The struggling economy will slow the growth of VoIP, but deployments remain wide-ranging at mitigated levels, reports In-Stat. Slightly more than one in three US businesses that have deployed VoIP use it exclusively. Many more businesses use VoIP as a partial voice solution. US businesses are also beginning to embrace voice-enabled IM capabilities, particularly among younger workers.

Recent research by In-Stat found the following:

• 32% of Enterprise size businesses say the economic situation has slowed their VoIP deployment plans.
• Broadband IP Telephony remains the most common carrier-based business VoIP solution with revenues exceeding $1.1 billion in 2008, compared to $857 million for hosted IP
• Centrex service within the US.
• Adoption varies significantly by size of business, with Enterprise businesses preferring a partial deployment, while SOHO businesses are more likely to go IP-only.
• 13% of US businesses use both carrier-based and premises-based IP solutions.

The research, “2008 US Business VoIP Overview: Stick to Fundamentals”, covers the US business market for VoIP. The report analyzes and provides detailed end-user survey data by size of business for the following:

• The key factors driving or impeding VoIP adoption
• The impact of a slowing economy
• Carrier versus premise-based solutions
• Installed Vendor Market share
• The multiple flavors of IP finding roots in the US business market

Revised line/seat and revenue forecasts through 2012 for Hosted IP Centrex and broadband IP telephony within the US are provided, along with a worldwide IP PBX line forecast.