Key benefits of convergence are economies and simplifications due to one multipurpose IP network (ease of moves, adds, changes, staff reduction, etc.), how can this be demonstrated?
Historically, voice and data networks have existed as separate infrastructures within a company. Typically, each of these networks also had dedicated staff managing the day-to-day operation of the network. Adding voice to the data network has allowed many companies to completely eliminate the dedicated voice network. This in turn has eliminated the requirement for specialized staff whose sole purpose was the management of the independent voice network. In a converged network, IT staff is typically trained to administer both the voice and data applications, as well as the network infrastructure. Since the converged network is standards based, moves and changes of phone equipment has been simplified to the point where a network administrator simply has to plug a phone into a wall jack when moving equipment from one cubicle to another. In a traditional TDM system, this same move may require complicated programming and cross connections that would likely involve an expensive service call.
