According to CIO Magazine, the question is not whether you should or will convert your phone system to "Voice over IP," but when:  IP telephony industry revenue is forecast to double in the next three years (to $1.2-billion).  Not only are its features far greater and costs far lower, but the existing PBX-&c. infrastructure is fundamentally dysfunctional.

"We were spending thousands in long distance alone. Our phone guys were charging us $130 a pop just to come in and add another line. It was insane."

Do I agree with the CIO Magazine article that VoIP is the wave of the future? Actually, as of this week I can say it's the wave of the present. I converted my office from Verizon's flat-rate monthly billing (which ended up costing well over $100/month for one line by the time all the excise taxes, surcharges, local sales taxes, etc., were added in) to VoIP courtesy of Vonage, and I'm now paying a flat $29/month for infinitely superior service.

And I can get voicemail messages automatically emailed to me as sound files; I'm just beginning to explore the possibilities of that.