BY CRAIG STEPHENSON
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is
the top of mind request for most of our
customers, whether it’s to upgrade to a better
system, or for a first time install, but the
“newest thing” isn’t always the best product
for your business.
The term VoIP is being thrown around
as a catch-all for many levels of service and
it’s important to understand what you are
actually getting when you are offered a VoIP
Solution.
Within your business, a true VoIP system
uses your existing network to manage both
your computer traffic and your phone traffic
on the same data lines, therefore saving
you the cost of additional cable runs. This
is best implemented in new construction,
or for companies upgrading their entire
network infrastructure. In this instance,
integrating your telephone service over your
company network can save you money; but
if not implemented correctly, can bring your
network to a crawl and introduce a layer of
complexity that can impact your call quality,
and ultimately your customers.
These integrations need to be planned
and implemented by experienced professionals
with a solid telephony and networking background. Testing the existing bandwidth
is required prior to installing a VoIP system.
Some service providers will sell VoIP or
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) where the
data line coming into your building caries both your voice and data over the same line.
You may still have the old digital phone system
you purchased five years ago. However,
the service provider will install a converter
so your phone system can send your phone
calls through those new data lines.
Although technically a VoIP system, this is
not an end-to-end solution and you still have
separate phone and data lines within your
office, and you retain your old phone system.
This option can save some companies money
on their monthly phone bill, so don’t be quick
to dismiss this as a viable option. Ask your
technology provider for an assessment of
your carrier services so you can determine
the actual savings you could receive.
The last option is fully hosted VoIP. With
this type of system, the phone on your
desk connects directly to the internet, and
ultimately to software in the cloud, which
manages your phone calls.
With a large number of the hosted services
currently in the marketplace, your call quality
is at the mercy of the internet. Once that
call leaves your network, you may have one
call that is crystal clear, while the next call sounds like you are connected to someone
hiking in the Adirondacks, talking on a cell
phone from the 1990s. There are, however,
companies that have refined the technology
to manage and monitor the call quality.
These companies will provide guaranteed
reliability, so be sure to do your research
before considering a hosted VoIP provider.
This application is best for companies with
multiple locations across geographically
diverse regions.
The key consideration in any VoIP solution
is to have a network audit to determine
your current status, and the appropriate
bandwidth necessary to implement a VoIP
solution.
Understanding the different flavors of
VoIP will help you decide which, if any, is
the best option for you.
VoIP systems are perfect for many of
today’s business needs; however, the current
premise-based phone systems available today
allow for hybrid solutions that could provide
you with additional options.
Stephenson is sales and marketing manager
at Tech II Business Services Inc.
Photo Courtesy Tech II Business Services