| With business communications always the utmost | | | | to VoIP's next-generation functionality without the |
| consideration in the modern office it is imperative that | | | | disruption of a complete system overhaul. And the |
| the department or people responsible for the | | | | redundancy between the two networks prevents |
| contracting of telephone systems are aware of all the | | | | system down time in the event of a power outage or |
| advantages and disadvantages of different systems. | | | | server failure. |
| Telecommunications used to be a simple equation of | | | | VoIP Equipment |
| phones, wiring, a switchbox, and the public standard | | | | Each networking solution: analog, VoIP, and integrated, |
| telephone network. Then VoIP and wireless | | | | involves a different set of equipment. |
| technology came along, changing the telecom | | | | Conventional network equipment consists of phone |
| landscape completely. Today's businesses face a | | | | handsets, a keyboard system or PBX connecting the |
| bewildering array of choices when it comes to | | | | equipment to the PSTN. PBXs are often prohibitively |
| implementing a phone system. This white paper will | | | | expensive for small , and are increasingly obsolete with |
| help you navigate the options and find the solution that | | | | the advent of IP PBX, which can handle both analog |
| fits your business. | | | | and digital signals. But companies that have already |
| Options | | | | invested in an on-premises PBX can leverage that |
| The simple innovation of transmitting voice over a data | | | | technology in an integrated phone system, rather than |
| network has multiplied the possibilities for business | | | | starting from scratch. |
| telecommunications exponentially. The right phone | | | | A VoIP network calls for IP-enabled phones, access to |
| system depends on your company's size, structure, | | | | an IP PBX (on-premises or leased from a service |
| business model, industry, and budget. Here is a look at | | | | provider), and cables for connecting the phones to the |
| the three main decisions you will face as you explore | | | | data network. |
| your options. | | | | Integrated network equipment may differ according to |
| Which Network? | | | | the company's legacy system, and includes various |
| Telecommunications signals travel over two types of | | | | hardware and software designed to repurpose analog |
| networks: the conventional PSTN (public standard | | | | equipment for use in a converged voice-data network. |
| telephone network) or a data network. Since nearly all | | | | Nortel, Inter-Tel, and other telecom leaders have |
| businesses already have a LAN and/or Internet | | | | developed technology that retrofits conventional |
| access, the decision is whether to maintain both voice | | | | systems for digital voice technology. |
| and data networks, or to migrate the entire phone | | | | At the centre of any integrated system is the IP PBX, |
| system onto the data network. | | | | a central switchbox capable of interpreting and |
| Conventional phone networks have the benefit of | | | | transmitting signals in either analog or digital format. |
| legacy: most companies already have an analog | | | | Companies that already have a traditional PBX can |
| infrastructure in place and are naturally recalcitrant to | | | | retrofit it to work with an IP network as well. Nortel's |
| scrap their network and build a VoIP infrastructure | | | | Business Communications Manager, for example, |
| from scratch. In addition to protecting their investments, | | | | converts traditional PBX equipment to IP with add-on |
| companies may trust the old system to deliver better | | | | boards and gateways. Even traditional phone handsets |
| sound quality and security, since the PSTN is not prone | | | | can be converted to IP, with Analog Telephone |
| to such perceived issues as experienced occasionally | | | | Adapters (ATA). |
| with the internet. The PSTN functions during a power | | | | Hosted IP Platform |
| outage, for example, whereas VoIP requires a | | | | Your telecommunications hardware purchase will also |
| constant Internet connection. | | | | depend on your service contract. Service providers |
| Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is the (relatively) | | | | often provide access to either the PSTN or the |
| new comer to the communications scene, offering an | | | | Internet. Or they may provide both network access |
| unbeatable value proposition: advanced functionality at | | | | and the necessary communications infrastructure. For |
| a lower cost. VoIP technology converts voice signals | | | | example, businesses have the option to purchase a |
| into digital data packets, which it transmits over a data | | | | PBX for on-premises installation or lease access to a |
| network: the company LAN, WLAN, the Internet, or | | | | central PBX maintained by the service provider. Since |
| wireless. A company's VoIP network is accessible not | | | | PBX systems involve a significant upfront investment, |
| only in the office, but from any Internet contact | | | | hosted service offers an affordable alternative for |
| point-which, thanks to wireless hotspots, is just about | | | | small and mid-sized businesses. |
| anywhere in the world, any time of day. Since voice | | | | Jay Littleone from Best4IP - a UK based company |
| data travels over a company's computer network, | | | | specialising in the provisioning, installation and support of |
| VoIP also has the advantage of easy maintenance | | | | VOIP Equipment says: "We are seeing, these days, a |
| and integration with data communications applications | | | | rapid transition from the traditional telephone system to |
| such as CRM. | | | | a fully integrated and strategic model which can be |
| VoIP technology is more likely to run into quality issues, | | | | installed quickly and cheaply - empowering the user |
| however. In its early stages of development, VoIP was | | | | rather than the provider." |
| prone to time delays and poor sound quality. These | | | | The scalability of hosted service makes it a good |
| issues have all but disappeared with technological | | | | choice for small, seasonal, and rapidly growing |
| advances. But the fact remains that VoIP depends on | | | | businesses. Service providers such as Avalle offer |
| an active Internet connection. Limited bandwidth, | | | | monthly subscriptions on a per-user basis. Subscribers |
| compatibility of the recipient's hardware, and incorrect | | | | can choose functionality a la carte, paying only for the |
| sequencing of voice data packets could compromise | | | | features they need. Hosted service offers the ultimate |
| sound quality-and if the connection is lost due to power | | | | in flexibility-providers are always on hand with |
| outage or server problems, so is the call. | | | | high-capacity equipment when needed. Subscribers |
| Integrated telecommunication systems combine the | | | | can ramp up or add advanced features instantly. In |
| best of both worlds-they bridge the gap between | | | | addition, companies save on IT costs-maintenance is |
| analog and digital telephony. Integrated technology | | | | the provider's responsibility. |
| allows voice and data networks to communicate. By | | | | So all in all you can be sure that modern improvements |
| maintaining both networks, companies protect their | | | | in Voice Over Internet Protocols have lead to scalable, |
| capital investments. Rather than scrap their legacy | | | | sustainable VOIP systems which lower the TCO (total |
| systems, they simply extend them by attaching VoIP | | | | cost of ownership) for the telecommunications |
| functionality as needed. This enables gradual migration | | | | purchaser and give greater flexibility to the user. |