Both studies show ShoreTel’s growth significantly outpacing that of all other IP PBX vendors, including Cisco, Nortel, Avaya, and Mitel. The Infonetics findings have ShoreTel increasing shipments of IP voice lines by 91% in 2005, compared to 46% for Cisco. The actual numbers from ShoreTel were 92,581 in 2004 to 176,795 in 2005.
Other observers would of course note that Cisco’s 46% increase is off of a far higher starting point when it comes to actual numbers – a point missed from the ShoreTel announcement which goes on to say;
“Clearly, ShoreTel is growing at a sizzling pace in a hot market,” said Matthias Machowinski of Infonetics. “ShoreTel continues to expand at twice the market rate, an impressive feat.”
According to Synergy Research’s latest report, ShoreTel leads the pack in growth from CY 2004 to CY 2005 with 90%, followed by Cisco at 71%, and 3COM at 41%. “As the IP PBX market moves full steam ahead, ShoreTel is out in front with its annual growth rate,” said Synergy president and CEO, Jeremy Duke.