How To Set Up A Business VoIP System
This can be a dedicated piece of hardware such as an IP PBX, a
regular PBX that has been IP-enabled, or a server running
specialized software. You will also need phones and a data
network. In many cases, you may be able to use your existing
digital phones and computer network, although you may need to
upgrade some of your network hardware.
VoIP Benefit
The most prominent benefit of an IP PBX is for businesses with
multiple locations. With the advantage of VoIP, all the offices
on a LAN or WAN can get the profits of having a common office
phone system. The profits are - extension dialing, seamless call
transfers, and other features.
In addition to making it easier to communicate, this sharing of
features can enhance collaboration as employees at different
locations can truly feel like they are part of the same
organization. Plus, if they are on the company network, the
phone calls are free - even if your offices are located
thousands of miles apart. It is an advantage in saving money
expended on calling between two branches of the same office.
VoIP Conversations
Computer networks are designed to handle messy data: packets
arrive out of order and some are even lost, but in most cases
the data being sent can easily be reconstructed when it is
needed. Voice conversations, though, are not as tolerant of
these kinds of disturbances. Each packet of sound has to arrive
in the correct order because they are being sent in real time -
if packets are lost; the conversation sounds distorted, choppy,
or falls off all together. This is why VoIP services that rely
on the Internet to transmit calls can have uneven phone quality.
The selection of a business VoIP solution is a major decision.
Voice service is critical to the operation of the business, so
no one wants to implement a technology that will compromise call
quality or reliability in any way. On the other hand, the cost
savings and value-added functionality available with VoIP makes
it a compelling investment.
LANs & WANs
The VoIP phone system is beneficial for companies having
multiple locations branches, telecommuters and remote sales
offices. And the locations are connected with a company's Local
Area Network (LAN) or Wide Area Network (WAN). In that case the
companies are suitable for using a VoIP system.
You can share the full features of your phone system across all
your locations. In addition, even if you have one office in one
place and one in different place, VoIP allows calls between them
via extension dialing, making it a zero cost call. For
businesses with hefty monthly long distance charges due to calls
between far off locations, is an attractive reason to upgrade.
VoIP Process
A VoIP phoning process requires a regular phone, an adapter,
broadband Internet service, and a subscription to a VoIP
service. When you place a call, it is sent over the Internet as
data until it nears the recipient's destination.
Then the call is translated back into a more traditional format
and completes the trip over standard phone lines. Also known as
Internet telephony, this allows for extremely cheap
long-distance and international calls.
VoIP Drawbacks
The main drawback of VoIP systems is the network requirements.
In VoIP telephony the greatest challenge is the bandwidth. It
requires high bandwidth for clear messaging.
About the author:
Michael is the owner of FreedomFire Communications....including
Business-Vo
IP-Solution.com and DS3-Bandwidth.com. Michael
also authors Broadband Nation
where you're always welcome to drop in and catch up on the
latest BroadBand news, tips, resources, and insights.