Tap into ; IP benefits.

Christopher Walton

For remote and mobile applications, SMEs should consider upgrading to IP networks

It goes against the natural order of things to find a business prepared to pay more money for technology, and most small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) spend their waking hours working out how to reduce their overheads in both IT and communications infrastructure while keeping pace with the relentless changes in technology. The world of communications is, to use the industry terminology, converging. With the right kind of technology upgrade, an SME's data (IT) network could carry all their voice communications traffic, or is that the other way around? And to maintain pace with the changes so the SME can compete in the short and medium term, the time to upgrade their network is now -- which means they need to source as much information about IP networks as possible.

keeping pace with technology So what is an IP network? Rey Geelani, managing director at SME specialist service provider and reseller Network Interlinks, explains: "IP stands for Internet Protocol, which allows the network to carry voice and data traffic between different locations. This allows you to run remote applications and for your employees to work from home. "The SME considering this sort of move is generally driven by some sort of project, either taking on a second office, hot-desking or home working. Activities like these will precipitate the need for this type of technology, then they will have to consider how they go about purchasing it. SMEs tend to buy from people like us -- fellow SMEs," he adds. Key players in providing the nuts and bolts infrastructure of an IP network are made up primarily of US-owned vendors, including Cisco Systems, Nortel Networks, Mitel, Avaya …