Telephones and PCs come together at last

Growing enthusiasm for voice over IP communications and desktop conferencing will force "major changes" on IT systems design, according to research.

Meta Group claims that PC access to dialling, as well as integration of voice mail and email inboxes, will become commonplace by 2006.

The analyst said it was "sceptical" that most users would end up combining their trusty telephones with their PCs, but added that there are definite areas for synergy in access to complex voice mail and conferencing features.

User environments are growing increasingly complex, and unified inboxes, real-time information feeds and instant messaging require information displays that are continually available, driving a need for more screen space.

By 2006, 40 per cent of new information worker environments are expected to include dual monitors.

Steve Kleynhans, vice president of Meta Group's technology research services, said: "Web conferencing is an example where multiple monitors could be immediately beneficial to a large number of users.

"A user often has a presentation displayed on one screen while taking notes or chatting with participants on another screen. Arranging multiple windows on a single monitor is awkward and limiting, whereas having dual monitors would make it much easier."

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