Convergence continues to be an enormous growth technology. In 2005, analysts predicted that adoption rates for IP Telephony would be more than 30% of systems sold. Now, U.S.-based analyst firm Gartner predicts that by 2008, 97% of all systems sold will be VoIP enabled.
Guy Koster, vice president of Westcon Group's Technology Solutions Group, commented: "In response to the changes in the market and consequently the needs of our customers, the evolution of our convergence program to become ConvergencePoint is very timely. Westcon Group will continue to deliver the relevant tools and content that enables our customers to be more competitive and more profitable."
VoicePoint originally launched at Westcon UK in 2004 and was eventually rolled out to serve customers in Belgium, The Netherlands, Nordics, Germany and France. Some of the key vendors participating in the VoicePoint program include Alcatel-Lucent, Nortel, Avaya, QuesCom, Plantronics, PowerDsine and Quintum.
Amanda Giddins, EMEA Distribution Director of Nortel commented, "Westcon's solutions programs, including ConvergencePoint, help create all the necessary conditions for resellers to be successful, particularly those partners looking to adopt Nortel's unified communications and VoIP applications solutions. The program offers resellers with sales and marketing tools in one place, making it easier for resellers to deliver a targeted converged voice and data solution."