Businesses worldwide have begun to analyse high communication costs whilst simultaneously recognising the functions and savings that VoIP offers, resulting in a shift from niche to mainstream usage. 

An Information Week study of 280 com• 66% of respondents reported lower telecommunication cost
• 43% saw the need to merge their voice and data network
• 41% had already obtained some form of platform for one stop communication
• 31% reported improved ease of management and 24% better scalability with VoIP.

Consequently, the VoIP market is growing at a rapid pace. According to IBIS World, the North American market is currently worth around $3.19 billion, with sales increasing at an annual rate of 25% despite the economic recession. By 2012 sales figures are expected to reach $4.88 billion. A 2009 survey by the Eastern Management Group shows that in developed countries, open source PBX solutions have already cornered 18% of the total market. South Africa is following close behind this trend due to improved bandwidth and the deregulation of the telecommunications market, and currently growing at an astonishing rate of 100% per annum.