The problem, and the reason the market hasn't caught on yet, is that most IT companies come at the convergence issue as if it was a technology problem. Although this may be a reflection on the industry as a whole, in convergence this can be a particular problem. Improving the business Businesses are interested in fixing real problems and are becoming wary of technology fixes for problems that they didn't even know existed. So the real issue with convergence is not defining what it is, but what applications will come with it to improve the business. Unified messaging exists today in call centres up and down the country.
Remote access exists today.
You can dial up your email through services from companies such as Viveo, and although there are gaps in the service, it is effectively free. These are the applications people want. But what they are most likely to react against is being told they need a new IT infrastructure for the sake of an extra application or two. The world is inching towards widely available broadband access and there is no doubt about commitments from suppliers, but there are hurdles to be overcome. This month, Oftel named the 14 local loop trial operators that will deliver broadband services via BT exchanges.