Gartner sees savings in comms outsourcing

Switch to cheaper IP services could spark battle with PBX resellers

Analyst Gartner is predicting cost savings of up to 30 per cent for large enterprises that outsource voice, data and mobile communications.

However, the move could see operators competing with PBX resellers directly in the low end.

Jean Claude Delcroix, research director at Gartner, told CRN that end-users could save by switching to cheaper IP services, cutting redundant lines and moving quickly to suppliers that offer cheaper tariffs.

IT services firms have less experience in dealing with voice traffic and voice over IP, said Delcroix.

"IT service providers are not the best at communications because they don't have the size of network needed or the relationship with the providers," he said.

BT and Equant are two telecoms outsourcers better placed to help firms outsource converged networks, said Delcroix. He cited their relations with local providers, and their IT and data skills.

John Irvine, vice-president of network services firm Level 3, said: "The advent of IP-based telecoms has made the prospect of outsourcing a simpler affair."

Irvine added that telecoms service providers could lower their cost bases using IP-based converged software platforms, and pass on the savings to enterprises, while attracting smaller companies.

Prospective outsourcers need to raise customer confidence in outsourcing and agree to tough penalties if they fail to satisfy, Gartner claimed.

"They have to send a clear message that this is going to be cost effective, with contracts where prices are not increasing, and they are not selling a product at the highest possible price because they have a monopoly," Delcroix said.

But George Zaremba, chief executive of AlwaysOn, which provides an IP-based converged telecoms service through the channel, said that large telecoms operators have vested interests in their own products.

Zaremba added that as an independent service provider, AlwaysOn can, for example, choose between BT, Energis, Colt or other data networks.

"[By outsourcing their telecoms] customers can save 20 per cent or more on annual expenditure, and get an upgrade to technology without capital investment," Zaremba claimed.