MANILA, Philippines -- Local companies are beginning to adopt convergent network applications starting with Internet telephony, according to a local HP executive.

According to Martin Diez, local sales manager for ProCurve, HP?s networking unit, even medium-sized companies are adopting IP telephony or voice-over IP (VoIP) because it is proving to be more cost-effective.

?It is the starting point even for SMBs (small and medium businesses),? Diez said, referring to VoIP, which allows voice calls via Internet instead of over traditional phone lines.

Aside from VoIP, other applications like IPTV, telepresence (or high-resolution) videoconferencing and even IP surveillance cameras can all be integrated and managed within a single network.

?There are also companies, for example, that have migrated from analog cameras to IP-connected surveillance cameras in their warehouses,? Diez noted.

The convergence of these applications that rely on the Internet has led to the term "unified communications."

"Businesses now depend on these applications to generate revenues," Diez said.

What is helping drive the adoption of IP-based applications is open standards, or the ability to interconnect different applications regardless of whether an end-user is using from ProCurve or rival vendors like Cisco.

HP launched its line of ProCurve 2610 switches, touting open standards and features like power-over Ethernet and capable of connecting 802.3af -- compliant IP phones or those that consume 15 watts and below.

Local ProCurve end-users include Allied Bank, Robinson's Malls and television network GMA-7.