Nortel crowned UK's top PBX vendor

Strong sales in the enterprise space and mid-market helped guide the UK PBX market to a four per cent increase in total extensions during Q2 2008, research has revealed.

In its quarterly report on the the UK PBX and IP PBX market, analyst firm MZA reported that 726,000 extensions were deployed in the three months to the end of June. This marks a four per cent increase on the same period last year. 48 per cent of Q2 2008 deployments were in the above 100 extensions market, up from 44 per cent last year.

Extensions in the Micro PBX market, as well as the rest of the 2-10 extension market and the 10-30 extension market, all suffered double digit declines. The market segments between 30 and 100 extensions all experienced modest growth levels, while the over 1,000 extensions market enjoyed the most rapid growth.

Nortel was crowned the UK's top PBX vendor during the quarter and held a 16 per cent market share. After acquiring Inter-Tel, Mitel moved into second spot. The vendor was also top dog in the below 100 extensions category, followed by Nortel and Panasonic.

Cisco led the above 100 extensions field, followed by Nortel and Mitel. Aastra and Siemens both enjoyed impressive quarters and made up ground on the leading vendors.

During the quarter 47 per cent of all extensions deployed were IP, compared to 37 per cent in Q2 2007. More than two thirds of extensions in the above 100 extensions space were IP. 26 per cent of those in the below 100 extension market were IP, up from 15 per cent last year.

Cisco accounted for 30 per cent of IP extensions deployed in the UK during Q2 2008, with Mitel a close second with a 25 per cent share. Mitel took top spot in the below 100 extensions market with a market share of more than a third. Cisco took second spot with a market share of more than 25 per cent and the networking giant was also comfortably ahead in the above 100 extensions space.