Study: VoIP costs all over the map

Companies trying to deploy Internet phone calling--voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP--will face varied costs depending on the technology provider, according to a report release earlier this week. Corporate VoIP start-up costs can range from $515 to $1,512 per user, according to Nemertes Research. Phone systems from ShoreTel and Nortel are the least expensive vendors while Avaya and Cisco are the most expensive.

The report added that companies with more than 1,000 employees will spend an average of $525 per user for start-up costs. Companies with fewer than 100 will spend $763 per user.