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Is an IP system right for me?
Some IP Systems require the licensing of optional equipment and software. Larger, more advanced IP Systems like the Samsung OfficeServ, and the Vertical SBX IP320 have optional advanced features and functions that may require the purchase of separate licenses and/or equipment in order to activate that particular product or feature. An example of this would be adding an off-site IP telephone in a different city or state connected to the main system that might require a site license. License costs and optional features vary from IP system to IP system, so please research them thoroughly. Smaller and medium size systems that DO NOT require licensing fees are the AastraLink Pro 160, Adtran NetVanta, Xblue Networks X16 and the Inter-Tel 3000 IP.
IP Phone Systems have features and optional equipment that are EXTREMLY advanced and unlike most features found on conventional analog, digital, or hybrid systems. IP Phone Systems are NOT harder to install than regular conventional systems, but they may require additional expertise when it comes to programming and configuring them. Besides the basic telephony knowledge required for phone systems, a complete understanding of LAN’s, WAN’s and Data Networking is also required for programming and configuring most IP Systems for off-site operations. The provided system manuals will fully explain this in technical terms, but depending on your knowledge on IP addressing, you may also require help from your local Network Administrator since the provided manuals will assume you already have a basic knowledge of computer networking fundamentals. An IP phone system will become PART of your computer network system (LAN), so if you understand your LAN's operations, you should have no trouble integrating the phone system to it. The rule of thumb here is that if you can configure a computer network system using IP addresses, MAC addresses, routers and switches, etc, then you should be able to set up an IP phone system as well. Most IP Systems tend to cost more than a conventional analog or digital phone system due to the more advanced features they contain. If you DO NOT have multiple offices that require integration or require off site locations for telecommuters, then most likely a regular analog or digital phone system will meet all your business needs and requirements.
Are there disadvantages to an IP phone system?
- On the average, and IP phone system will cost you more. If you don't have multiple business locations that need to be networked together, a conventional analog, digital or hybrid phone system may be a better choice for you.
- Most IP Phone System require CAT5/6 wiring. Its the same wiring used for your Computer network system. This may be advantages when adding a phone where a PC is already located because you can use the same wiring for both the IP phone and PC. If you don't have a networked PC at that location, then you will need to run Cat5/6 wiring to that location for the IP phone.
- There is a myth that an IP system is not reliable. The fact is, an IP system is just as reliable, if not more reliable, than a conventional digital phone system. The MOST commonly reported problem with an IP system has to do with Quality-of-Service (QoS). The fact is, if you do not have the proper amount of bandwidth at all locations, then you will experience poor voice quality. The rule of thumb is simple. Maintain proper bandwidth for the amount of equipment is use and you will be extremely happy with the features and functions of an IP system. Period.
Need more help? ask us or download the free dummies manuals below provided by Avaya (also apply to all other IP phone systems):
 Download SIP for Dummies by Peter Gregory |
Telephones.com suggests small businesses or organizations should consider transitioning to IP telephony when:
• They are using IP Centrex lines that will support phone and Internet service on the same network. Moving to IP telephony will immediately reduce costs because these lines are so expensive.
• The organization is moving to a new building. Since the wiring does not yet exist, it’s simple to create a consolidated data and voice network.
• They are coming to the end of a PBX lease agreement or the current phone system is outdated, obsolete or unsupported by a vendor or service provider.
• The company has offices in different area codes and employees dial a lot of long-distance numbers. The reduction in toll charges will be immediate and significant.
You will also want to consider IP telephony for your organization if:
• Your locations shift in size often
• Locations are added regularly
• You have a relatively small technology staff
• You use a great deal of outsourced telephony services that are beginning to add up
• Many of your employees frequently work remotely
Once you’ve evaluated your organization carefully, analyzing the costs of your current telephony solution along with your employee productivity and customer service needs, and decided that indeed, IP telephony is the way to go, the next chapter will help you with the vendor evaluation and selection process.
Customers that want to extend IP telephony across the WAN have three basic adjustments to make to their network:
- A high speed broadband connection with enough bandwidth to support all your computers with simultaneous internet connections, multiple SIP trunks, network cameras, etc, etc.
- A Quality-of-Service (QoS) mechanism so that all the routers in a connection give voice traffic top priority. Your more advanced routers will provide QoS.
- Sufficient local and wide-area bandwidth to accommodate the needs of a real-time application like voice. On the average, to use 1 line of SIP service, you must have a minimum of 128k on both inbound and outbound paths of your broadband circuit, and a maximum latency of 150 milliseconds.
- A Service Level Agreement (SLA) with a fiber or long-haul service provider containing specific thresholds for packetized conducive for voice handling.
*Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM) is a type of digital or (rarely) analog multiplexing in which two or more signals or bit streams are transferred apparently simultaneously as sub-channels in one communication channel, but are physically taking turns on the channel. The time domain is divided into several recurrent timeslots of fixed length, one for each sub-channel. A sample byte or data block of sub-channel 1 is transmitted during timeslot 1, sub-channel 2 during timeslot 2, etc. One TDM frame consists of one timeslot per sub-channel. After the last sub-channel the cycle starts all over again with a new frame, starting with the second sample, byte or data block from sub-channel. What does this mean? It means that a shift in the market has occurred. TDM is being quickly displaced with VoIP and IP Telephony. IP systems are now an essential component of the business technology infrastructure. We use to think that this technology was off in the future, and we didn't need to worry about it yet. Actually, it here now, and you will get left behind if you don't adapt now.! |
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Why IP Or VoIP? |
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| The latest VoIP systems are available RIGHT NOW! Due to the fact that most major manufacturers
have joined the VoIP market over the last several years, the
time could not be better for you to get into this latest technology!
There are many brands out there now, so let our IT professionals help you decide
on the best system for you! |
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Still Confused About VoIP? |
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| Don't be. We'll make it simple. Our technicians are Microsoft Certified (MCITP) IT Professionals and can help you determine the best VoIP system for your specific application. After all, Telephones.com has been in the telecommunications business for over 23 years now and knows business telephone systems like no other! Not only will Telephones.com provide the best equipment at the best price for your business, but we will continue to provide you with professional support throughout the life of your system. Try out our Award Winning Service for yourself. Call us at 800.400.9884 and let one of our IT professionals help you determine the best system for you. |
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