VoIP phones

VoIP phones with several advanced features are manufactured by many leading manufactures. Although these equipments come with a number of next generation features they are efficient, comfortable and easy to use.

With the increasing popularity of VoIP phone systems, organizations of all sizes are getting them installed in the offices because of the cheap communication options which they provide. The different equipments come with different features. An organization can choose an equipment for themselves as per their business requirements.

Most of the VoIP conferencing phone systems come with a wide variety of features like call waiting, call forward, call transfer, call mute, speaker, caller ID etc, in order to facilitate a smooth conferencing. Some of the latest models of VoIP phones also support Wi-Fi technology and Microsoft Windows. These phones have a good sound quality and increased standby time, as well as, talk time.

Polycom VoIP Phones are fully interoperable with leading IP PBX and Softswitch platforms, you can have a variety of end-to-end, fully integrated VoIP solutions to choose from. Check out Polycom’s VoIP Technology Partners. VoIP solutions that feature Polycom VoIP phones provide a high-quality, rich communications experience, deliver productivity-enhancing new applications, and offer significant cost savings through consolidation of network costs for voice and data, and elimination of costs of phone moves, additions, and changes.

Avaya’€™s range of digital and IP telephones deliver advanced productivity-boosting features, including a large display and up to a 100-entry call log. These cost-effective phones are the choice for any business or contact center using IP Office and bring Avaya state-of-the-art technology directly to your desktop. These telephones deliver efficient service, superior voice quality, along with cutting-edge communications features such as screen labels for call appearance/feature keys to simplify user administration.

A good quality VoIP conferencing phone definitely proves to be a cost effective communication medium for an organization. Source

Low Price

One advantage of using a Voice over Internet Protocol is its low price. VoIP service offers customers a low monthly rate, and additional services, such as caller ID, call forwarding, voicemail and call waiting. Traditional phone services offer the same features, but at an additional cost.

Power

A disadvantage of using a Voice over Internet Protocol service is when a VoIP phone connects to a computer during a power outage, the connection will be lost because the service can only work with a stable broadband Internet connection. Power outrages do not affect traditional phone lines unless the phone requires power. Users can make phone calls with their standard phone lines instead of their VoIP phone. A laptop computer that uses its battery power could keep the VoIP service stable for a short period, assuming Internet service is still available.

VoIP Access Anywhere

Another advantage is that VoIP services can be accessed anywhere there is a stable high-speed Internet connection. Users can sign into their VoIP service and make phone calls domestically and worldwide. Users who travel can also access their VoIP services while on the road.

Emergency Calls

A huge disadvantage of VoIP is the absence of the emergency 9-1-1 service. Emergency services cannot trace the location such as, a physical address when making a phone call with a VoIP service. The Federal Communications Commission has attempted to solve this problem by requiring VoIP service providers to provide physical addresses of each customer. If this change takes effect, it will resolve the problem.

Sound Quality

Another disadvantage of Voice over Internet Protocol is the sound quality. It generally does not match that of a traditional phone line. The sound quality depends on the Internet connection; if it is a poor connection, the sound will be distorted. Using the Internet may also result in poor sound quality phone calls. Some VoIP users report poor sound quality when they use their computers during a telephone call. Source

In laymen’s terms VoIP is just telephone communications that occur over the Internet instead of a normal phone line. The main advantage of this type of communication is that it is really cheap. Another advantage is that it has many capabilities. You can use Internet, multiple phone lines, and fax all from the same system.

The conference call abilities are the original feature that attracted many big corporations to the technology. A large amount of people can join the conference call easily. You can choose whether to have a video or voice conference call with the press of a button.

All of these features can be utilized without paying an extra surcharge as usually happens with phone companies. This characteristic has made the VoIP popular with all sizes of business, as they are not limited by price to use the technology.

VoIP does have some not so popular characteristics. The biggest challenge is in voice delays and dropped calls. You do run some security risk as the system can be hacked into like any computer that uses the Internet. On the internet I read a nice blog site with having lot of articles on VoIP.

Another big obstacle is that the VoIP system will not function without an electric source. This isn’t the case with traditional phone lines. This is not the case with VoIP but this, but other small obstacles are overpowered by the attractive price and ease of use. Source

The biggest advantage of business phone systems using VoIP is an important one, especially in the current economy. It can save money. The efficiency of the VoIP bandwidth when compared to traditional phone systems means that monthly phone costs can be reduced. Also, the cost per extension phone is lower. Another advantage is in the flexibility it allows for. These systems can provide for more than one phone call to be carried over a single broadband connection, so extensions can be added easily. And if your business is a call center, the technology allows for an employee to work from a remote location since all that is required is a reliable Internet connection.

So how are business telephone systems integrated with a VoIP provider? There are three common methods in which to accomplish this. First, by use of an Analog Telephone Adapter you can connect your system to a broadband Internet provider to like a cable company. If you don’€™t want to connect through your computer system, dedicated VoIP phones can be purchased and connected through a VoIP service provider. Finally, a soft-phone can be connected directly to a computer. This allows for a fixed phone number that remains constant even if your company facility relocates.

Business telephone systems connected with VoIP can perform a variety of functions, including phone calls, emailing, faxing, Web conference calls, and even cell phone calling, so virtually any type of business could benefit. And there are different packages available that are geared toward large and small businesses, so you don’t have to worry about it €œfitting€ your current phone system. In these days of decreased manpower and increased need for strong customer service, the integration of VoIP with your current phone system can help you save money without skimping on service. Source

VoIP phone services utilize Internet cables, as opposed to analog wires.

VoIP, or voice over Internet protocol, represents the latest in telephone communications technology. According to NASA, a VoIP system uses a broadband Internet connection to transfer digitalized data between parties, as opposed to using a standard analog telephone line. Making the switch to a VoIP system can have several advantages, both at home and in the office.

Sound Quality

As the technology and communications resource TechEn Enterprises notes, the earliest VoIP systems, which came out in 1998, were often plagued with voice-quality issues. However, today’s VoIP systems offer sound quality that at least equals, and often surpasses, the sound quality of standard phone systems.

Less Wiring

With a VoIP system, your home’s or company’s phones can transmit and receive data using the same Internet cables you already have in place. This means no more messy bundles of wiring and lower installation costs in comparison to traditional phone systems, which require independent wiring.

Ease-of-Use

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the majority of VoIP systems—through the use of adapters—allow you to continue to use the traditional telephone handsets you are used to. This means there is no learning curve if you decide to make the switch from traditional to VoIP: Simply dial as usual.

Long Distance

Long-distance calling can be a financial burden when using a traditional phone system. Fortunately, VoIP systems offer some advantage. As the FTC mentions, many VoIP service providers offer unlimited long-distance calling plans at fixed rates. In addition, if you have a family member or friend in a distant city whom you constantly call, with VoIP you can easily register for a phone number in that city. This transforms your long-distance calls to that city into “local” calls.

Working With Computers

Unlike their traditional counterparts, VoIP phone systems are able to interact with computer systems and networks, allowing fro a whole range of beneficial features. These include integrated e-mail and voicemail so that you can check your e-mail on the phone or listen to your voicemail on the computer, and portability, so that you can bring your entire system with you on a trip and receive calls on a “home phone” regardless of where you are in the world. However, as the FTC notes, this latter feature requires that you install additional software.

Maintenance

According to TechEn Enterprises, the skills that a worker needs for maintaining a VoIP phone system are virtually the same as those a worker needs for maintaining a computer network. From a business perspective, this means offices do not have to hire separate specialists for maintaining phone and computer systems independently: One worker can do both jobs.

Source:    http://www.ehow.com/list_7177777_advantages-moving-traditional-phones-voip_.html



Google launched the service to take on online communications pioneer Skype.

Local users logged-on to their accounts yesterday to discover a new directory of phone contacts listed under a voice calling link, along with an offer for some free calls and prices for international calls to landlines and mobiles.

A Google Australia spokeswoman confirmed the phone lists are compiled from data extracted from users’ emails and chat sessions.

Google has not responded to repeated requests for clarification on the nature of internal account searches and the extraction methods used to populate personal web phone menus, nor has it indicated whether it sought users’ approval before taking action.

But online privacy advocates say it appears Google has not learned from outrage over the Buzz social networking tool that automatically connected users based on data mined from personal emails and chat sessions, nor from the angry reaction to Facebook changes to privacy settings that exposed previously hidden material.

“As far as I can see, Google has done this without even notice, let alone consent,” said Roger Clarke, chair of the Australian Privacy Foundation. “And they’ve learnt so little that they seem not to have offered an opt-out.”

David Vaile, executive director of the University of NSW’s Cyberspace Law and Policy Centre, said it appeared Google’s auto-exposure tools were getting a little out of control.

“This has shades of Buzz,” he said. “When will big data-mongers ever learn that opt-in is much more respectful than ‘opt-out – if you can’.”

Mr Vaile questioned whether Google had clearly and transparently disclosed their use of its tools to everyone potentially affected by their operation.

Google confirmed that local users registered under the English-US language setting can access the web phone service, that has not officially launched in Australia.

Source:   http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/telecommunications/gmail-phone-service-raises-eyebrows/story-fn4iyzsr-1225910912539

via everytel.com.au

 

Posted via web from garrysholl.com

But managing computer systems is a lot harder to learn than modern VOIP. So it turns out that we’re more likely than they are to be taking over territory, or at least forcing alliances.

As a side note, we managed to do a live podcast from the show with some folks who have great insight into the hosting options for VOIP. That is posted up at Cloud Services Roundtable for members.

Here are some of the things that really stood out from the event. If you’re new to voice/telephony, consider these as you develop your offerings.

Don’t Sell VOIP – Sell Telephone Systems

No one needs VOIP; everyone needs telephones. In addition, plenty of people have plenty of sob stories about early implementations. Don’t feed on that negativity. Just focus on the fact that everyone needs a phone system. Along with that, focus on providing a quality system that is very reliable and gives the client a positive experience.

One of the biggest weaknesses in the SMB space is the assumption that clients don’t want to spend more, or are unwilling to spend money. At the same time we all have clients who spend lots of money and want quality. Take a look at what your clients have been spending on phone systems. When you move to VOIP they are almost guaranteed to save money. If they move to hosted VOIP it’s even easier.

So use some of that savings to guarantee a good experience. Here’s how.

Upgrade Hardware

Newer routers, firewalls, and even switches have newer chip sets and will dramatically increase telephone traffic speeds. So as part of the phone system setup, you need to quote some new equipment:

- Router (Maybe. If it’s over three years old, then for sure.)

- Firewall (Definitely. Just do it. And a good piece of equipment, not a new $40 home box.)

- Switches – Power Over Ethernet – Replace anything more than two years old to be safe. More on POE in a minute.

- QOS devices – That’s Quality of Service. In addition to the firewall, a QOS device will help you with traffic shaping and make sure VOIP has priority over You Tube. $400 to $1,000 for a small office.

Yes, there’s some money here. But the improvement in reliability and performance will be dramatic. Ask you client whether they want a half-baked solution or good, solid, reliable phone service. Also consider the savings discussed below.

Build Redundancy

Just like a server/network system, reliability happens on purpose and not by chance. Here are some tips for Uptime.

- Use POE. This is new-ish technology for most small businesses at this time, but it is also “old” and reliable. Modern POE switches are totally automatic at sensing POE devices. You can potentially save thousands on wiring if you use the same port for phone and desktop PC. Each phone goes to a POE port, powering phone and supplying internet. Desktop plugs into phone mini-switch. Almost all IP phones have these features (POE and 2-port switch).

Check the ratings! Make sure your switch can handle all the phones you have and move the power for all those lines!

- Big UPS on the Switch. Once all the phones are getting power from the POE Switch, that switch needs enough juice to cool itself, move traffic like a switch, and pump power down the line to as many phones as you have connected. When the lights go out, you’ll need good UPSs on the firewall and switch so that clients have dial tone when the power is out . . . just like an old school phone system.

- Redundant internet connections. Just make it part of the quote. Even if the failover is to a Sprint Wireless card on the firewall, you should have something. Again, ask the client if they want to be without phones when the power is out. There’s a cost to everything.

Consider a Hosted Solution

For true uptime even if the building is on fire, consider a hosting VOIP solution. First, these solutions have amazing feature sets. At one of my companies, extension 303 rings into my home office. Linksys SPA942 sits just as if it were on my desk at work. That means a ring group can include me as easily as two people sitting next to each other.

When the internet is out at work, our hosted phone system still runs the ring groups, forwards to cell phones, and has all the features it has every other day of the week. Just like a virtual server doesn’t know it’s not a real machine, a hosted phone system doesn’t know my office is under water. So it keeps working.

Focus on Savings and Money

One of the hottest selling techniques in the phone business is the Telephone Audit. Virtually everyone with more than three phone lines can save money. Companies with large offices always have a forgotten line, a number with zero minutes used per month, or too many phone lines.

Think about the average office with ten hard wire phone lines. If you were to drop a ten year old phone system in there you might recommend 5-6 phone lines and let the digital switch serve up dial tone as needed. Guaranteed savings. But with VOIP you can save even more than that. Now take the cost of all the add-on fees that the old phone company throws in just because they can and the savings really pile up.

Ask your clients/prospects for a copy of their phone bills. Go back maybe three months. You’ll need to learn how to read these things. But you’ll discover a world of confusion and over-charging that you never knew existed before. It is an exercise that is almost guaranteed to result in savings for the client.

This is the most used and tested sales method for phone system sellers of all sizes.

Look at all the money being thrown away and you’ll see that there’s a huge savings to be had. And don’t forget to ask about the cost of their in-house hardware and existing phone system. Thousands of dollars. Add that to the mix. Create an overall cost estimate for five years of equipment and service. You’ll find a huge amount of savings.

And that’s where you’ll find the money for new switches and firewalls.

Remember: Right-size your solution for your client. If they’ve been in business for more than a week, they already have a phone system. It has a known cost, a known reliability level, and a know customer service level. You are literally going to improve ALL of those things while saving the client money. So don’t foolishly set up a new phone system with an old, slow firewall and the wrong infrastructure. You don’t want to take the client from 99.9% reliability to 95%. That will kill them and might lose you a customer.

Spend enough to do it right and the VOIP system you install will be a great performer for any client – no matter how small.

Visit www.fixtel.com.au

These days, demand requires a higher standard of phone system. The problem is that a wired phone system can get to be way too complicated. Have you ever tried to identify which phone is running from which line or where the signal is coming from in the first place? That takes a lot of work, and no doubt the technicians of old remember crawling through ducts trying figure out where a line was broken.

Voice over IP is a great new way of communicating, and as such many businesses and individuals have taken to using it. The biggest difference is that VoIP works through an internet connection or even a cable connection. Essentially it rids you of the need to pay for both a phone line and your phone package.

FIXTEL offers one of the widest ranges of IP based phones for businesses, and they have packages for everyone. From the small business to the worldwide enterprise, there is a package and a plan that will fit your needs. No matter which package you need though, there are a number of features that you will be able to get.

For instance, you will always have the ability to hold a business meeting whether you are on or off the premises. Mobility is in high demand, and as such it is the number one service that most suppliers, including Nortel are going to provide.

FIXTEL even offers video conferencing, which is something that was not quite as efficient when using POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service). Luckily when you are using VoIP, there are more possibilities than ever before. One of the best parts is the ability to reach your people whenever you need to.

The ability to route your office phone to your mobile phone will ensure that you are never out of touch with the home office. Once again, it\’s all about mobility. You can plainly see that there are many new possibilities with phones these days. At one time they were only used for calls in and out of the office, but these days they are relied on far more. They have become complex, and quite indispensable. The only thing that can stop you is the price.

The expense is probably worth it to most businesses, even if it could be in the fifty thousand pound range. You will find that nearly any investment you make for this system will be almost entirely returned before you know it. FIXTEL website will have more information regarding their various packages, so make sure you check it out today. Get rid of that old telephone system you\’ve been relying on and enjoy a greater level of communication.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES OFFERED:

• PHONE SYSTEM
• VOICE & DATA CABLING
• ELECTRICAL CABLING
• SECURITY SYSTEM INSTALLATIONS
• SATELLITE INSTALLATIONS AND CONSULTANCY
• IT SERVICES
• FIBRE OPTICS INSTALLATIONS

Website: www.fixtel.com or call us 1300-85-95-20 email info@fixtel.com

Good question. Well it is 2010 already. VOIP started to become the mainstream telecommunication portal in 2009 with services like Skype, Vonage, Lingo and many other services starting to show there true service. 2010 will be a better year for VOIP. Why is that you ask? Technology only grows because the need is strong. People always want better options, always want cheaper calls. The rule of society is we get what we want from the developers. Now that Google is entering the VOIP market this will open up horizons of new VOIP.

What will Google Do?

We all know Google. If they do something they do it perfectly. Google Voice was revolutionary in giving its users arrays of options. Now Google and Gizmo are teaming up to provide a VOIP service. No one knows whats the official date on the releases but it iwll be in 2010. This means war in the VOIP market. Think about it. Google is the best all around company right now. If they provide a VOIP service that is top notch with the cheapest voip calls, the services like Skype Vonage etc will have to keep up.

When competitions arises in the market, it only benefits us, the consumers. This is great for us because now we can get even better rates because of the competitors market. Most users will use Google as there VOIP service because well, they are the best. Think about Google Voice with Gizmo integration plus cheap calls, this is a moneymaker!

What will happen to the Future of VOIP?

Future is looking extremely good. Rates to many international countries are skyrocketing down. In a few years, we can probably expect less than 1 cent calls to many countries worldwide. India is one of this less than 1 cent per minute countries but many others will come into it as well. We expect to see Bangladesh, US and UK in this scenario as well. If one VOIP service is able to provide less than 1 cent/minute to a country then others will have to follow or else, only one thing to do then, out of business!

VOIP is a competitive market and in 2010 it will be one of the most competitive markets in the world. It is the telecommunication era now. Almost every person who can afford a phone has one and some have more then one. A new beginning will begin soon for VOIP. Also in the USA, many cell phone service providers are seeing the potential of incorporating VOIP in there services. They will be able to charge users for this extra service which means more money.

Mobile VOIP will open up to a whole new level as well. Mobile is growing tremendously with new phones that are capable of handling VOIP such as Google Android, iPhone, and Windows Mobile. The possibilities are endless for everyone. But lets just wait and see what unravels as the year goes on. The prediction is that users will save even more money then last year on the cheapest voip calls worldwide.

What are your opinions? What will happen to VOIP? Let us know. Stay tuned for the latest VOIP news.

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