Cabling is moving towards a "Universal" approach in which all connections, for both voice and data, are made with a minimum of CAT 5E or CAT 6 aka "Data" cable and hardware.

Historically, cabling consisted of a "Voice" cable (CAT 3) to each location where a phone or fax would be placed, and often a "Data" cable (CAT 5) was only added when a data connection at a particular location was anticipated. It is easy to see that the historical methodology is less compatible with today's significant increase in the use of network data connections and the continuing convergence of communications, Voice over IP technology, and data as they are transmitted over the same systems and medium.

"Universal Cabling" is the installation of "data capable" cable for ALL cabling in the system (CAT 5E or CAT 6). No "voice only" cable is used (CAT 3). All Universal Cables terminate at the workstation side on a RJ45 outlet and at the server room side on a rack mounted patch panel. In the server room "Plug-and-Play" patch cords are used for all connections between the rack mounted patch panel and the data switch or telephone system.

There are several significant long-term cost benefits associated with Universal Cabling as well as some considerable advantages:

First, any outlet at the workstation can be used for EITHER a telephone or a computer (or printer) by simply connecting the patch cord in the server room to the appropriate device port – no new cabling needs to be installed.

Second, company employees, through the simple changing of patch cords can easily perform relocation of employees and their associated telephone and computer equipment from one office location to another. The cost savings in this feature alone can be significant over time: where a traditional cabling installation requires the assistance of a telephone technician to "re-cross-connect" the employee at the new location.

Third, the Universal Cabling solution eliminates the constraints placed on a traditional cabling system (utilizing CAT 3 voice cable) as in the very near future more and more businesses are going to be choosing to implement Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication solutions.

It must be said that there is an increased up-front cost with Universal Cabling. Since the cable and hardware for "Voice" is less expensive than for "Data". However, since the most significant portion of the cost to install a workstation location is the labor, whether one, two or more cables are installed at a time and whether those cables are a mixture of "Voice" & "Data" or are all "Data", the variance in the material cost is minimal when compared with the overall cost of the project. And remember, the increased up-front costs will be quickly recouped over time as the need to call a technician for employee relocations is brought to an absolute minimum if not all together eliminated.