Press Release Summary = VoIP telephony today is represented by two spheres divided into the field of services provided by VoIP alternative operators on the one hand, and the manufacturers of smart VoIP telephones connected to a LAN network and software switchboard on the other hand.
Press Release Body = Tonnes of text have been written recently about VoIP telephony. What is it? How does it work? The Internet is literally swamped with information. One would think that calling via classic fixed lines is over-the-hill and that everybody calls only via Internet for minimal costs. Wherever I look, I see advertisements from alternative telecommunications operators attracting people to cheaper calls via Internet, which we have been using mostly for e-mail and chatting to date. How far have we got in these few years? Wherein lays the impulse to opt for the use of IP telephone? How does one start it off? What does the use of all these IP gadgets involve? And what about security? We would like to start a new series on VoIP telephony with all these questions. A series that does not strive merely to repeat everything you already know, but should serve as a source of information on your route to Internet calling.
VoIP telephony today is represented by two spheres divided into the field of services provided by VoIP alternative operators on the one hand, and the manufacturers of smart VoIP telephones connected to a LAN network and software switchboard on the other hand. The telecommunication services market is focussed specifically on home users with many types of applications. Ranging from the latest Google Talk or voice-communication via ICQ, Yahoo Instant Messenger to MSN messenger. All of these applications focus only on communication between two users connected the Internet. The only exception is the widespread Skype application, or the less well-known Fayn. These can be used to call fixed networks (PSTN) or mobile networks for very advantageous prices. The advantages of Skype are obvious - firewall penetration, standard encrypted voice transfer, low demands on bandwidth for voice transfer, simple software without great demands on HW, address book. But what happens if the called subscriber doesn't take the call? Can he find out who called him by means of calling line identification (CLIP) and call him back? Certainly not. That is why these services are not suitable for implementation in a corporate infrastructure. However, there are solutions for small, middle-sized and large companies, which offer an elegant solution to the aforementioned call-back. The first solution worth mentioning that uses IP telephony is the 2N VoiceBlue Enterprise gate. This is an integrated solution comprising a small IP telephone switchboard, a GSM gateway and SMS server. Its installation requires no modifications to the existing infrastructure, and it can be connected to the local network connected to the Internet. It is ideal for a small company that has been using separate fixed telephone lines and mobile telephones. Savings can be achieved firstly by the use of an internal routing algorithm, which directs calls to the mobile network according to prefix, and calls are cheaper because the same network is being called. Furthermore, it is possible for a developer working at home to consult his work via Internet telephone, for free, for any length of time. Equally beneficial is the possibility of connecting abroad using a software telephone, whereby an employee can speak to his colleagues and simultaneously call domestic mobile networks from abroad without paying a fee for roaming. 2N VoiceBlue Enterprise can serve as part of the integrated interconnection of several small branches, in which it replaces the PBX station while mediating connection to a large corporate IP switchboard (e.g. Cisco Call Manager or Asterisk). What are the requirements for implementing IP telephony? Firstly, quality Internet connection and one local computer network. Almost all small companies have a local network, so we will focus on the features of Internet connection. The important parameters include reaction time, bandwidth, error rate and jitter. For example, CDMA and GPRS are unsuitable connection types due to reaction time, despite their sufficient bandwidth. ADSL connections with high aggregation are not recommended because of their low bandwidth. Wireless connections in the 2.4 GHz band are characterised by a high error rate, particularly in large cities where they also show high jitter. Thus we can recommend ADSL connections with low aggregation, cable television connections, wireless connections in reserved bands or leased data circuits. Should the implementation of IP telephony be considered by a middle-sized company with its headquarters in Prague and branches in regional cities, and the company has quality connection with sufficient capacity, it will use different technologies and its savings will be substantially higher. Calling for free between branches via the data network is a matter of course ("traversing" of PBX stations via Internet is enables e.g. by the Ateus Omega PBX system), as is faxing between branches. Additional savings are offered in call forwarding according to region; the call is terminated in the fixed network in the region where the called party is located, hence the call is billed as a local call. Financial savings on telephone expenses are the most substantial when IP telephony is implemented in a larger company with 50 or more employees. Not only can it take advantage of the aforementioned benefits of IP telephony, but it can also exploit the connection of the PBX station to an alternative operator's (operators') gateway, thereby directing outgoing calls to networks according to the best tariff. 2N Netstar is a PBX station that can handle up to 120 simultaneous IP calls. Because 2N Netstar is a fully converged solution, it is possible connect analogue telephones, ISDN telephones and system telephones that support shares telephone books, call parking and Mobility Extension. The connection of hundred of SIP IP telephones is a matter of course. What are the advantages and disadvantages of IP telephony? For home users, there are only advantages, provided that they already own some sort of PC and Internet connection of sufficient parameters. Upon installing a software IP telephone, microphone and headphones, this user can enjoy all the advantages of IP telephony including call forwarding from the office and calling via the corporate branch PBX to fixed and mobile networks. For a small company without a PBX station, the transition to IP telephony with 2N VoiceBlue Enterprise offers advantages in the form of savings on calls and greater options compared to classic telephone lines (connection of calls, calls to GSM, calls from abroad, etc.), as well as the possibility of variable expansion of the telephone network (upon arrival of a new colleague, an IP telephone is connected to the local network and registered in the internal SIPproxy 2N VoiceBlue Enterprise, without the need for installing new telephone lines. The only disadvantage is the cost for the acquisition of technologies, which returns within about 6 months. For an SME company, switching to a solution with IP telephony is primarily a procedural matter, because this transition is often a change from half-hearted solution to a real solution. We know of many companies where documents are scanned and sent by e-mail to be printed at the other branch. Problems are solved by dozens of e-mails instead of a single telephone call. With Ateus Omega, employees are not obliged to change their thinking and routine procedures; documents are sent free via fax through the IP network between branches, and they can make arrangements with colleagues from other branches for free and comprehensibly via Internet. The only disadvantage lays in the costs, but in the case of a middle-sized company with several branches, these may return within 2 months if we include the time saved by employees. The most interesting concept is the transition to IP telephony and a converged solution by a large enterprise. With the 2N Netstar PBX station, this transition is painless and the existing analogue telephones and telephone lines can still be used, system telephones can be connected to them, and the existing connection to the fixed network (usually ISDN PRI) can also be exploited. An additional bonus is the connection of several IP trunks to various alternative providers, other branches or abroad. Again, the only disadvantage is this case is the costs, the return period of which may be 2 months (given frequent calls abroad and to mobile networks). What are the general disadvantages and flaws of IP telephony and what may the objections be? The composition of a call is longer - in IP telephony, call composition takes a few seconds longer, but that is merely a question of habit. The quality of calls is much lower than in classic telephony - this was true only in the past. The codecs used today are of comparable quality to a classic telephone line. The only problem is operation on an overloaded Internet connection, where they may be packet outages and consequently gaps in the call. This phenomenon is prevented by intelligent routers, which can identify the type of operation in the network and prioritise certain IP telephony packets over others. The price for these routers is still relatively high for a small company, but for SMEs or larger companies, they are regularly accessible and popular. In general, it may be said that IP telephony presents many advantages for companies, particularly in terms of investment and operating cost savings in the sense of local infrastructure, because everything is implemented within the LAN network. The company also benefits from substantial savings on telephone fees, e.g. the interconnection of individual branches either on a national or international basis. Should the company connect to the network of a VoIP operator, it can save about 30% on outgoing calls. IP telephony can be integrated advantageously into the CRM e.g. for customer service. Employees can connect remotely and make local calls without the need to spend on roaming connection. To launch IP telephone, every company must anticipate an initial investment into the PBX station if it does not own one already, into telephone handsets, euroISDN BRI or PRI connections, Internet connection and investments into local infrastructure. We are convinced that VoIP certainly pays off today. After all, you and your company can convince yourselves.
2025
