If you were at VoN 2004, then you would think that VoIP is the greatest thing since well, dot.con. A revolution, perhaps! Instead it is more of an evolution. Art Rosenberg of The Unified-View has come out a study which says something to the same effect.
Since all leading voice telecommunications providers are now delivering IP-based telephone system products for an IP network environment, their existing TDM customers are depending on them to support their migration to converged communications. In particular, new voice application products that support a selective migration from legacy TDM equipment are making migration implementation more flexible and cost-effective.
I am using the word “reintermediation” rather than the dot.com hype word, “disintermediation” when it comes to VoIP.
I don’t think the carriers in the long run will really change. Just the way they deliver the calls.
That said, I don’t think the general consumer cares if it’s VoIP, SIP, h.323 or whatever.
Joe Average wants to save money, have it work and not have his better half moan that the phone is out again like cable TV used to be.
While new technologies will come along that will do the same thing the current PSTN/POTS line does, the new ways will be more cost efficient and offer more services *FOR THOSE THAT NEED AND WANT THEM*.