VoIP For Small Business - Is it Just Hype?

Due to the fact that very few people truly understand how VoIP works, it is surrounded by false information and false hype. The problem is that many of the people who push these ideas are technology gurus who's experience with VoIP is limited to having setup a VoIP line to their mother-in-laws place to impress their girlfriend.

The reality, coming from a telephone system technician & small business owner is that in 99% of cases you are better off sticking with traditional phone lines.. If you are able to save money by switching to VoIP, chances are you have sacrificed reliability somewhere.

The problem is that to make VoIP a viable alternative to traditional phone lines for small business, you must be able to do 2 things. Make the connection at least as reliable as a standard copper line and make it significantly cheaper to encourage people to change. The problem is that VoIP works by taking a normal phone conversation that uses an entire phone line and compresses it down so much that you could fit around 10 x conversations on the 1 line.

It does this by breaking your voice up in to thousands of tiny fragments of information which are coded, sent down the line and reassembled back in to sound on the other end. VoIP saves people money because instead of paying for 10 x phone lines from the local service provider, they just pay for one, even though 10 people can use the phone at the same time. This is the main area that small business owners can expect to save money by switching to VoIP - The line rental (the fixed monthly cost that you pay for each phone line).

By putting all 10 of your traditional phone lines on to 1 line, you are effectively putting all your eggs in one basket. Phone lines can and do go down quite regularly. You may have never had a problem personally but I can assure you that if you could see how bad the wiring is out in the street, you would quickly realize how lucky you had been up til now. Telephone cabling in most countries is old, under maintained and in some cases under water. By spreading your incoming and outgoing calls across multiple phone lines, you are minimizing the risk of a complete loss of lines.

Yes VoIP is cheaper but you get what you pay for with regards to service up time and call quality. As a small business owner who sells VoIP capable phone systems and who has technical know how to setup reliable VoIP services, do I use VoIP in my own offices? No. We have traditional ISDN phone lines in both our offices. If there was a financial incentive for me to use VoIP then there might be for you too, but there isn't... It's all hype.

This article was written by Simon Rule owner of Astro Communications - Supplier of business phone systems in Sydney, Melbourne & Brisbane. For more information see our website: Telephone Systems for Small Business

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VoIP and Its Increasing Impact on Mobile Networks

A report released by Frost and Sullivan in mid 2010 analyzed the impact of mobile VoIP on next generation cellular networks, with a special emphasis on the growing market in Europe. The mobile and wireless industry has incredible growth expectations as this technology becomes more available, whether through WiFi or more sophisticated 3G and 4G networks.

The question remains - will mobile VoIP actually reflect the savings which residential and business VoIP customers have come to expect, or will mobile carriers continue to block access to technology that many thought would result in an almost free wireless solution?

The adoption of VoIP for mobile by several telecommunication leaders has encouraged the development of higher quality audio, greater availability of faster data connections, and increased shipments of smart phones both domestically and abroad. Flat rate mobile pricing, however, continues to fluctuate wildly and each mobile start-up has its own set of restrictions and packaging deals designed to get the most out of each customer.

'Bare bones' packages are becoming almost non-existent, with former 'cost savings' bundle deals evolving into a way for telecom giants to keep revenues coming in as VoIP becomes a credible threat to the traditional voice income sources.

IP is expected to become the principal transport for future data access technologies, and traditional carriers are being forced to acknowledge the fact that mobile VoIP will be a key player in both integrated IP-based communications as well as next generation wireless processes.

While smartphone vendors are starting to include applications in their stores so users can download and use third-party VoIP clients over WiFi and cellular broadband networks, many cellular operators continue to prohibit the use of mobile VoIP over their cellular networks, or impose hefty surcharges.

The primary argument mobile operators use to combat the cost effective lure of VoIP is the claim that VoIP used over the cellular networks cannot provide quality, efficiency and reliability comparable to that supplied by the GSM network. 60 to 70 per cent of European mobile operators prohibit or restrict the usage of VoIP on their mobile broadband data plans, and the US is not much better.

However, with high definition voice becoming standard on smartphones, the argument that mobile IP communications is simply not up to standard will cease to hold water. Mobile VoIP is here to stay, although mobile carriers can be expected to continue to try and block access where possible.

Saiju is a VoIP and business software expert specializing in business phone service and hosted SIP provider solutions.

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Business VoIP System Benefits

Since it seems that everyone is jumping on the VoIP bandwagon, I thought this was a good opportunity to compare the new VoIP system with the traditional PBX system.When comparing the two services, one may find that there is no single defining factor that sets one apart from the other. Traditional PBX system has been around for quite some time. PBX is short for Private Branch Exchange.

An 'Old School' PBX system is a private telephone switch that is installed in a business location to allow for effective communication amongst people inside a company while allowing access to adequate external telephone lines.

One edge that the traditional phone system has is the excellent voice quality. But the new business VoIP system does not guarantee an absolutely clear voice quality. Don't worry though. It's not too difficult to find a business VoIP provider that provides a quality of service guarantee.

Another key element when choosing this very important communication is the number of dropped calls. The traditional PBX system rarely has instances of dropped calls. When using a business VoIP system, dropped calls are isolated, but rare. Additionally, there are more chances of loss of data when there is excessive usage of the service across the network.

Thankfully both systems provide for worldwide coverage, making both effective tools for business.

One aspect which really differentiates the two communication tools is the disparity in bandwidth usage- the traditional PBX system is highly inefficient in comparison to the business VoIP system.

In addition to more efficient use of bandwidth, the business VoIP system has an edge over the traditional PBX system in terms of long distance rates. As opposed to the 'old school' system which can lead to substantially large long distance bill, the new business VoIP system can even mean free long distance calls if within network.

Now if you look at maintenance, you'll notice that it's incredibly costly to maintain an 'old school' PBX system. Due to the cost of copper, the heavy equipment needed, and aging infrastructure it's not easy keeping the traditional PBX system in prime condition. In contrast, the hosted PBX is relatively easy to maintain since there is very little equipment needed to run the system.

And last but not least, the scalability of any communication service is a key decision driver. Every business starts off small but plans to expand. Even if a company plans to expand to certain size, there is no way of determining how fast or slow that may happen. With a traditional PBX system that would mean one would have to invest a huge chunk of money in order to accommodate for forecast-ed growth. If one is using a business VoIP system, this situation does not occur as one can expand usage with time.

It's not difficult to see that the business VoIP system is a much cheaper option to utilize for any business that foresees itself growing and communicating with clients worldwide.

Mehndi Rao is a passionate writer. She writes about just about anything that pops into her mind. Her current topic of interest is the oh-so-dynamic business VoIP provider and loves writing about business voip.

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The Disadvantage of VoIP Are Small Compared to the Benefits

Do you think that VoIP is too good to be true? You must have heard both positive and negative comments on VoIP services. The fact is that the VoIP has lots of advantages over a regular phone service and like any emerging technology the system has some hitches too. However as standards are been developed it becomes more reliable and user friendly. It can be even predicted that VoIP is more likely to eventually replace traditional phone service. In fact the phone companies are already into using the technology for offering cheaper long distance rates.

Considering the advantages of VoIP services low operating cost is the main attraction. With a fast internet connection, you can make PC to PC phone calls anywhere in the world for free. PC to phone connection is also possible as you have to only pay a meager amount compared to the regular phone service. There is also option to sign up with a service provider and make unlimited calls within a certain geographic area by paying a monthly fee. Sometimes overseas calls would be charged at a relatively small rate.

Portability is the second advantage of VoIP. It is possible to make and receive calls from where ever provided you have a broadband connection by simply signing into your VoIP account. In this regard, calls become more convenient just like how you send emails. You can make a call while travelling if you have a headset and talk to your family or enterprises by paying nothing.

The portable feature of VoIP is also possible in the phone to phone services. As you sign up with a service provider, a unique number is assigned with the internet phone or adaptor that is used. This unique number becomes the identity and remains valid, even if you are in any part of the world. As the internet phone is small and light, it can easily be taken to any place you travel. Simply plug in the broadband connection to the device and make phone calls to anywhere you desire.

Many other features are also available along with VoIP like call forwarding, voicemail, caller ID and three way calling. And all this would be offered without any extra charge. There is also option to send pictures and documents simultaneously while talking.

While all these are the advantages, there are certain disadvantages while using the VoIP. The main problem is related with power backup and emergency calls. If a blackout happens, the regular phone would work as it is kept charged through the phone line. This is a major setback for the internet phones as there would be no service if the power goes out. However there is an option to maintain the power by using battery backups or generators for providing electricity.

Another limitation of internet phones is related to the emergency 911 calls. While the traditional phone equipment traces your location and the emergency calls are diverted to the nearest call center. With VoIP, however it is not possible to pinpoint the exact location and there is no scope of diversion. Also the internet phone calls encounter problems with sound quality and reliability. However comparing the advantages over the limitations, it can be said that all the kinks would be gradually solved as technology advances.

To get more information about VoIP Service as well as finding more information about Toll Free Number and 800 numbers.

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Using Open Standards With VoIP Applications

When shopping around for VoIP clients, it's very important to ensure that you don't fall into the common pitfall of opting for a service provider who uses closed standards for communication. Though it might seem appealing at the time, such standards can severely restrict your access to other VoIP networks and applications that use a different standard. Since this isn't something that you will be told when you make inquiries, you'll have to make sure you remember to ask. But what do open standards mean?

It's quite simple. Open standards allow diverse clients to communicate with each other without having to be built, owned or affiliated with any particular service provider. For example, if you use Skype, you won't be able to use it to interact with any other VoIP system that doesn't support the closed proprietary Skype protocol. And support for the Skype protocol can't be built in because the standards aren't open.

The same problem occurs with numerous chat clients such as Yahoo!'s VoIP services, Apple's "PureVoice" and AOL's systems. All of these systems are blind to each other since they essentially don't speak the same language. Google is a notable exception where its Gtalk uses the open XMPP standard for communication.

So when you choose a VoIP provider, you need to decide if you're happy using open standards such as SIP, or closed proprietary protocols. As mentioned above, it may not seem like a big deal immediately, but you can be assured that open standards are the future. This is because they're inherently extensible and third party developers can easily make use of them to develop new and innovative applications.

Choosing a provider who uses a proprietary protocol on the other hand will inevitably doom you to lock in - meaning that your flexibility is severely compromised. You'll have to think ten times before deciding to switch to another provider and you will also be locked out of all the other applications that are developed using open protocols. Not a very scenario to be in.

As of now, SIP is one of the leading protocols for VoIP. There are also plans to integrate SIP with XMPP with Google giving such designs a solid push. If you choose Skype however, you can never make use of the full capabilities of VoIP and will miss out on pure VoIP calls with those who are using a different standard.

Choose wisely.

Bhagwad is a specialist in Virtual VoIP services. He also specializes in Hosted VoIP for small businesses.

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Benefits of SIP Trunking

Before discussing the benefits of SIP trunking, you should first know what SIP trunk is. A SIP trunk is a logical connection that uses SIP or (Session Initiation Protocol) to set up communication over the internet between a customer location and an internet telephony service provider (ITSP) which transfers the SIP calls to a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). This sort of telephony connection is a boon for various businesses, especially small scale organizations that need to make regular local, STD as well as international calls and have to take a dedicated line from a telephone provider. To define it in short, 'SIP is the real-time communication procedure for VoIP phone system'.

Communication, that too effective and uninterrupted communication is one of the most essential requirements of any business today. If organizations are unable to interact and keep in constant touch with their clients, then they are going to lose out both on existing as well as prospective clients. With the latest SIP technology communication will not only be fast and efficient but also very cheap. Companies that have numerous branches scattered all over the world can also benefit immensely from this telephony system. Even if they make international calls, it would cost them the same as a local call.

With the advent of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology, businesses can make calls over a broadband connection that allows them to make cheap or free calls, calls to various places even when they are not in their centralized location; employees can get connected from home or nay other remote area and host of other such benefits. The hosted VoIP phone system also offers tailor made and customized packages to suit every business needs. But even if the benefits are immense, many organizations deter from removing their traditional PBX systems completely, with the fear of losing control over their personal PBX system. This where the usage of SIP trunking comes in, which allows companies to preserve their traditional PBX system whilst running hosted VoIP functionality simultaneously.
The benefits of SIP Trunking are many:

• As mentioned earlier, it reduces calling cost to a great extent and you can turn all calls to local calls. Since calls travel over the internet, or through the VoIP phone system to a termination point, the charges on long distance calls are reduced.

• SIP trunking also reduces the costs on separate voice and data connections and increases the benefits for communication systems using both voice and data together.

• The capacity of this sort of phone system is huge with the potential to serve an entire organization, irrespective of its size. Big MNC's or multi-size organizations can use a single SIP trunking account rather than multiple PRI connections.

• As business grows, the communication can grow easily without having to make gateway or card investments.

• There is no more the need to use wires in bundles; communication can be transferred digitally with the help of this technology.

This is one of the smartest decisions any business organization can take. They can save money on all their communications and invest it in other areas and increase productivity. Moreover this is one of the best ways to keep in constant touch with partners, clients, employees at various locations, customers, vendors etc. What's more, this method can be used for three way calling, conferencing, traditional voice calls, instant messaging, application sharing and any other facility that a business requires to prosper.

Keeping much of a knowledge in computer industry specially in telephony,data-networking,security,hardware devices,website development and seo services. Sarah has been a part of http://www.saharservices.com for a while now that deals with SIP Trunking and VOIP Phone System.

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Conference Calls to Better Your Business Communication

Conferencing products help businesses enhance their scope of communication, thereby enabling users to expand the scope of their business irrespective of their location. These telecom products can provide for either or both audio and video conferencing solutions. Audio conferencing is a more widely used alternative due to the affordability factor attached to it.

Teleconferencing equipment allows its users to deal with clients and business associates sitting even at the far-end of the globe, from the comfort of their office. Moreover, it also enables the users to engage in multi-point interactions, thereby providing a real-life conference experience. Teleconferencing equipment is available in a variety of options in the market today. These vary depending upon the number of conferencing participants they can cover and the dimensions of the room where the teleconferencing equipments needs to be installed.

Apart from the regular PSTNs, teleconferencing equipments can also employ internet as the mode of information transfer. The technology called VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol allows calls over the internet via VoIP conference call phones. The teleconferencing equipment appears just like its traditional counterparts. It incorporates a number of features of its traditional counterparts like speed dial, redial and volume control etc.

The VoIP conference phone has garnered much popularity since they result in considerable savings. Internet is a much more economical a mode to communicate compared to the regular phone lines. Moreover, the VoIP teleconferencing equipment also lends its users the flexibility to launch a call from anywhere, outside their office. It offers more efficient utilization of bandwidth through video compression. Moreover, it also has the option to create a buddy list that not only shows the available contacts but also helps to launch conferences instantly.

Various measures have been employed in order to maintain the integrity of the information transfer via desktop video conferencing phone. These include securing by passwords, PIN numbers, firewalls among others.

Victor Ben is an expert author and has more then 5 years of experience in writing health and disabilities like hearing advice, conference phone, video conferencing phone articles.

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