understanding voice-over-ip

Understanding Voice-over-IP Jim Locke, PrincipalResultWorx Technology Group

Agenda

•What is VOIP?•How is VOIP different from other

systems?•Discuss types of phone systems•Discuss Common Concerns•Home Office Options•Transitioning to VOIP

What is VOIP?

•Voice-over-Internet Protocol•Uses an Internet protocol to transmit

voice calls across the Internet and/or internal networks

The VOIP Difference•POTS (Plain Old Telephone System)

▫Uses assigned phone lines to make calls▫Poor utilization rates increases costs

Generally 1 phone line to every 2-3 phones•Voice-over-IP

▫Uses a portion of bandwidth from a digital circuit to deliver a simultaneous number of calls

▫Good utilization rate, based on simultaneous calls

▫VOIP circuit can often be used for data too

Types of Phone Systems

•Traditional PBX Systems•IP-PBX Systems•Hosted VOIP

Traditional PBX

•Traditional on-premise phone system•Delivers service via multiple phone lines•Scalability – Limited by hardware and lines•Anticipated Life – 5-10 years•Associated Costs

▫System hardware and phones▫Metered Rates▫Monthly cost of lines▫Maintenance & Upgrades

IP-PBX Systems•On-premise system similar to the PBX•Delivers service via multiple analog or

digital phone lines •Scalability – Limited by hardware and lines•Anticipated Life – 5-10 Years•Associated Costs

▫System hardware and phones▫Monthly cost of lines and/or digital circuits▫Metered and/or fixed rates▫Maintenance & Upgrades

Hosted Voice-over-IP (VOIP)

•No on-premise phone system•Delivers service via digital circuits and

network•Anticipated Life – 10, 20, 30 years?•Scalability – Limited by bandwidth•Associated Costs

▫Phones; Possible cabling costs▫Monthly cost of digital circuits▫Fixed rates per phone▫Low Maintenance / No Upgrade Costs

Other Advantages of VOIP• System can be accessed from the office,

mobile phone, a “soft-phone” loaded on a computer, etc; Basically, any place with Internet access.

• Calls can be routed from phone to phone or can ring all phones simultaneously; Establish your own routing rules

• Business Continuity - If you lose your Internet connection for any reason, calls are automatically routed to voice mail

• The system is administered via a web interface with minimal effort

• Each user generally has their own direct phone number

• Connect multiple offices on a single system

Common VOIP Concerns

•Can I keep my existing phone number?•Quality of service – The Vonage

Experience•Reliability – What happens if I lose

Internet?•What type of cabling do I need?•Can I use a fax machine with VOIP?•Can I page over VOIP?

Home Office Phone Options

•Consumer grade VOIP systems like Vonage, Google Voice or Skype

•Virtual phone systems like My1Voice•Speakeasy Hosted Voice

Transitioning to VOIP

•Connect your existing phone system to an Integrated VOIP circuit▫Provides some of the cost savings of hosted

VOIP▫Provides some of the features of hosted

VOIP▫Easier to convert to a hosted solution when

you are ready

Please feel free to contact us:

Jim Locke(626) 689-4491jlocke@ResultWorx.com