| There are a lot of thoughts on this topic. Since Cisco | | | | VoIP adds complication to the way that your calls are |
| began promoting their voice products back in 1998 the | | | | transmitted around your organization. Where the voice |
| common perception is that VoIP solves everything. | | | | system was once a separate island with easy to |
| You need a telephone system? VoIP. Your business | | | | identify issues - it is now integrated into your data |
| has a network? You need to put VoIP in place. Trying | | | | network. That means that your network, computers, |
| to drive more sales? VoIP. The coffee machine needs | | | | and phones are all using the same technologies and |
| to be cleaned? VoIP! | | | | can impact each other. This usually translates into |
| Cisco is not alone in this. Our industry is plagued with | | | | higher support costs if you do have problems. Network |
| equipment and services providers trying to squeeze | | | | engineers bill at a higher rate and the problems |
| every marketing angle out of this technology. It does | | | | potentially have more sources. |
| bring a lot of flexibility but stops short of cleaning | | | | Common Misconceptions |
| coffee makers or toilets. | | | | The combination of the promise of new technology |
| What is VoIP? | | | | combined with marketing fervor makes for some tall |
| Simply put, it is taking your voice communications and | | | | tales. What's the truth? |
| transforming them into data that can then be | | | | Voice over IP may save your company money in |
| transmitted on your network or on the Internet. | | | | phone services costs. It may not. It depends on what |
| How can this help your company? | | | | type of lines you have today and your calling patterns. |
| This technology can be used to connect your offices | | | | VoIP is required to get an easy to use, feature rich |
| across the country into one dial plan, using data circuits | | | | system. Not so true. While most of the newer |
| you may have for other purposes. It can provide a | | | | systems that have the better features are VoIP, it isn't |
| way for the company to have home office workers | | | | a requirement. Many companies such as Toshiba, |
| who are part of the phone system - so that calls can | | | | Avaya, Inter-tel and others provide advanced features |
| be transferred to and from them just like they were in | | | | to users of older tech digital telephones. It's all in the |
| the office. More advanced applications can be | | | | design of your system. |
| incorporated into your phone system at a lower cost | | | | Voice over IP gives you poor call quality. This can be |
| than other technologies. Features such as call | | | | true, however, it is avoided through the careful design |
| recording, voicemail to email, network faxing, and call | | | | and implementation of your system. |
| center are easier to deploy when the system is | | | | In Summary |
| already aware of your network. Any most typically, | | | | Voice over IP can help many businesses if applied in |
| the administration of these systems is much easier | | | | the right context. Voice over IP can also be a drain on |
| than other systems due to the fact that many use a | | | | a business in financial terms and a loss of productivity. |
| web browser or a Windows program to do the heavy | | | | Consult with an experienced company that is |
| lifting. The administrator needs to know less about how | | | | interested in finding solutions - not just selling a product |
| the system works to make it do what they need | | | | or service. They can help you leverage this technology |
| done. | | | | to stay on top of your communications while making |
| How can this hurt my company? | | | | the most of your investment. |