The uptake of services that manage converged communications will skyrocket in 2008, says analyst firm IDC, with growth forecast to increase 26%.
This conclusion is drawn from the firm’s 'Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan) Enterprise ICT Outsourcing and Managed Services Forecast', which predicts the ICT outsourcing in general will exceed US$29.5 billion in 2008 — an increase of 11% over 2007.
Adrian Dominic Ho, research manager for IDC's Asia/Pacific Managed Services and Enterprises Networks, said that despite global economic slowdown, the firm continues to be "cautiously bullish that the industry can withstand the headwinds of a slowing economy”.
The group believes that in 2008, enterprises will continue to migrate their communications to an all-IP converged platform.
"The real innovation here is the introduction of messaging and collaboration tools from videoconferencing to instant messaging," Ho said.
"Enterprises believe an effective communications strategy is becoming vital and are looking for unified communication solutions to be integrated into their desktop and IP-transformation managed services engagements."
