COMPANIES
Ford, Concentric Network, and a few other companies are integrating voice, data, and video on a single network to collaborate and share documents in real time. With 120 engineers using the technology, Ford estimates it has helped shorten the average car design time from 36 months to 24 months.

CALL CENTERS
Call centers have been quick to adopt new technologies that make them more efficient. L.L. Bean takes advantage of integrated networks by allowing visitors at its Web site to click on a button and talk live to a service agent. They can browse the Web and talk to the rep over the same line.

CONSUMERS
So far, individuals benefit from the new networks primarily through inexpensive phone rates, such as the 7.5 cents-a-minute offered by Qwest. A key reason: The new networks avoid access charges that average about 4 cents a minute. Individuals will start seeing more advantages of integration soon.