What is VoIP?
Voice over Internet Protocol of course!
Well, so what?
VoIP is a term that is now used for a wave of innovation that started with the invention of the Internet.
A while ago, some very smart people realized that if there was a way to use the universal language of the Internet called IP for voice communications, then powerful applications and business benefits could be unleashed for people.
VoIP is actually a small subset of a larger basket known as IP Telephony. A simple way to understand it is this:
- VoIP is the transmission of voice telephone calls using IP
- IP Telephony, is everything else we know about telephone communications, in other words, all of the features, call alert, 3 way calling etc. over IP
Why do I need IP Telephony?
- IP Telephony capabilities can provide significant cost savings to businesses with branch locations by eliminating the need for long distance charges or by reducing the number of local access lines required by the business
- IP Telephony can be integrated into other solutions like unified messaging or web-enabled call centers to provide enhanced savings and service levels to companies using the Internet for commerce or service applications.
- IP Telephony can save businesses time and money by allowing their LAN infrastructure & wiring facilities to also carry voice traffic to and from their voice system
- IP Telephony can also provide enhanced mobility of your work force allowing you and your employees to use soft phones on laptops to access all office phone switch features and call plans from wherever they are, as long as there is an Internet connection
- IP Telephony infrastructures can save your organization up to 70% on Moves Adds Changes (MAC) costs while dramatically increasing your organization’s ability to easily move staff around with no delays for telephone communications
What are the building blocks of an IP Telephony Solution?
An IP Telephony Solution contains the following elements:
- Stations or telephone sets that allow the user to access the system's capabilities
- A Quality of Service or QoS Gateway that converts the voice signals into data packets, then places these packets onto an external data network
- A data network - a Virtual Private Network or a Private Network
- A Wide Area interface such as a QoS Router or Switch
- A voice switch or system that allows users regular access to the PSTN for calls that cannot be carried over the private network
- QoS LAN infrastructure & Cabling to connect all the pieces together
- A secure firewall behind any public access point
What issues do I need to be aware of before I buy?
- Reliability: You should ensure that the voice quality of your IP Telephony solution meets your requirements. Ensure your unified network can prioritize voice traffic and can deal with high traffic conditions. Should quality deteriorate below your defined minimum level, your system should be equipped to support a backup capability
- Quality: Poor voice quality will make your IP Telephony solution difficult and unpopular to use. Ensure your vendor understands and designs your solution to your voice and data traffic demands, and has a proven track record of successful integration and ongoing support
- Ease of Use: With a proper solution, an IP Telephony call should be as easy to make as a regular PSTN call. The solution should have the intelligence to route all calls correctly and make cost saving decisions while respecting quality demands. In addition, you should not feel the need to give up standard voice features to gain the benefits of IP Telephony - today's solutions should demonstrate expert capabilities in both voice services and data.
- Management: Ongoing management and monitoring of your IP telephony solution will be a key operational requirement. Decide if the management will be performed by someone in your organization or out-sourced. Carefully consider the choices different vendors offer, and determine how they meet your critical business requirements.
- Open VS Proprietary: Ensure that your solution is based on open standards that will allow you the flexibility you'll want when selecting vendors, or adding new components or capabilities to your IP telephony solution.
The Most Important Component of Success with VoIP
Experience deploying systems is the key to success. Algo Communication Products Ltd. can help you design, implement and support your evolution to VoIP and IP Telephony as we have done for many others.
Give us a call; you’ll be glad you did!
We can be reached, toll-free, at 1-800-226-7722. We are conveniently located in Burnaby, BC and provide VoIP / IP Phone system solutions to the Greater Vancouver area, the Lower Mainland, the Fraser Valley, and beyond throughout the province of BC