CIAO DATE: 01/02

Transition to an IP Environment

Abstract

It is now common to observe that the Internet turns business models upside down. Although the telecommunications industry has reaped great benefit from the Internet revolution, it has not escaped this new law of business itself. Telecommunications networks, which were created on "switched circuit" architecture, now face the prospect that those circuits will mostly transport packages of bits according to "Internet Protocols" or "IP."

That is, instead of having to force data bits over lines, connected and switched to create communications "circuits" intended for voice, we are beginning to see voice messages sent in digital bits and packages over the Internet. Voice messages, the heart and soul of our plain old telephone system, are becoming simple applications on the Internet.

Transition to an IP Environment (PDF File)