Voip Phone Systems: Beneficial to the Workplace

VoIP Phone Systems:

Beneficial to the Workplace

A Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, system uses groups of transmission technology, communication protocols, and other methodologies in order to allow the delivery of voice communications and multimedia over Internet Protocol networks (International Engineering Consortium, 2007). The major development of mass market VoIP service began in 2004. VoIP is tempting for both the individual and business because it often offers unlimited international and domestic calling services for one flat monthly fee. Businesses are enjoying the benefits of VoIP because of its efficient use of bandwidth and its low costs (International Engineering Consortium, 2007).

Currently, the customer has primary rate interface (PRI). PRI is a telecommunication standard that carries many voice and data transmissions between a couple of physical locations. PRI is not ideal for our customer because its use is intended for large enterprises rather than small business (Unuth, n.d.). The customer has the PRI to an analog PBX in order to connect their internal lines with their external lines, so they are clearly looking for ways to simplify their technology and their communications bills.

The client has displayed their concern that their current phone systems are not meeting their international and long distance calling needs in a monetarily efficient manner. The need to call their international and long distance partners on a frequent basis shows their need of our company's VoIP services. Our customer currently has a DSL connection with 384k upload and a 1MB download rate. This is in the median range for DSL services and would provide median range service with VoIP for our customer (Unuth, n.d.).

In order for our company to provide service to this customer, a lot of updating may need to be involved. Even though the initial costs could be expensive for our customer, it will help them in reaching their overall goal to cut costs on international and long distance calling.

First, in order to use the VoIP service, the customer must ensure it has a good internet connection with proper bandwidth. If the customer is satisfied with the lack of mobility that DSL has, an upgrade to a better DSL service is suggested. If the customer would prefer more mobility, they may consider converting to a wireless internet plan. Next, the customer will need to replace their analog with CAT 3 phones. They will need to get devices such as headsets and speakers for the computer for communication. A softswitch will also be needed to connect calls from their new VoIP system to any other phone line. To compliment the softswitch, the customer will want to keep their PBX, as this will allow the VoIP phones to make calls not only to other VoIP phones, but also to the public switched telephone network as well (Unuth, n.d.).