Analysts Predict Unified Messaging Services Boom as Internet Fuels Message Chaos
December 14, 1998
BURLINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE) Unified messaging
looks set to radically change personal
communications over the next ten years,
according to research just out from Ovum
Inc. independent technology analysts.
Ovum's report, Unified Messaging Services:
Market Strategies, points to the Internet as
a primary cause of the current messaging
malaise and likens the advent of unified
messaging services to the introduction of
direct dialing. Ovum anticipates global unified
messaging services markets to be worth 31$
billion by 2006.
According to Roger Walton, a senior analyst
with Ovum Inc. in Burlington, "Dealing with
messages is becoming more and more time
consuming. This is complicated by the fact
that each type of message gets delivered to
different locations - voice messages go to
the answering machine or voice mail system,
fax messages go to the fax machine, emails
go to the email server etc. The growth of
the Internet, more than anything else, has
fuelled the current message chaos."
"Unified messaging services address these
problems by bringing together the different
message types from different sources into a
unified inbox," explains Walton. Users can
then access and manage messages at any
time. Unified messaging will be the foundation
for a suite of advanced personal
communications services. Over time these
services will transform the way people
interact with the telecoms network and each
other. The service provider who owns the
unified messaging interface will effectively
own the customer."
Ovum anticipates that, by 2006, unified
messaging will be well on the way to
ubiquity. Over one third of American
households will subscribe to
telecommunications services that include
unified messaging. Three quarters of
businesses will either be using unified
messaging services or will have deployed
their own equipment to provide equivalent
capabilities.
Today's unified messaging market is largely
supply driven. Both service providers and
technology suppliers are seeking new
revenue sources in an increasingly
competitive market. But Ovum points out
that as messaging and mobility services
grow, demand will develop for simpler access
and improved manageability in the face of
growing message overload. This shift - from
push to pull - will greatly accelerate market
growth.
"For service providers the main driver is
competition," adds Walton. "But while most
service providers are paying some attention,
the full strategic importance of unified
messaging is not widely appreciated. Unified
messaging cuts across traditional telco
organizational boundaries, wireline wireless
and Internet, and many corporations find
that their internal organization inhibits
decisive action. Unified messaging
technology is relatively new and has not
been deployed on a large scale. This leaves
major questions about service deployment
and customer behavior unanswered. Prompt
market entry and effective marketing will be
critical for service providers. Incumbent
telcos are in a strong position but must not
be complacent," warns Walton.
Ovum estimates that by 2002, direct revenue
from unified messaging services will reach
$2.2 billion. In the same period, indirect
revenue will grow to $4.1 billion worldwide.
By the end of 2006, these figures will exceed
$12 and $18 billion respectively, with the
total revenue from messaging services
forecast to exceed $31 billion, generated by
170 million mailboxes.
Unified Messaging Services: Market
Strategies is available from Ovum Inc. end
December and costs $3,150. Authored by
senior analysts, Roger Walton and Mary Ann
O'Loughlin, the report details market drivers,
technology standards, and recommended
strategies for service providers and their
suppliers, as well as market development
scenarios and forecasts. It also offers
financial analyses as well as case studies of
early service offerings.
Earlier this year Ovum published detailed
evaluations of leading unified messaging tools
and vendors in Ovum Evaluates: Unified
Messaging. This report is also available Ovum
Inc. and costs $2,200. For more product
information go to ovum.com
Ovum is an independent information
technology, telecommunications and new
media analyst group, providing high quality,
authoritative information and advice on key
market, technical and regulatory
developments. Ovum's customer base
comprises leading blue-chip organizations
including suppliers, users and policy makers
worldwide. With offices in Boston, London
and Melbourne, Ovum currently employs over
170 staff worldwide.
CONTACT: Ovum | Ronald Serio, senior
account manager | 800/642-6886 or
781/272-6414 Ext. 11 | rfs@ovum.com | or |
Daniel Matkovits, manager, global press
relations | 800/642-6886 or 781/272 6414
Ext.19 | dma@ovum.com
[Copyright 1998, Business Wire] |
