Home office households have historically been early adopters of advanced technology, and this pattern continues with VoIP communications. The number of U.S. households with income-generating or corporate home offices are more than twice as likely to implement VoIP in the next 12 months compared with households in general, a new IDC study reveals.
Currently, 39.1 percent of corporate home offices and 23.7 percent of home-based businesses are interested in or using VoIP. In contrast, only 10.8 percent of households without home offices are VoIP aware.
"Home offices will adopt VoIP communications at a faster rate than U.S. households overall," said Chris Hazelton, senior analyst, SMB research at IDC. "Although cost savings are important, features such as convergence with mobile phones will be increasingly important to home offices in the long run."
Among other key findings of the study:
- Although VoIP has moved beyond the very earliest adoption stage, many home office households are reluctant to use VoIP as their only telephone service, and rather add it as a second method of communication.
- Savings on long distance continue to be the key driver of initial interest in VoIP by home offices.
Currently, 39.1 percent of corporate home offices and 23.7 percent of home-based businesses are interested in or using VoIP. In contrast, only 10.8 percent of households without home offices are VoIP aware.
"Home offices will adopt VoIP communications at a faster rate than U.S. households overall," said Chris Hazelton, senior analyst, SMB research at IDC. "Although cost savings are important, features such as convergence with mobile phones will be increasingly important to home offices in the long run."
Among other key findings of the study:
- Although VoIP has moved beyond the very earliest adoption stage, many home office households are reluctant to use VoIP as their only telephone service, and rather add it as a second method of communication.
- Savings on long distance continue to be the key driver of initial interest in VoIP by home offices.