How To Set Up A Business VoIP System
To set up a business
VoIP system, you need several components. A central device to
manage the calls, the way a private branch exchange (PBX) or
key system unit (KSU) does in traditional phone systems is one
of them.
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
Michael is the owner of
FreedomFire Communications....including
Business-VoIP-Solution 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.
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