| Many businesses apply VoIP much like electronic | | | | know who to shout at when it needs fixing, as it surely |
| voting machines have been done- a solution in search | | | | will sometime during its life. |
| of a problem. They get VoIP not because it's better, or | | | | Other advantages such as mobility and branch office |
| provides things they need, but because it's the latest | | | | IP trunking make VOIP a winner for many. The ability |
| technology. | | | | to design custom integration apps for instance gives |
| Despite the all too frequent uneducated decision | | | | HUGE productivity gains. IP phones are every bit as |
| making process in the business world.....there are some | | | | reliable as other digital phones when they are placed |
| advantages to VoIP over the standard alternatives. | | | | on a properly designed network. Properly designing |
| For example site-to-site IP links can save a bundle | | | | such a network does not cost a fortune, but it does |
| over point to point T1's. With an IP pbx you can | | | | require a little common sense and planning. Regardless |
| (depending on who makes it) offer interactive services | | | | of the technology, a phone system is only as good as |
| to your customers and deploy other similar features | | | | the connection between the box and the station. |
| that are far more costly with old analog PBXs. | | | | A hybrid is having your systems still rely on tried and |
| Videoconferencing is as simple as buying worksites | | | | true POTS and T1/PRI trunks for your PSTN |
| video IP phones or videochat software (expensive or | | | | connectivity at your offices. It works, so why change it, |
| impossible with a standard PBX). Expansion is also | | | | in my opinion (but thanks VOIP for bringing down Bell |
| quite easy. But possibly the biggest selling point is that | | | | prices). You then can use VOIP for expanding your |
| the best is yet to come- sure we don't have dial by | | | | capabilities and saving money (IF it isn't at the expense |
| name or anything like that yet, but wait a few years... | | | | of reliability/stability) rather than trying to be "bleeding |
| Where many businesses differ is in their view on the | | | | edge" just for bragging rights. The "bleeding edge" |
| benefit of Open Standards and the cost savings this | | | | pursuit can definately prove a costly one. |
| will bring. While Open standards can yield big dollar | | | | Overall the best advice for a business considering a |
| savings in the right situation....that shouldn't be persued | | | | VoIP solution for their telecommunication needs is that |
| blindly without regard to all potential ramifications. | | | | one must keep a number of things in mind. At the |
| Some businesses view the dollar savings as holy | | | | moment, there's little reason to tear out a perfectly |
| mantra in their decision making process. Often to the | | | | good analog PBX and replace it totally with VoIP |
| detriment of common sense, technical application, and | | | | unless you are rewiring your building, have expanded |
| overall business impact. | | | | beyond its capacity, or require VoIP style features. But |
| While those businesses who follow a well informed | | | | at the same time, for a business buying or doing a full |
| and well thought out approach to an educated decision | | | | upgrade, purchasing analog gear isn't really a good |
| tend to take the position....."When I buy a solution for my | | | | investment. |
| business, I want reliablility, accountabillity and stability. | | | | In the end make a smart informed business decision. |
| For this reason they prefer to buy from a major | | | | To VoIP or not to VoIP....that is the question. The |
| vendor with a track record, and are reluctant to use an | | | | answer may be yes....no....or even maybe. |
| Open source product like Asterix, because they do not | | | | |