VoIP and the Promise of Unified Communications

The idea of "Unified Communications" (UC) has been around for so long and encompasses such a broad variety of services that many people think of it as an abstract bloated concept, too far from reality to be meaningful. And they have a point. Many companies offer the nirvana of UC only to find that organizations just don't know how to work with it properly or do a poor job of implementing it. UC has many components and all of them have to take advantage of the synergies between them in order to provide a seamless communication experience.One good example of a UC is being able to tell when someone is available or not. A chat status of "green" merely means that the person is interacting with their system. They might be on a call and unavailable to chat, but since there's no interaction between the calling system and the chat application, they can still ignore your chat request. And this is just one of the large number of possible synergies between chat, voice, email, scheduling, and conferencing.
Of all these, VoIP is probably the heart of UC systems. It's possible for a VoIP provider to branch out into other areas and provide additional UC services far more easily than it is for others to suddenly start providing VoIP services. The complicated infrastructure, know how and configurations of VoIP systems make it the hardest link in the chain to forge. But one huge stumbling block in the UC model is the lack of integration between disparate systems. Of the various UC tools, only email has managed to seamlessly overcome this disadvantage. You can freely communicate with anyone no matter what email account you have and that's one of the reasons why email has turned out to be such a killer application.
The day we can all chat with each other regardless of which client we're using, or the day we can use VoIP to call one another without bothering about which service they're on is the time we would have taken a significant step closer to the dream of unified communications. The SIP protocol has been trying to achieve this with VoIP and has already become quite successful. But there are vested interests in the VoIP business who don't wish this integration to take place because they would rather leverage their large user base and become the de facto communication providers for everyone.
But with a bit of effort, we can achieve UC within an individual business since a standard can be enforced. And we need to start with VoIP as the backbone.
Bhagwad is an expert consultant on configuring Hosted VoIP Servers. He also specializes in the Implementation of HD Voice.

View the original article here

Read More...

WiFi VOIP Phones - Making Communications Easier

Until recent times, one was able to make free calls to any part of the world over the Internet using Voice Over Internet Protocol. With the advent of wireless VOIP phones, one no longer has to be connected to a computer in order to do this.How do WiFi phones work?
Using the same technology that computers use to connect to a wireless network, today there are wireless IP phones that do the same thing and can be carried around, like a GSM cell phone. While both use radio wave frequencies to send and receive signals, normal cell phones transmit over a 824-MHz to 894-MHz frequency, while Wifi phones transmit over a 2.4 - 5 GHz frequency. To use a Wifi phone you can dial an ID name (if calling another VOIP phone) or a number (if calling any other phone). The phone transmits the number in the form of data packets to the wireless router. The data is then transferred via the Internet to a call processor which connects to the other VOIP phones, a cell phone network or a PST network.
Popular VOIP Wifi Phones
Some wireless VOIP phones are made for a particular WiFi network. For example, Netgear WiFi phones are made for Skype while UTStarcom phones are used for Vonage. Other wireless IP phones work with a particular protocol, as opposed to a particular network, usually the SIP or Session Initiation Protocol. Some of the most popular WiFi phones include Linksys WIP300, NetGear SPH101, Cisco 7920 and ZyXEL Prestige 2000W.
Scope of WiFi Phones
WiFi phones and WiFi video phones offer a cheap way to communicate on the go and share visuals, as long as one is in the region of a wireless network. Students living on a wireless campus for example might find it economical to use such a device. Several businesses, would also find this technology useful, especially where constant communication is required between people who do not sit at a desk, for example on a cruise ship, an oil rig, a resort etc.
Telecom Business Services Inc. introduced their Wifi Video Phones. This Dual Wi-Fi Cell (GSM) Handsets is a truly mobile, standards compliant, video conferencing solutions, combining cell phone technology. Telecom Business Services Inc converts your voice into digital packets that are sent over the internet. Rupee 1 per minute for calls to US, UK, Canada and 40 other countries, Call World Wide at most economical rates.
Author is a contributor writer and industry analyst of telecommunication with years of experience. His writing and analysis offer right kind of solutions to find relevant information about the product wireless VOIP phones , WiFi video phones. To Know more about WiFi VOIP Phones please visit http://www.ateleco.com/

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...