Most people in the UK who operate an NEC IPS or IVS will also operate an application server in some shape or form. At it's most basic, it may provide a powerful voicemail system and operator console. However, it scales upwards to include a huge array of services.

A Call Center is possibly the 2nd most likely component of an appication servere - many providing full multimedia, networked call center solution with comprehensive management, reporting, live statistics, IVR, Auto Attendants, Callback, Web and Chat modules - the list is almost endless.