9940
claudino@lightreading.com

Press/analyst contact:

Dennis Mendyk
Managing Director
Heavy Reading
201-587-2154
mendyk@heavyreading.com

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About Light Reading
Founded in 2000, Light Reading Inc. (www.lightreading.com) is the ultimate source for technology and financial analysis of the communications industry, leading the media sector in terms of traffic, content, and reputation. It reaches an extensive audience of executives and technologists within the telecom and enterprise networking communities, as well as the financial/industry analysts and investors who track these sectors. Light Reading was acquired by United Business Media in August 2005, and operates as a unit of CMP Technology.

About CMP Technology
CMP Technology (www.cmp.com) is a marketing solutions company serving the technology industry. Through its market-leading portfolio of trusted information brands, CMP has earned the confidence of more technology professionals than any other media company. As a result, CMP is the premier provider of access, insight and actionable programs designed to connect sellers and buyers in ways that yield superior return on investment. CMP Technology is a subsidiary of United Business Media (www.unitedbusinessmedia.com), a global provider of news distribution and specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than $3 billion.