Convergence Update: The marriage of communications technologies continues.

• Author: McKimmie, Kathy
• Position: Communications - EGix - Brief Article

All kinds of companies are competing for a slice of the convergence pie, where everything from radio to TV to voice to data to video can be reduced to ones and zeros for efficient transport over communications lines or airwaves to reach businesses, homes and hands.

For users, this blend of services with almost effortless access is a dream coming true. For providers, this fast-evolving industry is a race to find the most efficient, secure way to stay ahead of the competition. Carmel-based eGix, formerly Voice-Net, is capturing a share of the market with its new product, Instant Communications by eGix, or ICE, and it's delivering it in--what else--ICEpaks, blocks of available services and minutes. It's also providing long-distance and Web-hosting services, all aimed at small and medium-sized businesses tired of dealing with multiple vendors.

eGix started as a voice-mail provider 13 years ago, offering voice messaging for $9.95 a month, says Robert Gallup, senior vice president of sales and marketing. As time went on, it added fax service on the same number. The faxes could be delivered to any machine, confidentially, via a touch-tone phone at the receiver's convenience.

Then, two years ago, the privately held company decided to integrate voice mail, fax and e-mail accounts, known generically in the industry as unified messaging, with the purchase of AdvanceNet, a large regional Internet service provider in Illinois. Sign on to your e-mail account and view a list of e-mails, faxes and voice mails on one screen. Select a voicemail message and listen to it through your computer's speakers. Of course, users can still access their voice mail by phone as well, but if you don't answer your phone, the message is automatically delivered to your e-mail...