If you are changing your small business telephone system from a traditional dedicated fixed landline to the newer VoIP technology, there are some things you need to have in place to change successfully.
1. Internet Connection
To route your calls over the Internet instead of over the existing telephone fixed landlines, you need to have a powerful Internet connection and equipment to connect and communicate with.
If your small business is using a DSL or cable modem for your Internet connectivity, you need to research the bandwidth needed for of VoIP communications (Voice over Internet Protocol).
If you are one of 1-2 employees, then DSL or cable should work fine to meet your needs. DSL and cable modems are not ideal for VoIP, but they do work acceptably well for a very small office of just one or two people.
If your office grows to more than 2 users, your small business telephone system needs to grow also. It is time to consider a more robust Internet connection.
The standard DSL and cable modems offer you a quicker download than upload speed. This generally works fine for general computer usage, but it won’t work so well for voice communication.
So, you will need to make sure that your Internet connection can support both the upload and download speeds that you need to have clear and consistent voice communication.
2. How Much Bandwidth?
The industry standard is enough bandwidth for about 1/3 rd of your employees to be on the telephone at the same time … so if you have 30 lines, you should then have enough bandwidth for 10 to be used at any one time. With a business of this size, your small business telephone system will usually require a T1 connection to the Internet.
One of the best things you can do is to work with a provider who can support both your VoIP and Internet connection needs. This will insure that you have the bandwidth necessary to get both your calls and data needs taken care of.
3. Hub vs. Switch
In addition to bandwidth to the Internet, internally you should be using switches on your network rather than hubs. While hubs are fine for electronic data transmission, the transmission of voice over your network necessitates the need for switches to be used.
4. Media Gateways
If you already have a small business telephone system in place, such as a small PBX system, you can purchase a device called a “media gateway” to connect your existing phone system to the Internet without having to replace all of your phones and equipment.
This will save you money from the equipment that would have to be replaced to upgrade to VoIP services.
Moving your small business telephone system over to VoIP requires some pre-planning and consultation with an Internet provider. An experienced provider can offer the equipment and the know-how to make your move to VoIP quickly and without any inconvenience for your employees.
By: Andrew Stratton
Posts Tagged ‘Dsl Or Cable’
Small Business Telephone System with VoIP
March 28th, 2010My VoIP Reviewed
January 14th, 2010
I have written several articles concerning VoIP. I
personally use a VoIP company called Broadvox, who has since
merged with another VoIP company and is no longer available
as Broadvox. I have used VoIP for a year now and I have to
say I am still thoroughly impressed by the quality of
service, low rates and enhanced calling features.
As with many people, I at first was a bit skeptical about
using VoIP service. We all know there are always little
quirks with new technology. Cheap calling rates for VoIP is
what finally won me over, and enticed me to give it a try.
In the beginning, there was no 911 service with my VoIP and
it would drop calls from time to time.
Without exaggeration, VoIP has saved me around seven hundred
dollars in phone service in 2005 in comparison to what I
paid the previous year. Wow! Say that out loud, seven
hundred dollars. Not only has the VoIP service saved me a
ton of money, the quality of service has increased ten fold
during the past year, including new 911 service.
One catch to VoIP is you need to have broadband Internet for
VoIP to work. I had written several articles on this topic
as well, and based on my own personal experiences. Fact is,
the combined cost of broadband Internet such as DSL or cable
broadband plus VoIP are cheaper than dial up plus
traditional phone service, hands down and case closed.
What I paid for start up cost, and the very insignificant
inconvenience of installing the telephone router a year ago
are but a distant memory. I am very pleased with VoIP
service and no longer have any use for a traditional phone
line in my home. That’s right, no traditional phone
companies for me, ever again.
VoIP is a product I highly recommend to anyone without
hesitation. VoIP is a product which once installed people
enjoy emencely. No more telemarketers trying to beat your
long distance rates. No more hidden fee’s, taxes or
expensive sir charges. As a customer of VoIP phone service I
am indeed bias. In short, I love my VoIP phone service.
By: Daymon Hoag
Broadband Phone Service is Not VoIP
October 7th, 2009
Ever come across a site that claims broadband phone is also
known as VoIP or vise verse? Or a web page that explains
PC-to-phone is VoIP? How about Internet phone service? VoIP
right? Wrong! VoIP is neither broadband phone, PC-to-phone
or Internet phone service. It’s time to set the record
straight once and for all.
VoIP is an abbreviation for Voice over Internet Protocol.
VoIP is a technology that makes such things as broadband
phone service, PC-to-phone, and Internet phone service
possible by using the Internet to send and receive phone
calls. The technology is VoIP while the means are broadband
phone or PC-to-phone and the like.
So now we know what broadband phone isn’t, I suppose this
would be a good place to explain what it is, exactly.
Broadband phone service as discussed before, uses VoIP
technology to send and receive phone calls using your
regular everyday household touch tone corded or wireless
telephone.
Technically broadband phone service doesn’t even need your
computer to work, you just need a broadband Internet
connection, and both DSL or cable broadband will work.
You’ll also need a broadband telephone adaptor to plug your
phone line into instead of the usual wall jack. Pretty
simple huh?
What broadband phone service allows you to do is bypass your
telephone company, and connect your call directly to the
same grid your phone company uses. Can you guess what that
is? Right, the Internet. All this time your phone company
has charged you just to connect your call to the Internet!
What a rip off, right?
Now just wait, it gets better. So far Uncle Sam and the
telcos have not been able to tax or collect on sir charges
as had been the case for many years with your landline phone
company. Right now additional charges are very minimal. Did
you know that taxes and hidden fee’s can make up as much as
20% of your landline phone bill?
Now on to PC-to-phone service. PC-to-phone works in much the
same way broadband phone works, but without an adapter.
Instead you just need a headset or speakers and microphone
and PC-to-phone software installed on your computer. You can
use PC-to-phone to call someones phone from your computer,
and sometimes people can even call your computer.
Now before you get excited, PC-to-phone is not free. The
cent per minute rates are low for long distance, but you
normally get charged the same amount for a local call. Whats
worse, PC-to-phone services actually do no service for you
at all. It uses the software that you downloaded and host on
your computer to track your calls, and doesn’t cost them a
penny when you make a call. You’re just paying for the
software over, and over, and over again.
Internet phone service is just a vague term for broadband
and PC-to-phone type services. So now that you know what
VoIP is not, and what broadband phone service and
PC-to-phone is, why are you still using that landline phone?
Broadband phone service is without any doubt the cheapest
phone service on the planet and is the best way to take
advantage of VoIP technology. Not to mention, it finally
gives you a way to “stick it” to your phone company.
By: Daymon Hoag
