Within two years, voice services will be embedded into more
than half of all business IT applications as Voice over Everything
(VoE) storms the workplace.
"Today we dial; tomorrow we click," predicts Geoff Johnson,
research vice-president at Gartner.
"Voice will be embedded in everything and mobility will be crucial.
Calls will be made by clicking through a document or an email
rather than dialling a number."
Clicking for calls will cut costs by 15-30%, estimates Gartner. VoE
will allow workers to verbally reply to emails or chat with
partners when working on a jointly written document. It will stand
alongside instant messaging as a quick way of contacting
colleagues.
As the focus of voice technology switches from hardware to
software, new players with desktop clout, such as Microsoft, will
take on traditional suppliers.
Gartner advises CIOs to evaluate IP technology now and prepare for
VoE inveigling itself into applications such as ERP and voice-aided
web browsing.