VoIP PBX Telephone Systems & The Advantages

VoIP PBX or IP PBX (Internet Protocol Private Branch Exchange) is a telephony system that makes use of IP data networks to facilitate telecommunication. The immediate advantage of VoIP PBX is that enterprises using it need not have to replace their existing phones or phone numbers to accommodate the new VoIP facility. It is a robust technology that works in tandem with the existing communication infrastructures. In other words, the VoIP technology can use the existing PSTN lines via the VoIP gateway, and there is no much of additional infrastructure involved in its entire installation.

How does a VoIP PBX work?

The basic architecture of an IP PBX system consists of an IP PBX server, one or more SIP phones or VoIP phones, and a VoIP gateway, as mentioned already, to connect to the existing PSTN lines (optional though). The IP PBX server functions quite similar to a proxy server. The SIP or VoIP phones, which can be either hardware phones or soft phones, has to register with the IP PBX server, and when they wish to make a call to another phone – a VoIP or SIP phone – actually a request is send to the IP PBX server to establish the connection. The IP PBX server will have a directory of all users/phones and their respective SIP addresses, and using this info, it could connect an internal call or route an external call via a VoIP service provider or a VoIP gateway, whichever is applicable. The process is just quick and simple.

So, what are the advantages of VoIP PBX over conventional PBX systems?

The most important plus of VoIP PBX is that it is many times easier to install and configure than a traditional phone system. Any one who knows the basics of computer and networking can install the IP PBX in a PC and maintain it reasonably well. Also, since it is all software, there is no complex wiring involved anywhere. If somebody wants to connect a hardware phone to an IP PBX system, he/she can directly plug it into a standard network port (soft phones can be installed directly into the PC). This must be read in the backdrop of the fact that in the case of proprietary phones, only a trained technician could handle its installation, configuration, wiring, and overall maintenance.

Another big advantage of IP PBX is its low cost of operation. Since the calls make use of IP networks, even long distance international calls are many times cheaper. If the call is made between the phone systems that links the branches of enterprises, it is absolutely free of cost. Further, since IP PBX is built on an open SIP standard, users can use any SIP software/hardware phone with virtually any SIP based PSTN Gateway, IP PBX or VoIP provider. There is no question of a vendor lock-in in any circumstance.

Yet another positive with IP PBX is that it could easily handle any number of additional phone connections and extensions without disturbing the efficiency of the network. This is in deep contrast to the conventional phone systems, which might require additional hardware modules to accommodate the newer connections and extensions.

Finally, with VoIP PBX, it facilitates hot desking and roaming, provides easy usability, and better manageability via the IP PBX Windows client. With proprietary phones, in order to implement the latter feature, it might require expensive hardware components.

Mobile Phone Contract Plans with VOIP

Introduction

The revolution of internet communication is here to stay for a very long time and this is primarily because it has done so much to help people by its mere presence alone. The voice over IP (VOIP for short) technology that has hit the market by storm over the last couple of years has now expanded to be a major competing technology in nearly every major branch of communications. The VOIP revolution has been so fast and so fierce that even the most established conventional telephone companies are now rushing to create VOIP infrastructure that they can provide to their customers so that they don’t end up losing them to other companies that are on the cutting edge. To that end, even mobile phones have been created that have the ability to use VOIP or a similar piece of technology in order to accomplish the same task.

The Mobile Phones

A question that very many people have when they initially here about the recent expansion into the mobile phone market has to do with the technology itself. While it is easy to understand how VOIP technology works on a conceptual level (i.e. the internet connection being used in conjunction with specialty software to facilitate communication in a manner similar to that of a telephone) for normal, land-based systems it is a lot more difficult to understand exactly how it works in the sense of a mobile phone solution.

If you have ever traveled on a plane before, you have more than likely seen a business person utilizing their internet through the use of mobile internet technology. This type of technology has been around for a very long time and all of the major businesses make sure that their correspondents have access to that kind of technology when they are on the move. Wherever you have the ability to connect to the internet and therefore generate an internet protocol address, you have the ability to use the VOIP technology. This is ultimately how mobile VOIP services are utilized and because of the boom in the market many of these technologies are available for personal use at very reasonable prices.

Advantages

There are many advantages to using a VOIP mobile phone contract and the one that is largest in the eyes of many people is the price. The reason that conventional VOIP became such a popular service was that it was quite a bit cheaper than conventional telephone plans when it came onto the market. In similar fashion, a VOIP mobile phone contract is going to be quite a bit cheaper than the conventional mobile phone contract you have right now. This decrease in the price has allowed many people the chance to save some money each month and when a person is able to save money without a reduction in quality, they quite obviously are going to become a very loyal customer. The ability of VOIP services to generate a large number of very loyal customers in a very short time is ultimately what has made many companies move a large part of their communication operations towards developing and promoting VOIP technologies.

Mitel

Introduction

Nowadays there are more companies around that are willing to offer voice over IP functionality. The concept of using one’s computer in order to make phone calls has led to a rash of new internet communication companies to jump up all over the place. There are companies that specialize in providing the service of VOIP to personal users, companies that specialize in providing the service of VOIP to business and companies that specialize in providing the actual technology needed to make the services work to other companies and individuals. There are many different companies that are around to make VOIP work and because of this a very large technological safety net has been created that ultimately helps both businesses and individuals succeed with their VOIP needs.

About Mitel

Mitel is one of the supply side companies that specialize in providing IP communications to individuals and small businesses alike. To that end their website contains a wealth of useful information about VOIP and VOIP services as well as outlining the ways in which VOIP can potentially help you as an individual or as a small business owner. The company takes itself very seriously and has recently announced a bid of $723 million in order to take over noted communications company Inter-Tel. Mitel is definitely here to stay for a very long time and this knowledge should make customers of the company rest very easy and prospective customers that much more interested in doing business.

Mitel Products

There are a number of great products offered by Mitel and the good news is that most of those products are compatible with both conventional telephone systems as well as the new age VOIP communication systems. For example, one very innovative product that Mitel sells is their Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) technology. This technology is designed in order to manage and facilitate inbound calls in order to distribute them amongst the available staff in a way that is conducive to good customer service. It is used in both their conventional and softphone technology and is just one of the many different Mitel innovations that has brought the company to the high standing that it currently enjoys.

Another good example of this is the remote agent technology that Mitel supports. This is VOIP technology that allows agents to telecommute to work. In other words, if you were a customer service agent for a company that had access to the Mitel remote agent technology, you would be able to use your personal VOIP service to work from home at your own leisure. People have been able to reduce their stress levels by working from home and it is definitely very possible to do with relative ease through the use of the Mitel remote agent product.

Conclusion

Whether you are interested in VOIP for personal or business reasons, it is always good to make sure that the people you are working with are trustworthy. With a very long history of success in the field of communications, Mitel is definitely a trustworthy company. Their website lists their full history as well as their product catalogue, both of which are very impressive in their nature.

Call Recording with VOIP

Introduction

One of the major features that many people were afraid would be severely affected in a switch from conventional telephone plans to VOIP plans was the call recording feature. Traditional call recording is done through either the use of a remote answering machine service that is dialed into remotely through the phone or alternatively it is done through the use of a physical answering machine. That physical answering machine has some sort of tape or other removable recording media that then records the messages and plays them back later at the request of the person using the phone. It is a system that has been around for a very long time and it is a system that is tried, tested and true. When VOIP initially came out the call recording aspect of it was in question. This is no longer true however and the technology already available is now being used in a way to make a great new concept even better.

Call Recording with VOIP

One of the biggest advantages of VOIP technology is that it already uses the personal computer as a very important part of its interface. There are a number of great things that you can do with a personal computer and one of those things is to record audio files. The audio files recorded on a computer are played back with some of the highest quality of any audio recordings around; especially if those recordings were made with a computer in the first place. Many VOIP software packages now come with a built in call recording function. You simply speak in the same manner you were speaking when you were using the VOIP service and you will be able to record a message to send to the intended recipient. Likewise, people that want to contact you will be able to leave messages on your computer; just like a high tech answering machine.

Differences between Call Recording with VOIP and with Conventional Phones

The main difference between conventional call recording and VOIP call recording is that the computer is used to make the VOIP recording. Call reception as well as message recording are handled by either the same software that handles your VOIP or alternatively a software supplement to that piece of software. This means that the process is going to ultimately be more efficient because a personal computer is able to perform tasks and calculations with an efficiency that could never be matched by a conventional answering machine. Additionally, the audio will be stored in a file on the computer, so no physical media is necessary. All of the hardware you need to effect call recording on your computer is already there; you just need a piece of software to make it happen.

Conclusion

The way that VOIP is gaining popularity nowadays it almost seems as though every time one checks the news, there is another technological advance related to VOIP. One by one the objections that have been raised by critics of this technology are being reduced to nothing but mere logical fallacies and the introduction of easy call recording with VOIP is a great example of that. Look for exciting new things to happen in the near future with this great service.

VOIP Providers

Introduction

VOIP is an acronym that stands for voice over IP and that is exactly what it does. It is a service offered by some companies that allows you to talk on the telephone over the internet rather than through a conventional phone jack connection. VOIP services are usually just as high quality as the typical telephone service (even for long distance service) and also usually tend to be cheaper than their conventional telephone competitors. Many companies that offer conventional phone service also offer VOIP service and this article will profile three of the major players in the VOIP game.

Provider #1 – Vonage

Chances are if you’ve seen a commercial on television about VOIP providers then this commercial was about Vonage. They specialize in providing this type of service and because of it most of their marketing budget is allocated towards getting customers on board with their VOIP services. A famous commercial from Vonage proudly proclaims that you can now “VOIP with Vonage” for a ridiculously low price. This is followed by testimonials from various people and most notably one man in particular that is pleasantly surprised at how well the quality is maintained, even for long distance phone calls!

While the commercials offered by this company are indeed a little cliché, their services are exemplary. VOIP is a relatively new service, but Vonage makes it seem as though it has been around forever. With few downtimes and excellent customer service to back up a great product, you can’t really do wrong if you VOIP with Vonage.

Provider #2 – Earthlink

Earthlink is a company that has been around for a long time. It is a company that has been providing high quality internet services to people all across North America for years now and because of that it is also a company that has built up a very handy reputation when it comes to internet services. They have recently expanded their base of services to include VOIP products and while they may not be as specialized or as experienced as Vonage they definitely have a lot going for them. First and foremost is the fact that they combine their VOIP services with other internet services to make a package that affords the customer a lot of savings. In some cases the customer can save as much as 20% if they switch all of their internet services over to Earthlink and since the company itself is trusted in the industry, this is definitely a good deal.

Provider #3 – AT&T

Unlike the other two companies, AT&T comes from a background of communications and telephone technology. This gives AT&T a rather unique perspective on VOIP and it is able to use that perspective to develop and deliver top quality plans that are ultimately cost effective for both the company and the consumer. They are also the largest of the three companies and this size advantages does sometimes serve to make consumers more at ease; large companies are less likely to go belly up or unexpectedly increase their prices.

VoIP Phones

VoIP Phones are the telephonic devices used for VoIP services. It can be a normal standard analogue telephone or the exclusive IP phones that can be used for VoIP communications only. If to eliminate the intermediary technicalities, both types of phones facilitate communication by sending the conversation as data packets over the internet to the recipient. In other words, unlike the conventional telephone communication, no wire transfer is made use of in the case of VoIP. In fact, this is the biggest advantage of VoIP phones. Since there are no wires, there are no much installation troubles, which further means less installation and maintenance costs for the customer. Further, since the communication takes place through the internet, the overall cost of a call is far lesser than a conventional long distance telephone call from a conventional phone. The only money a customer may have to shell out is the monthly tariff for the VoIP and internet service provider, both of which combined won’t cross $100 in normal cases.

Now let’s see how VoIP phones work. The VoIP architecture includes a broadband internet connection, a VoIP phone, router, and a gateway. The purpose of the router is to route the calls to the internet, while the function of the gateway – also called the analogue telephone adapter (ATA) – is to convert analogue signals to digital data packets before sending it over the web. Here, it must be kept in mind that for IP phones, since it comes loaded with all the required hardware and software components, it can be directly plugged to the router bypassing the ATA. Now, at the recipient’s end, the digital packets are reconverted back to the original analog format, and are then send over a Public Telephone Switch Network or PSTN to the number the caller had dialed. The whole process is many times efficient and quicker than the conventional wire communication.

Then there are soft VoIP phones or virtual VoIP phones that can be installed in a laptop or desktop. It works almost the same like the real VoIP phones, the only difference is that the dialing component here is simulated as a user interface on the monitor and the users have to click on it using a mouse to dial a number. Further, since the soft phone loads all the required VoIP features, no additional external components is required to make the call. All the behind scene technicalities will be managed by the service provider himself.

If there are any other advantages with VoIP phones, then it is that it gives the customers maximum flexibility at virtually no additional cost. While the traditional telephones are tied to telephone lines permanently, the ATAs can be taken with the customers to virtually any part of the world. Then by connecting it to a telephone and an internet connection, one could make VoIP calls to any other phone in the same ATA network for no cost. For other networks, it may cost a bit, but a lot cheaper than long distance calls.

Finally, all standard VoIP phones comes inbuilt with features such as caller id, repeat dialing, call transfer, and call waiting, which may be missing in most unsophisticated conventional phones. For advanced features like call forwarding, forwarding to voicemail box, giving busy signal to the caller if busy, or playing automated messages, however, the service provider might charge a fee. Such paid services also include the facility to check voice mails over the web or attach messages to an e-mail that is sent to one’s PDA/PC.

VoIP

One of the biggest industries in the world today is the telephone
industry. Between sales of physical telephone units, sales of local
calling plans, sales of long distance calling plans and sales of cell
or mobile phone plans there are billions of dollars exchanging hands
on a regular basis within the telephone industry. Because of this people
are always being solicited by companies claiming to be offering the
next greatest thing in telephone technology.

In many ways it is rather ironic that telephone companies solicit
customers long distance in order to offer them economical long distance
plans and many customers have now become so jaded, that they simply
do not respond to that type of sales method anymore.

If however, the product being offered is new and innovative and at
the same time the product is able to do a lot for the people that are
buying it, then the product will survive.

In today’s world, things tend to survive more on their own merits
rather than on the hard selling done by people looking for their own
commissions. One such technology that has taken the telephone communication
world by storm is the patented VoIP technology.

VoIP

VOIP is an acronym that stands for voice over internet protocol. It
is a piece of technology that allows customers to actually chat with
other people through the use of their internet connection rather than
a conventional telephone line. The quality does not suffer at all in
a good VOIP connection and even the long distance connection is able
to maintain the same high quality that a customer has come to expect
from their current long distance provider.

The only real difference between VOIP connections and their conventional
telephone counterparts is that the VOIP connection maintenance costs
tend to be quite a bit cheaper. The reason for this is that the internet
is being utilized in order to help the consumer facilitate their telephone
needs. To a large degree, the consumer is already paying for most of
the technology used in VOIP services with the internet monthly payment
they are already making. The bottom line for this is that the internet
service provider providing the VOIP service does not have to charge
as much for it and those savings usually end up being passed on to
the customer.

VOIP Setup

You don’t really need much in order to set up a very good VOIP
uplink. First and foremost you need to have a broadband internet connection.
In other words, you need to have fast internet along the lines of a
cable or a DSL connection. Once you have this then all you need is
a phone to utilize with the VOIP service and you are good to go. Once
you sign up with the VOIP service from one of the many companies around
that offer it, you will receive very detailed instructions on how to
arrange the cables around your computer and modem in such a way as
to facilitate the VOIP service. Once you’ve done that you can
pick up the phone and start chatting right away; it is quick, easy
to setup, very cheap and the height of convenience in the world today.