IP PBX penetration rate rises dramatically

Overall PBX sales plunged nine per cent in Q4, according to analyst MZA

IP PBX extensions continue to increase their share of an overall PBX market that is shrinking fast, according to MZA.

IP extensions accounted for 45 per cent of the global market in Q4, up from 39 per cent a year earlier, on the back of an eight per cent sales hike, the analyst said.

In contrast, the overall PBX market (excluding micro-PBXs) contracted by nine per cent year on year in the three months to 31 December, fuelled by a 14 per cent fall in the below-100-extensions market.

Cisco tightened its stranglehold on the market during the quarter as its overall share rose four points to 19 per cent.

The networking kingpin held 33 per cent of the above-100 extensions market, up six points on Q4 2011.

Avaya remained second on 12 per cent, while Panasonic - which led the below-100-extension market - and NEC shared the final podium position with a nine per cent share each.

Cisco's dominance was even more pronounced in the IP extensions market as its share hit 38 per cent. Avaya was a distant second on 16 per cent.

The IP extension penetration rate in Western Europe now stands at 51 per cent but that is still far behind the 73 per cent share IP systems enjoy across the pond in North America.

Despite the dismal figures for the overall PBX market, MZA noted that western Europe actually grew eight per cent on a sequential comparison with Q3.

For the year as a whole, overall global PBX sales were down two per cent.