VoIP : The Reality
To listen to the Hype surrounding Voice over Internet Protocols (VoIP) and Session Initiation Protocols (SIP), the world will stop turning if users do not migrate to the technology NOW!!! There are also those who believe that the technology will never and can never replace the existing, robust wire based voice network. As usual with new technologies, the truth is somewhere in the middle.
It is a fact that the existing voice network is robust and offers a guarantee of service that often cannot be rivalled by IP voice.
It is also fact that the technology upon which the Public Switching Telephone Network (PSTN) is based is restrictive and in many ways old fashioned.
So often the choice should be based around why you need to change your network at all. To do that it is essential to understand the benefits of the new network before deciding where your future lies.
Key Benefits of using the IP VoiceServer VOIP PBX:
- Carry all voice and data from one site to another
- Make all your devices operate through one single structure
- Remove remote call costs
- Make all your existing telephone numbers non-geographic
- Centralize applications
- Reduce the number of lines required throughout your business
Caveats to achieving successful outcomes
You must firstly ensure that the benefits suit the requirements of your business.
It must be understood that the Internet is an ad-hoc network. Unlike the PSTN, there is no guarantee of channels when using ADSL. Contention and data requirements at the time of the call often dictate the quality.
To alleviate the above, Clients are advised to undertake an audit of number of user channels required. A service should then be ordered based on that need. To guarantee a level of service, clients should order either an SDSL or MPLS Service
