VoIP challenges grow as broadband spreads

Bandwidth could lead to rogue VoIP systems

Service provider Be launched the UK's first 24Mbit/s consumer broadband package at the end of September. But such services could encourage home workers to use consumer voice over IP (VoIP) systems rather than those designed for corporates - causing headaches for IT managers.
Priced at £24 per month, the service is available in London first with uncontended 24Mbit/s bandwidth. This is achieved using ADSL2+ through Alcatel DSL Access Modules that Be is installing in BT exchanges. "We're not squeezing everybody's data into one pipe," said Be spokesman Paul Smyth.
Smyth added that Be's offering is a plug-and-play service without a username and password. Instead the system recognises users' phone lines.
The modem supplied by Be offers dedicated VoIP ports. This is likely to encourage more use of consumer VoIP tools, which could cause difficulties for companies' IT support teams as use of such systems spreads.
In separate moves last week, DSG International released a Freetalk VoIP box, available in Dixons, Currys, The Link and PC World, while Skype added call forwarding and personalisation features to its own VoIP service. Meanwhile, BT Communicator cut its international PC-to-PSTN call charges.
Richard Edwards of analyst Butler Group welcomed the spread of consumer VoIP kit, arguing it could make it easier for IT directors to deploy the technology across the enterprise.
"If home workers start investing in this kit themselves they will become familiar with it," Edwards said. "It will make it simpler when firms decide to roll VoIP out enterprise-wide."
But Edwards warned companies to control VoIP use. "They need to be proactive about letting staff know corporate policy. It can't be like instant messaging where half the company was using it before some IT departments drew up a policy, " he said.
Larger firms may simply ban staff from choosing their own VoIP kit, so IT teams will not have to manage a wide range of different technologies.