Research and analysis

Extension sales of IP, PBX and TDM

PBX makes progress

The overall UK PBX market is continuing to grow, according to analyst MZA. The market increased by seven per cent in the second quarter of this year compared with the same quarter in 2003. While PBX isn't exactly setting the world alight compared with more traditional data technologies, this still represents solid growth in the voice market.

According to the MZA, systems with more than 100 extensions grew the most, with a rise of 10 per cent. BT was named the biggest vendor, with a 26 per cent market share.

Ready, willing and capable

IP-capable PBXs are grabbing share from traditional TDM-based systems. Vendors of such PBXs are more than keen make this known. However, it is worth noting that the term 'IP-capable' means exactly that.

And just because vendors are building IP into their systems does not necessarily mean people are using it, or buying it for that particular functionality. Meanwhile, traditional PBX sales are continuing to fall, as more and more vendors add some element of IP functionality to their systems.

Length in extensions

Despite encouraging sales of IP-capable systems, the real story is to be found in extension sales. While sales shot up from 47,000 in the second quarter of 2003 to 79,000 in Q2 2004, IP handsets are but a small fraction of sales.

In Q2 2004, the total market saw 610,000 extensions sold, 79,000 of which were IP and 531,000 TDM. People might be buying IP-ready systems, but it seems they're mostly buying them with old-school handsets.

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