What is VoIP
Unless you’ve been sleeping under a very big rock for the last year, you’ve certainly heard the phrase “Voice over IP” uttered. Perhaps you’ve seen those hilarious Vonage commercials that feature painful and embarrassing accidents caught on tape, promising to let you dump your local phone company in order save big on your phone bill. You may also have seen the Cisco telephones that are curiously inserted in prime-time shows like 24.
What is all the hubbub about, anyway? Why, VoIP, of course! VoIP, the fabulous secret ingredient in Vonage, Skype, Cisco CallManager, and a host of other revolutionary technology products you may have already encountered on TV, in the news, or in person. But what makes these products so revolutionary? What is it about VoIP that is such a big deal?
Voice over Internet Protocol is a family of technologies that enable voice communications using IP networks like the internet. Inventive developers and entrepreneurs have created an industry around VoIP technology in its many forms: desktop applications, telephone services, and corporate phone systems. VoIP is a core technology that drives everything from voice-chat software loaded on a desktop PC to Mac full-blown IP-based telecommunications networks in large corporations. To the Wall Street speculator, VoIP is a single technology investment with many revenue streams. To the enterprise network engineer, it’s a way to simplify the corporate network and improve the telephony experience for users of the network. To the home user, it’s a really cool way to save money on the old phone bill.
What is Internet Telephony?
So exactly what is internet telephony? Also called Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP), it is the technology that gives the ability to take an analog voice signal and translate it to a digital signal. That digital signal is then sent from one computer across the internet to the receiving computer, where it is reconverted to an analog signal that the receiver hears as the caller’s voice.
Or, if only the originating caller has VOIP, they can still make a call using VOIP. The provider will route the call across the internet to the ‘node’ (local phone switch) nearest the receiver’s location. Usually the caller has to pay a small fee for this service. By using the internet instead of a long-distance company’s telephone network, the caller avoids paying any long-distance fees.
There are, however, variations to the answer of the question about what is internet telephony. Depending on what the customer wants or needs, their level of comfort with technology and their other telephony needs, they have a choice as to what kind of internet telephony service they select.
So when we consider the question of what is internet telephony, we must start with the basic VOIP technology and then look at the packages in which it is offered to the customer.
There are VOIP providers who provide both the internet (usually, broadband internet) service, local phone service with all the calling features the local phone company offers, plus the software and hardware needed to make calls. They usually charge equipment fees and monthly service fees.
Then there are those who provide only the VOIP service over your existing broadband connection, and equipment is optional. But if you have a PC with speakers, a sound card, a microphone and an internet connection, you can even purchase or download software that will allow you to set up your own VOIP calls, free of any monthly or long-distance charges.
88% of business users back VoIP technology
Research carried out by Data Integration in conjunction with Extreme Networks found that VoIP telephony systems have around 60 per cent market penetration among big businesses, with 88 per cent of users giving the technology positive feedback, reports vnu.net.
Another 27.2 per cent of businesses intend to implement VoIP communication systems within the next three years, the survey found. However, less than a third of those questioned were currently running IP video over their networks.
According to Extreme Networks’ regional director for the UK and Ireland, this low uptake reflects a “lack of understanding” about the potential of video communication for businesses.
“This [uptake] could be down to the false start caused by early and expensive video solutions, or the lack of understanding of its future benefits,” he said. Benefits of VoIP and video conferencing include reduced environmental impact from less travel and lower telecommunications costs.
The survey questioned UK firms with over 500 employees.
Top VoIP Phone System Features
There are three basic kinds of phone system. The first is what is called a keyless system or a KSU-less system. These are very lightweight phone systems that are for organizations with fewer than ten employees that also have very basic phone requirements. The advantage of these systems is that they are very inexpensive and very easy to set up and run. They are portable and can be moved easily if you relocate. Typically you get very little support and maintenance from your service provider in a keyless system. In addition, features like preventing users from picking up a line in the middle of another call are often impossible to implement.
Next largest is what is called a key system. These use a key system unit (KSU) that is a central control unit that provides features and functions for your phone system that aren’t available on ordinary phones such as extension management and locking users off from lines that are in use. These are essentially closed, ‘black-box’ units that provide 80% of the functions of a basic PBX system for a lower cost. They are typically used in businesses with from 5 to 40 or 50 employees that have only basic business telephony needs.
Finally are PBX systems – these are the most common kind of business phone system and they are the most flexible. With PBX systems that are designed fro as few as 5 users and as many as several thousand users in multiple locations. You can choose to have the PBX system on your business premises or you can have it hosted at a service provider who then performs upgrades and maintenance for you.
Then you have to look at the features of the phone system – these are different than the features of a particular phone itself. They are the features that provide the added business value which is the reason you turn to a phone system in the first place. It may be that you business needs clear, easy-to-set up conference calling, or call tracking that can be tied in to a client billing system, or the ability to tie employees’ cell phones into the overall phone system, or any of over a hundred other complex features that can be important in business.
Beyond the basic decision of what the phone system should do is also the decision about how to connect the phone system and if you have the required infrastructure or networking in place to support the phone system you want. You may find that you have to budget a network upgrade or a broadband supplier upgrade. And that may change your budget priorities.
But it is easy to forget the basics when you start looking at advanced features. Before you let yourself get seduced by ‘find-me-follow-me’ and click-to-call, you might want to check that your basic business-critical functions are covered. For example, there are many VoIP phone systems that have advanced features but do not offer paging or intercom features.
The other non-negotiable issue is call quality. Fortunately there are a few basic issues to make sure of in terms of call quality and if they are dealt with then VoIP will often offer better call quality than any older phone technology. The primary issue is bandwidth. You need about 128kbps of bandwidth per active call line in your phone system. You also want to evaluate your internal network to look at priority of traffic and latency to make sure that packets get routed internally fast enough to maintain call quality. A good VoIP service provider can help with analysis and guidelines to make sure your system can keep up and some service providers will offer real-time monitoring to make sure your phone system can keep up.
The last issue is around hosted versus on-premise systems. This comes down mostly to a business decision. Do you need to maintain control and core access to management and features of your system in house? Or do you want to install and forget and not think about your system? In the latter case you should look seriously at hosted solutions and in the former at on-premise solutions.
Key Questions to ask yourself before deciding on a phone system.
What is the size of my business in terms of number of employees using the phone now?
And in two years?
What kind of internal computer and network systems do I have? Can they handle VoIP?
Do I need to install something new or perform and upgrade?
What are the core features I need from a phone system – no matter what? The features that I cannot leave out for the good of my business?
The answers to these questions need to be your foremost guide. In terms of size you need to be able to figure out how many extensions (actual phones) you need AND you need to know how many outside lines you need. Typically this is about a third of the number of phones but if your business involves a lot of calling for sales or service reasons, you may need more. In terms of your network you do NOT want to install a phone system and then discover that to make it work effectively you need to spend as much again on upgrading your network. And in terms of features you do not want to compromise on the features you need just to get something fancy which may or may not fit into your day-to-day operations.
Michigan VoIP
Facts And Tips:
Both Michigan DSL and cable modem services provide sufficient broadband Internet access bandwidth to support this VOIP phone service. We do recommend cable over DSL because it provides a slightly greater bandwidth.
You can add an additional phone number with a different area code to your VOIP Michigan provider. This is called a “Virtual Phone Number”. This is a great tool if you have a business and you want your business to have a local presence in more than 1 area code.
Your physical location does not matter when determining your “local or regional area code”. You can choose any available area code. What matters is what area code your VOIP Michigan provider phone is setup to use.
How to make calls?
Local - Just pick up the telephone connected to the VOIP Michigan provider phone service and call the number you are trying to reach.
Long Distance - Just pick up the telephone connected to the VOIP Michigan provider phone service and call the number you are trying to reach.
International Calls - Just pick up the telephone connected to the VOIP Michigan provider phone service and call the number you are trying to reach. To dial international you need to dial 011 + country code + city code + phone number.
You can use VOIP Michigan provider phone service anywhere in the world, as long as you have a high speed internet connection. Just take your adapter with you.
Installation VOIP Michigan Provider? You may need a router for an open port. Think of it as a splitter. Plug the adapter into your network using a standard ethernet cable (included).
Plug in the power supply.
Plug your telephone into the adapter.
* Enhanced 911 (E911) Service Now Available You may have read in the newspapers about the huge discussions taking place about 911 services not being available on VOIP Michigan provider phone service. This has presented a problem for many people who just assume that 911 service is available when they have an emergency, but that has not necessarily been the case. Packet8 and MyPhoneCompany offer Michigan VOIP enhanced 911 service option. The FCC has mandated that broadband phone vendors make 911 service available to customers in the near future.
What Is VoIP And How Does VoIP Work
VoIP at present is becoming the most cost effective way to make long distance telephone calls. Before VoIP telephone service providers had a strong hold on lucrative and 99% of the time over priced long distance services.
Due to the introduction of Voip the long distance calling market has began to open to up to competition. The main reason for this is that most Internet users will begin implementing VoIP. The main reason being that VoIP is the most cost effective way to make long distance telephone calls.
VoIP Development Process
Over the last 10 year VoIP has been slowly developing. In the early days computer users were able to talk to one another through their computers. You were only able to do this if you had a voice enabled computer with good Internet connection and you would need to have a software program installed on your computer.
The main advantage to this was that it allowed user to be able to contact anyone from around the world for free aslong as they had the same setup as you.
The disadvantages to this system was that sound quality was never great, broadband was not being widely used and the user you were trying to contact would have to be online.
Today’s VoIP has made these problems a thing of the past.
The two things that were required to make VoIP technology appeal to the wide spread market have been accomplished.
Broadband is now a widly used internet service. This allows users to have a stable internet connection that can always be on.
Secondly the VoIP industry has been able to develop a simple and inexpenisve way of integrating the IP network (aka Internet) with a traditional telephone system.
What this means is that VoIP users are able to use their own telephone to call anyone else in the world who has the traditonal telephone connection.
Traditional telecom companies such as Qwest, AT&T and Bell have developed their own type of VoIP technology. This has given consumers a huge number of choices. Now anybody anywhere with a boradband internet connection is able to call anyone anywhere in the world who has a ordinary telephone connection.
Why VoIP Will Save You Money
The major advantage of VoIP is the low cost, with no significant decrease in voice quality.
1st, a VoIP subscriber doesn’t require a traditional phone line. Instead, you are assigned a phone number by your VoIP provider.
Prices for these calls can be as low as $9 per month. 2nd, virtually all VoIP subscribers will buy a “bundle” of services that includes unlimited incoming calls and unlimited long distance calls to anyone in a defined geographic area. As an example, VoIP unlimited calling plans to anyone in the US or even Canada will only cost around $20 per month.
Third, virtually all VoIP service providers offer free bundled features that virtually all traditional telephone corporations charge for. These include free voicemail, call forwarding, caller ID, call waiting, call waiting ID, three way calling, speed dialing.
VoIP provides better flexibility and portability
An additional important benefit is the flexibility and portability of VoIP phone service. With VoIP your individual telephone number is programmed into the converter that acts as a bridge between your internet connection and your regular telephone.
This has many important benefits. As already mentioned you don’t want an actual land line. Instead your telephone number is assigned to your converter (not to your geographic land line). So you are able to take your converter with you anywhere in the globe, plug it into any available broadband connection, and immediately you can employ your regular number to produce and receive calls.
This flexibility also lets you select a number in an area code where virtually all of your long distance calls originate. For instance, if many of your friends, family, business associates or even customers are calling from a specific city that traditionally involved an extended distance call for them, you may pick a number in that area code and immediately turn all their calls to you into local (free) calls for them.
The benefits of VoIP are many, and the savings can be incredibly important. So it’s no wonder that VoIP has turned into the hottest telecom technology of the decade. Informed consumers and businesses around the globe are adopting this technology at a phenomenal rate.
Free VoIP Calls
You too can experience the power of Free VoIP with a High Speed Internet connection. In fact, you may have already tried this technology without even realizing it. There are many services and programs that have been available for free, on the Internet, for the past ten years that have embraced VoIP.
Dial-pad was known for allowing people to connect a microphone and speakers to their computers and then make long distance calls virtually world wide for free. Well, Dial-pad isn’t free any more, but if you do purchase their monthly service, they do provide an option for unlimited long distance calling. This service is still comparable to other telephone providers.
Currently most of the free VoIP have begun to charge a monthly fee for their services. There is still one program left that is absolutely free. That is Ad Calls. This program displays various advertisements on their display while you can use the service to make free calls. There are limitations to this program however. You can only use the service for ten minutes at a time, and you are unable to call toll free numbers.
The major VoIP programs that embrace free VoIP calling left on the Internet are bundled with your Instant Messaging programs. Programs such as Yahoo Messenger have recently been redesigned with the ability to make free VoIP voice phone calls. You won’t be able to call a landline telephone however. You will need to use the program to call another member who is using the same program. For example, if you have the newly VoIP enabled Yahoo Messenger downloaded to your computer, yet your buddy (who lives across the world) is using the old Yahoo Messenger, you can send them a link to download and upgrade their current version. Once they have installed the new Yahoo Messenger, you will see a “call” button with a phone icon at the top of your Yahoo Messenger chat box. By clicking call, you will be using free VoIP technology to send a phone call to your buddy’s computer. The receiving computer will actually ring, like a standard telephone, and your buddy will have the option of accepting or declining the phone call. All that is needed is a high speed Internet connection, this provides the best audio quality and speed), a microphone, and speakers. You and your buddy are free to talk as long as you like. The other advantage to Instant Messengers that allow free VoIP calls is the ability to call more than one person. You can call people on your buddy list, and invite them for a conference call. This has unlimited potential and can be used by small businesses for free training calls, and by people everywhere who just want to stay in touch with friends and family.
Other Internet Messaging services that have embraced VoIP calling include MSN and AOL Instant Messenger, and Google has begun their new service, Google Talk.
VoIP is a preferred method of telecommunications due to the fact that you can integrate audio, video, and web based applications with one program. The Instant Messaging programs are perfect examples of how audio and web based communications are working together to increase communication. Also included with many Instant Messaging programs is the ability to hook up a digital camera or web cam and incorporate video with your audio and web based application.
VoIP telephones are also beginning to incorporate video with their free VoIP services. This will be a very popular trend in the future. As there are over 900 million Instant Messaging subscribers, people are already experiencing the power and freedom of converged communications.
Cellular phones are realizing that people want to combine video with their audio, and many videophones are being released. Some phones have gone the next level and have combined audio, video, and graphics by allowing you to store pictures in your telephone, and use it as a camera.
As the technology of VoIP continues to advance, we can rest assured that more “Beta” programs will be released and as that occurs, keep your eye out for more free VoIP programs. Talk no longer cheap, its free!
How Do I Compare Voip Providers?
The first thing you’ll want to do when you want to compare VoIP providers is find out which ones offer services in your area. You may be able to eliminate a couple providers just by looking at their areas of service. Once you eliminate the providers that just won’t work out, you’ll have to look at features and price.
One of the biggest differences between VoIP providers is the features that they can offer. Many have very easy to use routers that allow you to use a regular analog signal and digital signal when it’s suitable. Some VoIP providers only allow calls to other VoIP users, and others allow you to call anyone, anywhere, anytime.
If you make a lot of long distance calls you’ll really want to pay attention to the plans and the provider that you go with. Some VoIP providers don’t distinguish between local and long distance calls, so you basically get all your calls one month for just a service fee. Other VoIP service providers don’t allow you to make long distance calls, or they charge exorbitant fees for them. So, the amount of long distance phone calls you make may be the deciding factor in your choice for a VoIP provider.
Do a lot of research, just like you would when you are looking into any service. If you know whom you are dealing with it’s a lot easier to make an educated decision. When you determine exactly what you need then it’s just a matter of matching your needs with what is offered! Good luck, VoIP is definitely the wave of the future and it will only get easier and more advanced!
Free Voip
VOIP vs Traditional Telephones
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is the technology of taking audio and transmitting it as data over the Internet. Traditional telephone lines use Circuit Switching, like switchboard operators, which is an electric current. VoIP uses Packet Switching that converts audio into data packets and transfers them over the Internet.
Free Voip being used now!
VoIP is the technology used behind combining Instant Messaging and voice. Many companies are now incorporating free VoIP with their Instant Messaging programs. All that is required is that the group are using the same application. For instance, the new Yahoo Messenger will let you call your friends on the buddies list. All you will need is a microphone and speakers attached to your computer to get free voip experience. MSN, AOL Instant and Yahoo Messengers are all integrating with VoIP. This gives people a taste of free VoIP, before going out and purchasing VoIP services for their homes or offices.
Getting connect to free Voip
It is simple to download any of these free VoIP enabled Instant Messengers. You simply go to their websites, and click on installation/download links for the applications and follow the instructions. You will need speakers and a microphone-and of course, a soundboard. If you would like to incorporate video with your Instant Messaging, you can hook up a small digital camera or web cam. By combining your audio and video with your free Voip Instant Messenger program, you will have a full quality experience.
This is just a precursor of what the future of VoIP will unveil. There are simply a few glitches as 911 and wireless hotspot issues, for the long run, we can tell that by companies incorporating VoIP shows that they at least believe it will be a strong force.
Benefits of Voip
One of the benefits of free VoIP and instant messaging is that it is absolutely free to call anyone, anywhere, worldwide. Companies are that still offer free VoIP programmes like Skype and Ad Calls. These applications will allow you to call using free VoIP programming. Ad Calls will allow you to call a telephone for free. Calls are unlimited and you will be able to make free voip long distance calls in the long run.
VoIP does offer many advantages that aren’t available with land line phones or with cellular. Some of these include the ability to talk with multiple people at once; many of the standard features bundled with normal telephone services come with VoIP packages, and the ability to speak unlimited (many services enable unlimited calling worldwide).
Disadvantage of free Voip service!
However, there are a few disadvantages with Voip. The major one using 911 with VoIP because the call is made from your data network and not a conventional land line. 911 will not be able to trace the phone call made from your free VoIP phone and obtain your address. Also, the operator will not receive any of your location information. FCC has issued rulings pertaining to this. Some options include registering with 911, when you call 911 giving them your location information right away, or keeping a land line telephone or mobile phone available for use in case of an emergency. The latter may be the best solution for enjoying the best of both worlds.
In Conclusion Voice over IP is becoming increasingly popular and powerhouses like AOL and Verizon are offering various packages. Though free VoIP is still a widely popular choice, it is increasingly harder to find. For people who aren’t ready to make the switch, they will continue to take advantage of the options available with instant messaging. As free VoIP continues to grow and more people embrace the technology of combining their telecommunication needs, such as audio, data, E-mail, video and Web services into one applications, VoIP will continue to develop new products and become more readily accessible to business and the general public.
VoIP Phone Syatem - Skype Phone
The reason behind its success and popularity is that it uses the latest technology. The technology used in the phone is Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP. This technology has made Skype, a unique experience for the users. The VoIP technology helps Skype to convert the analog audio signals into digital data. This data can then be transmitted over the Internet.
The VoIP technology also enables the Skype phone to offer a superior voice quality. In fact the voice quality is far better than the regular telephones or mobile phones. The phone uses a unique software for telecommunication. The software has made it possible for Skype users to make and receive calls over the Internet in a convenient way.
The Skype phone has also brought another revolution. It enables the users to communicate with other people using Skype, without paying a single penny. This is true; they can talk absolutely free of charge. This gives Skype an edge over other modes of telecommunication.
However, if the users wish to make a call to a regular phone than he/she has to pay on a per-minute basis. This amazing cost effectiveness along with absolutely wonderful relay of voice signals has made the Skype phone a winner.
This experience has become even more wonderful, with the introduction of accessories. The users can opt for cordless Skype phones, headsets, Skype headsets with USB, Skype adapters, web cams and Wi-Fi phones.
Truly the Skype phone has changed the face of telecommunication. It has taken the whole telecommunication to an entirely new level. As of now it’s a clear winner in the market and is touted to be so for a long time to come.
Software and Hardware Requirements for VoIP
Businesses can also make the most of this high-end technology and use it to their advantage. They can, for instance, think about enhancing their scope and areas of operation, by floating local numbers in potential markets. It is quite evident that they would be getting more leads due to the low costs of local calls. When the number to be called is a local one, more people from target market segments are expected to call in.
The point is that the VoIP market is more than ready for the best of products and services. The only thing is that certain conditions need to be met for the successful implementation of this innovative technology. For instance, a computer with a high speed Internet access is a must-have. The computer should be updated with audio and video codes. This ensures that the persons using the VoIP products and services are not disappointed with the quality of the audio as well as graphics. Another pre-requisite is that the digital video compression format should also be present in the computer that is being used.
Moreover, another important requirement is the telephone adapter, which is often delivered by the voice over IP service providers, as an integral part of VoIP packages. As a matter of fact, this VoIP hardware is indispensable for converting the household phone into one that can be used for making Internet enabled calls. Most important, the hardware and software of VoIP that are needed for the successful running of IP solutions have to be implemented properly through a proper procedure of software installation and hardware activation.
Quite a few service providers are currently present in the market which can help end users to get initiated. As a matter of fact, due to the many choices that are available, it often becomes difficult for potential users to zero in on particular service providers. In this context, a VoIP requirements list becomes indispensable. It is preferable that potential users should go for VoIP wholesalers or resellers that have established themselves well in this domain. The quality of services also becomes important in this context.
It is quite natural that potential users would want to get the most for the money that they spend. So, it is quite evident that they would check out the features and costs of the VoIP solutions and services on offer. They would then be able to match the same with their requirements and select solutions that best satisfy their needs. Certain parameters that need special attention include the financial stability of the company, the technical support that the company offers, and last but most important, the overall voice quality.
New VoIP Quality Monitoring Diagnostic Platform Cuts ISP Call Centre Queues
Vocalite, the new diagnostic platform from Epitiro, the Internet performance experts, enables Internet telephony users to diagnose problems with their VoIP service even before contacting their provider. The results of the diagnostic test are automatically forwarded to the service provider which can begin to resolve any problems.
Vocalite is initiated via a web browser on either instruction from a service provider’s contact centre or by the end-user. A thorough analysis of the connection is completed and the summary of the test is displayed for the user. The test results are automatically sent through to the Internet provider.
Vocalite gives Customer Service Representatives (CSRs) at the ISP’s contact centre access to an extensive list of test results including Call Setup time, Dial Tone Delay and importantly Voice Quality. Visual pass and fail indicators allow non-technical CSRs to either assure the customer of adequate service quality or acknowledge the presence of a fault. This reduces the need for expensive second line support staff.
“Long contact centre queues frustrate customers and increase the likelihood of them looking for an alternative ISP. Vocalite gives the service provider a head start in fixing the fault and empowers their customers to diagnose the problem for themselves,” said Gavin Johns, Managing Director of Epitiro.
“Our products offer service providers the intelligence they need to gain and retain customers by monitoring and benchmarking their network performance. Vocalite measures the call quality across a provider’s network from an end-user’s perspective. This enables providers to keep a close eye on their networks and fix any potential service affecting problems before they reach the end-user.”
Quintum's intelligent VoIP
Quintum's solutions are also "the perfect fit" for service providers deploying VoIP CPE for SIP trunking and hosted IP-PBX applications. Click here.
The new Survivable Tenor offers a complete branch office solution that assures business continuity in the event of IP failure.
Frost and Sullivan recognizes Quintum for its uniquely different solution for addressing the needs of the enterprise market. Click here for more informaton
"Quintum demonstrated outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development."
-Elka Popova
Global Program Director, Enterprise Communications
Frost & Sullivan
Most importantly, do you want to ensure that the reliability of your voice services won't be jeopardized by problems on the network or the failure of any single piece of hardware?
We offer VoIP functionality at the edge of the enterprise network ... unmatched by any other vendor - including dynamic call failover, out-of-the-box interoperability with voice and data network environments, SIP and H.323 support, and more.
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Click here to learn how Quintum's unique MultiPath™ architecture radically eases deployment in all types of environments and ensures VoIP survivability even in the event of IP network failure.
Read about specific applications that utilized the Tenor VoIP Multipath products, such as:
| IP PBX | Multi-Office |
| Banking | PBX Extension |
| Hospitality | Retail |
| Long Distance Consolidation | Call Centers |
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