An increasing need to converge voice and data communication is likely to push the worldwide small and medium business (SMB) PBX (IP and TDM) market to an estimated US $6.7 billion in 2007.

In its latest study, the research firm Access Market International (AMI) Partners has said that between 2005 and 2010, the cumulative growth rate in this fast growing segment will cross 11%.

"In particular, the IP-PBX segment is forecasted to grow at a spectacular 33% on a cumulative basis for the next 5 years," said Sanjeev Aggarwal, VP, SMB infrastructure solutions, AMI-Partners. "This market segment for SMBs is becoming fiercely competitive as vendors are developing and implementing solutions specifically designed for SMBs."

There are many drivers that are influencing SMBs to adopt IP-PBX, including a single converged network for voice and data, and affordable purpose-built solutions that meet the needs of SMB customers.

"Unified Communications provides improved communications, collaboration, coordination, mobility and accessibility across the extended SMB enterprise. All this leads to a user experience that increases productivity, business value and adoption and thereby accelerates the IP telephony adoption curve," concluded Aggarwal