Wholesale VoIP: Providing A Cutting Edge To Your Business Over Others

A quality VoIP service gives a boost to your business communication, thereby giving a boost to your business as a whole, as communication plays a key role in your business. Therefore it is always a good idea to approach an efficient wholesale VoIP service provider to enjoy a perfect and uninterrupted service, as it will take your communication infrastructure to a significant high, making all the interactions and dealings both so powerful and smooth. At the same time the communication cost will come down so low, making it a double gain for you.Businesses have started realizing the key benefits of using VoIP services for the conduction of all their business communications, with this service exposing them to upgraded inter communicability in the organization along with the benefit of a reduced cost. With a VoIP service in place, you can conduct long distance business communication as and when you will feel the need for the same, and that too without surpassing your budget.
You know it pretty well how important it is for your business to enjoy a perfect and uninterrupted communication service, and that too at an economical rate so that it is sustainable. And this is precisely what can be offered to you by a wholesale VoIP service provider, boasting a quality infrastructure with the appropriate technical and physical ability.
You may be wondering how to identify an appropriate wholesale VoIP service provider, right? Well, an eye for the following may help you in this regard -
Infrastructural investment - Adequate infrastructural investment on the part of the service provider is a guarantee for a quality service for your business. This is given the fact that a quality infrastructure ensures key factors like better call handling facility, resulting in better systems and a low call drop rate.
Technical expertise - Make sure about it that the service provider you choose boasts of highly skilled technical staff. They will be able to resolve all technical issues in no time on every such occasion, thus maintaining a steady and uninterrupted flow of flawless service.
A round the clock service - It is very crucial that your wholesale VoIP service provider offers round the clock service. As your business grows, it eventually leads to a round-the-clock communication scenario, and any difficulty in your communication system at any time of the day may cost you dear.
A quality customer service - Apart from technical skills, your VoIP service provider must also have a quality customer support service. That naturally guarantees a better service, thus ensuring effective troubleshooting every time there is a technical problem.
Facility of real-time online billing - It is very helpful if the service provider is offering the option for real time online billing. Such a system ensures that the billing and payment procedure is both accurate and transparent, leaving no room for any confusion or other issues.
A wide client base - Another effective way to identify a quality wholesale VoIP service provider is to look at its client base. If the service provider is found to be having a wide and elaborate client base, spreading across a number of countries and regions, then it may be taken as a recognition for the company's recognition and standing in its field.
Remember that availing the service of an efficient wholesale VoIP service provider will result in a direct as well as far reaching positive impact for your business that you can hardly wish away. With the service offering your business the double benefit of an upgraded communication infrastructure along with a reduced cost, there seems to be no reason to overlook it. So you are advised to look for an efficient wholesale VoIP service provider, and avail its service to boost your business communication that will eventually boost your business as a whole.
The author is currently associated with Breezecom, one of the top rated VoIP providers catering to a client base spread across South Asia, North Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas.

View the original article here

Read More...

SIP Trunks Enhance Business Telephone Communications

SIP trunks (Session Initiated Protocol) are types of VoIP that allow companies to make concurrent calls over their internet connection and cut their telecommunications costs. The Public Switch Telephone Network, or PSTN, results in a system that makes some calls more expensive than other calls because carriers charge and compensate one another according to complex methods. With VoIP, customers avoid the antiquated system of wires and old switching equipment by making and receiving calls over their internet connection.
Instead of paying for both telephone and data services, companies can use their internet connection for both services. Dropping the land line will allow companies to save money, as long as they have enough bandwidth for both their telephone and data transfer needs. In addition, businesses will need to find out from their provider what equipment is required to get started with the service and whether equipment must be rented, leased or purchased.
SIP trunking helps businesses to save money. SIP to SIP calls are inexpensive, and even calls initiated from SIP and sent over the PSTN are cheaper than person-to-person PTSN calls. In addition, these systems offer multiple features. For less than the cost of a desktop computer, businesses will have the capabilities of their much larger counterparts. Companies will save money with SIP because they will quickly recoup the cost of any equipment.
Features of a trunking system include virtual local calling in any city in the world. Also, when employees travel, they will be able to carry a virtual phone number with them. Trunking systems offer advanced voice mail and calling options. In addition, some of the most advanced systems are able to integrate with customer relationship management (CRM) software.
SIP systems will work with an IP-PBX system. Trunking can also be integrated to work with old-fashioned analog and key systems using an integrated access device. In most situations, business purchase in-house PBX systems from their telecommunications provider. Then, they choose whether to use a PSTN provider or SIP trunking.
PBX hosting and in-house PBX systems both have advantages and disadvantages. PBX hosting comes with low initial cost and potentially low monthly fees, depending on the quality of the provider's call packages. Also, hosting ensures minimal maintenance costs and automatic equipment and software upgrades. However, in-house PBX allows businesses to reap the cost savings associated with SIP trunking. Typically, installing a PBX system in-house costs more up-front than PBX hosting, but businesses should remember that the cost savings from trunking will pay for the additional equipment.
SIP trunking is scalable depending on bandwidth. New lines can be installed easily as long as the business has sufficient bandwidth to accommodate them. Compressed codecs will even allow for less bandwidth per call, allowing companies to expand their lines without paying for increased internet access.
Are you looking for more information about SIP Trunks? If you are considering to get reliable and affordable SIP Trunks Providers, review the information here to find out more.

View the original article here

Read More...

VoIP Service Features That Make Your Telephony Business Exemplary

If you own a telephony business, reliable and superb quality wholesale VoIP services are essential to provide uninterrupted services to your customers. While choosing your service provider, you should take account of important cost saving features that give you a robust network, A-Z termination, multi-path routing and much more.
For a successful telephony business, it's imperative to provide round the clock uninterrupted services to their clients. Providing round the clock uninterrupted services to their clients is imperative for any telephony business. When it comes to VoIP wholesale services, businesses usually look for the cheapest rates. Indeed low rates can make a huge difference to a business like yours. But wouldn't it be nice if you got wide routing choices along with A-Z termination? Find a VoIP wholesaler that provides you great features to round out services that are beneficial for you in terms of cost savings as well.
Several providers leverage relationships with the regional exchange carriers as well as international carriers to meet all your VoIP termination needs. Partnering with best Tier1 carriers, these providers have their coverage areas spread across the world resulting in a wide range of high quality VoIP routes. Alongside, they manage their own IP networks which gives you more benefits, all under one roof. At the end of the day, you get higher quality VoIP routes, reliable services, quality SIP termination and lower rates.
Many a times these voice packets don't arrive at the target phone resulting in temporary call failures. To avoid that, the packets should have alternative routes to reach the target phone from the source phone with least point of failure. That's why multi-path routing is important for simultaneous transmission of packets. This will provide you better connectivity rate and optimum communication quality. In addition to that, a good IP switching and networking platform is a must to handle the rushing calls.
You should always go with a service provider that gives you fully distributed, assembled and independently accessible network along with a secure voice services. with such a network, you are left with not much of the job but receiving orders and activating devices. Apart from a competent network, backup locations for Softswitch are also essential for cutting down the operation costs.
Along with excellent voice termination, the company you choose must provide you cost effective and high quality SIP, ASR, PDD and ACD with scalability in terms of VoIP capacity. Back end connectivity, redundant system resources, interoperability with Cisco, VoiceSwitch, Quintum, Sonus, MERA and Huawei are some other features you must look for.
VoIP has an abundance of features and every feature may not necessarily be advantageous for you. So, you should choose a package which comes with features that give you optimum benefits. Bear in mind the needs of your customers and choose a package that will help you make your telephony business stand out from the rest. Combined with excellent customer services, these features will enable you to provide the best and most consistent services.
Getting simple issues resolved can be a headache sometime especially when you have to wait for days. Some wholesale VoIP providers give immediate response to all the problems of their clients. The technical support company must be capable of troubleshooting all the issues. Ensure that you get adequate help to manage your account efficiently to keep you updated on the payment, usage and changes in rates.
This article has been written by an expert associated with Breezecom, one of the leading VoIP providers Business owners partner with the company to round out their services with excellency.

View the original article here

Read More...

To want to start a VOIP business in Uganda?

I have recently been reviewing the business model for a company that is dealing in VOIP. For the uninitiated, VOIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol(VOIP). It is basically a technology/ies that allows telephone calls to be made over the internet rather than over traditional telephone lines.
I set out my simple and straight forward observations.
First the cons (of course)
1. Internet stability.
Internet in Uganda can be very unreliable and where it is reliable it is very expensive. Now this is very critical as to make calls over the internet you need VERY RELIABLE internet and so this is the starting point for anyone looking to invest in this sector. It is however not uncommon for an ISP to charge $1400 per month for 64 kbps. That's not alot of bandwidth as a typical telephone call requires about 8kbps at any time and so 64kbps supports only about 8 simultaneous conversations or less depending on internet conditions. The good news of course is that this is changing with fibre optic cables being laid all the time and so internet costs reduce. My best advice, use ADSL and shared bandwidth. UTL does a good job here, with a great value and generally reliable product if you can get the telephone line.
2. Competition
VOIP prides itself in being cheaper than the traditional telephone companies and many a VOIP provider will give you rates that are much cheaper than the networks. That was until recently. Many telecom providers in Uganda for example Orange have great international calling bundles that give the VOIP provider a run for their money. The VOIP provider is therefore having to compete with the telecom companies in offering customers international calling services. You have to therefore be prepared to look at your financials closely and constantly lest you fall into losses so do yourself a favour, get a good accountant!
3. The Exchange rate
The Uganda shilling is depreciating against the dollar and this may continue to be the case. In 2006 for example the rate was Shs 1,700 to the dollar. In 2011 at the time of writing, it is Shs 2800. For VOIP,this is critical as the main purchase is "digital airtime" from international VOIP providers. This is purchased in dollars and as such the prices charged to customers need to factor in the exchange rate, in addition to ensuring remaining competitive against the BIG BAD WOLVES (I mean the telecom companies).
4. Technology know how
VOIP is a specialised sector and so it of course requires someone with interest but this is not such a significant matter as employing an IT person will help reduce the entreprenuers need to worry about this.
5. Start up capital
From my rough estimates, a typical VOIP business (say a phone shop to support 6 phone booths) can ideally start up business from as little as UGX 8.7m. This should cover; rent at 500k per month (including 2 month deposit bringing it to 1.5m), internet installation and subscription; 700k, purchase of the VOIP and computer equipment; 1.975m, furniture/ fittings; 1m an inverter; 2m, legal and related costs; 700k and signage(to advertise); 500k.
From my analysis, a VOIP business on its own is however not profitable and therefore it is ESSENTIAL to also have an internet cafe running side by side. The costs of the internet cafe side plus the VOIP side stripping out the shared start up costs like rent and inverter will be 20,383,275. I have written about an internet cafe set up costs separately in the article on the internet cafe. The total start up cost is therefore about Shs 20m
AND NOW THE PROS
1. Profitability and quick return on capital
Like the rest of Africa, In Uganda there are tremendous growth opportunities in the ICT/ communications sector and per Uganda Investment Authority, this is one of their key sectors for investment. Call traffic continually increases as Ugandans enjoy higher incomes. Despite the biting inflation, there is a continual increase in call traffic. VOIP is not being left behind and assuming ICT sector growths averaging 25% per year turnover averaging Shs 53m would not be an exaggeration. On the basis of my knowledge of this sector, I set out a summary profitability picture as well as the return on capital (this includes a diversified model which includes an internet cafe). All estimates are in UGX. The exchange rate to the USD is about 1 USD = Shs 2,700.
Gross profit
1.Revenue- calls: 65,520,000. Assuming 7 days a week at 180k per day.
2.Revenue- internet: 13,884,000. Assuming Shs 290k per week from 4 computers and multi purpose maching.
3.Cost of sales: -49,140,000. Assuming it is 75% of revenue for calls on basis of exchange rate and reseller margin.
4.credit transfer cost: -1,228,500. Assuming 2.5% of cost of sales
5.Franchise fee: - 655,200. 1% of revenue-calls.
Gross profit: 28,380,300
Overheads
Rent: Shs 4,800,000
Internet: Shs 3,840,000
Staff costs:Shs 6,000,000
Other overheads: Shs. 1,800,000
Total overheads: 16,440,000
Net Profit: 11,940,300
Capital investment: 20,383,275
Return on Investment: 1.71 years.
2. Return on capital
On the basis of the above profit picture therefore, this business should be able to have a return on capital of 1.71 years. A word of caution here. The model above assumes full capacity growth and so may not necessarily reflect a start up business in say its first few months. In addition the model assumes the internet cafe and call shop will run side by side and concurrently. I have done a separate analysis of the VOIP model on its own and from my analysis it will take 90 years to get a return on your capital! In Uganda, there is therefore no alternative for a VOIP investor but to integrate the call shop and the VOIP services.
3. Diversified services
Despite the fierce competition, a VOIP business can survive by being diverse. Many VOIP providers do not only provide low cost international calls. They also provide other related services like cheap calls on your internet enabled phone, a foreign number(for example USA) even while in Uganda and use of VOIP in homes/offices. Some like http://www.telebm.com provide a special Uganda rate. In addition many integrate an internet cafe within their models as well as selling telephones and accessories. The diverisifed services spread the over head costs and enable continued profitability. In the profitability analysis above, I assume this business is diverse offering both VOIP and internet cafe services.
4. Franchise model.
The beauty about a VOIP business is that it is very scalable meaning you can keep on expanding to other towns, other urban centres, other countries. The typical VOIP provider will give you a software management system which can be accessed anywhere on the internet (after all since calls are made over the internet, call logs are likewise internet based). This gives a key advantage of remote monitoring for the business owner. You don't have to necessarily worry about revenue as you can remotely monitor the sales(calls) on a real time basis because the call logs display calls(and costs) as they occur. The model can therefore be replicated by having you the business owner setting up agents who also get access to your system. I believe this is the model that http://www.mafudian.co.uk a Ugandan VOIP company is promoting.
SUMMARISING AND THE FINAL WORD
First the numbers
On the basis of my analysis:
* Capital investment(internet and VOIP equipment) (A): Shs 20,383,275
* Revenue per year: Shs 79,404,000
* Profit per year (after all expenses (B) is Shs 11,940,300
* Return on capital(years to get capital back)(A/B) is 1.71 years
Now the basics you must get right before investing.
* Internet stability and reliability. Get a good ISP who supports VOIP
* Diversification of services. Don't only do the VOIP services, consider an internet cafe, multipurpose machine, WIFI hot spots or even selling cell phones and related accessories.
* Location, Location, Location. This business best thrives in an urban setting with heavy traffic particularly of business users.
* Get an IT person, VOIP can be tricky to continuously configure.
FINAL WORD, YES OR NO?
This is not an easy sector to invest in with internet stability as well as the fierce competition with local telecom companies who now offer some good international calling bundles. Furthermore the exchange rates are continually changing due to the falling shilling hence potentially eating into the profit. I know many VOIP businesses that have failed and so to invest in it you need to have not only technology know how but like looking at the financial numbers as the margins can be very tight! A business which has taken off can however enjoy a significant amount of turnover and diversifying and expansion through franchising seem to hold the key to success.
As a chartered accountant with over 8 years of audit experience with various clients in Uganda, The Bahamas and currently the United Kingdom I have dealt with several sectors including banking and financial services, manufacturing, public sector/Donor funds, entertainment and Agriculture which has given me the inside knowledge of several businesses and their performance.
These writings are my observations and research on investing/ doing business in various sectors in Uganda. You can read more about me and the series at my website: http://investinginuganda.yolasite.com/the-sector-analysis.php

View the original article here

Read More...

Why your business should switch to VoIP

It is interesting that while many companies to use new technologies, recognize only a few of them it is a part of their company, the veraltet-- could be considered the phone. Companies that deal with some rarely surrounded think on most high-tech equipment of telephone landline service to the more efficient voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) switch.
VoIP was first used in the consumer market in 2004, but many companies were reluctant from the fixed-line change to the new services. Part of it was due to inefficient technology that VoIP is first used. There were frequent dropped calls and poor connections. However technology quickly caught up, user requirements and VoIP was more refined and infinitely stable.
Companies can currently one of the most important features of VoIP-take advantage of integration. The current state of the art provides an access point, telephone calls, fax calls, to handle e-Mail, Web surfing, video conferencing and even telecommuting. In addition many Smartphones have dual-mode capability, currently which means that a person outside of the workspace on the mobile phone can be and automatically to VoIP will change it, if the individual to the workspace-returns without loss of the call.
Of course, one of the most beneficial aspects of the changeover to VoIP company is cost savings. It is extremely inefficient to operate a fixed line business phone system, if there other options available. For one thing, long-distance calls over VoIP service providers are significantly cheaper than dealing with typical fixed. In addition, far less costly than they otherwise be, if you are using traditional telephone services VoIP services like Skype calls overseas.
Company questions might be, whether or not that VoIP is actually safe. In fact are thanks to simple encryption software that much more secure could be hope all fixed-line VoIP phone calls. Security consists of the encryption on the sending end and authentication on the receiving end - and it all takes place automatically, which require no external support.
A concern that some companies is the ability of VoIP, power outages. When the power on a fixed network connection, telephone calls can be made yet. There are portable, battery-powered devices, the VoIP systems can automatically be associated, if it a power failure. While charge, they provide a level yet to connect with others, in the case of the current fails the units only for about a half hour.
All in all companies to save money and to adopt a new technology that integrates well into their existing systems, change-line VoIP service providers should be.
Tyler Robbins is a tech writer, concentrated themselves on VoIP business technology for companies is to recommend discuss efficient printing solutions.

View the original article here

Read More...