VOIP voice over internet protocol
360 Solutions Limited - Burton Upon Trent based Communication Specialists
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) represents the latest in phone system technology. With it, regular voice calls are sent over a computer network instead of traditional phone lines.
VoIP has been touted as “coming soon” since the first PC-to-PC telephony applications were introduced in 1995 – and it has finally arrived. In recent years the audio quality has improved drastically, technology has gotten cheaper, and business adoption has started to spike. According to industry analysts Frost & Sullivan, worldwide revenues for IP PBXs (the heart of a VoIP phone system) are expected to grow from $1.96 billion in 2003 to $9.08 billion in 2007. Other industry players predict that by then, more than half of all phone traffic worldwide will be internet protocol based.
There are two basic varieties of VoIP. In its simplest form, voice over internet protocol 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.
This Guide, however, addresses VoIP phone systems - equipment installed at your business that routes internal calls over your computer network. With VoIP, you can unite multiple offices on a single phone system. No matter how remote the locations, a VoIP phone system can completely eliminate long-distance calling charges between them. However, it does not replace your existing phone service to the outside world.
VoIP systems can work for the smallest offices and the largest enterprises. In fact, IP PBXs will likely replace traditional PBX phone systems as prices fall and reliability improves, which helps explain why so many IP PBX manufacturers are familiar telecom heavyweights.
For information on Voice over IP speak to communications consultants,
360 solutions - see their website at: 360-solutions.co.uk
The premise behind Voice over IP is fairly straightforward: instead of using "circuit-switched" technology, where a dedicated path from caller to receiver is reserved for their entire conversation, VoIP phone systems treat voices as data, turning your words into tiny packets of information that are sent over data networks. As they arrive at the other end of the call, the data is turned back into audio.
To set up a business Voice
over IP system, you need several components. A central device manages
the calls, the way a private branch exchange (PBX) or key system unit
(KSU) does in traditional phone systems. 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.
Depending on your Voice over IP setup, internal calls are routed over
your existing phone network or your computer network. Calls within the
same office will typically be conveyed over your phone network, while
calls to other company locations get routed over your computer network.
Calls to external phone numbers get sent through the network to a gateway,
which connects to the public telephone network. All of your calls connect
seamlessly to any phone user - there are no compatibility issues to worry
about.
The expansion in voice over internet protocol telephony has come along way in the past year or so, now many UK household names are providing VoIP solutions for the home as well as the business environment. From your favourite local supermarket to the major international phone companies.
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For information on Voice over IP speak to communications consultants, 360 solutions - see their website at: 360-solutions.co.uk
