Web VoIP Directory

Broadband phones are here for quite some time and is definitely the future of telecommunications. These phones are used to make telephone calls via PC over internet thus drastically cutting down the cost of your huge telephone bills. In UK and US, broadband and internet phones have become a household name and more and more people are switching to internet phone service rather than using traditional phone lines.

Broadband phones use the technology called Voice over IP (Internet Protocol), or VoIP. VoIP technology is used to transmit voice conversations over a data network using the Internet Protocol. Such data network may be the Internet or a corporate Intranet. It carries telephone voice signals as IP packets in compliance with International Telecommunications Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) specification H.323. VoIP enables a router to transmit telephone calls and faxes over the Internet with no loss in functionality, reliability, or voice quality. VoIP utilizes bandwidth to send voice packets like any other data. When they reach their destination, the data packets are converted and reconstructed into voice.

The primary motivations for doing so are cost and convenience as VoIP is significantly less expensive than typical telephone long distance packages, plus one high speed Internet connection can serve for multiple phone lines.

Advantages of VoIP Technology

1.Universal Appeal: VoIP could be applied to almost any voice communications requirement, ranging from a simple inter-office intercom to complex multi-point teleconferencing/shared screen environments.

2. Low Cost: Reducing long distance telephone costs is a major reason for using VoIP. Today flat rate long distance pricing is available with the Internet and can result in considerable savings for both voice transfer and fax. And because VoIP uses the infrastructure of the Internet to make outgoing calls, you can cut down your telephone bills considerably. Depending upon your VoIP service provider you can also make long distance calls that cost little calls charges. Many VoIP services providers also offer customers VoIP products like calling cards which have discounted rates, which further allow you to save more.

If you have VoIP software installed in your computer and you make a call to someone who also uses VoIP software in the same local area, then you can talk to him as long as you wish without paying a pound. This is because the data is transferred in mode similar to that of an email and your voice is converted into digital data packets rather than audio. VoIP also enables conference calls and video calls at economical cost.

3. Simplification: The integrated infrastructure supports all forms of communication over internet and allows more standardization and reduces the total equipment complement.

Disadvantages

1. Connectivity: One of the major disadvantages of VoIP is that it only works if the computer of user is switched on and the VoIP software is running. It also requires that the other person with whom the user wants to communicate has the same program loaded and running on his computer.

2. Quality of Sound: Another major disadvantage of VOIP is that the quality of the sound can be uneven and calls can have lot of delay with lot of echo.

3. Security: One more area of concern related to voip is the security of the data transferred. They are more susceptible to the Denial of Service (DOS) attacks and other forms of obnoxious hacking because many businesses operate personal gateways and other equipment for connecting to the internet. However there is solution to every problem and if regular precautions are followed while transferring files and data, then this problem can be solved.

Finally it can be said that VoIP technology is emerging as a major player in the telecom industry and in spite of the challenges faced, it is definitely going to be the future of voice communication.

Operating 10 offices as a single call centre using VoIP technology has saved a retailer $140,000 each year in wages and another $30,000 in call costs, without compromising service quality.

"The business benefits are huge," says CPAP Australia’s managing director, Ben Greenaway. One of Australia’s largest retailers of equipment to solve snoring and sleep apnoea, CPAP Australia has offices stretching from Cairns to Canberra.

An Epygi IP PBX routs customer calls. Using Aastra IP handsets from Alloy, CPAP Australia staff members can put callers on hold, transfer calls between offices and pick up voice mail. The system’s designer, Lee Watson of Spring Mountain Technology (SMT), said the Quadro operated like a number of distributed telephone systems and a network server in one.

"The Epygi IP PBX delivers features like voice mail, three-way conferencing, call waiting, and even access call statistics," he said. "In effect, CPAP has a highly sophisticated call centre that would only be viable for large corporations using conventional technology."

Mr Greenaway said the SMT system had brought savings beyond cheaper VoIP phone rates.

"Our call costs fell by 65 per cent in the first few months and we’re saving at least $30,000 a year in phone call costs and line rentals alone," he said. "Even more importantly, the SMT VoIP system lets us run our business more efficiently, saving us $140,000 per annum in labour costs."

"We are running a virtual call centre spread over 10 locations. Remote sites assist with the workload of incoming calls during their quiet periods, which means we need fewer staff members. We also have the ability to transfer a call from Rockhampton, for example, to the technician in Canberra who saw the patient."

Expansion is also easier thanks to the flexibility of the SMT VoIP system.

"We’re adding new remote locations every two to three months," Mr Greenaway said, "and because calls between our offices are free and there are no extra line rentals, expansion no longer brings the spiralling costs it used to."

"Support is more affordable too. With conventional systems, you pay around $130 per hour for a technician to attend to a breakdown or make changes. In contrast, almost all changes, updates and support for our VoIP system is done remotely. This is both quicker and cheaper."

The savings have not compromised service quality, according to CPAP Australia, which intensively researched its options and phased in VoIP implementation. Among the criteria for the selection of SMT as a provider was its ability to deliver both the equipment and the service, ensuring compatibility and accountability.

"When we first considered VOIP, we could see the cost saving but as our company relies on inbound calls we were hesitant to jump straight in without testing the water," Mr Greenaway said. "Each customer’s inbound call can be worth $1000 to $2000, so high quality voice calls were always our number one priority. After a nine-month investigation of VoIP solutions, it was clear that SMT was the only company that could deliver a complete solution."

"The implementation phase was very painless. Having connected the copper lines from the old system to the new Epygi Quadro4, we shipped SMT’s bundle of the modem/router and Aastra IP phone to remote locations."

Lee Watson said the selection of Aastra phones and the Epygi IP PBX followed extensive testing that showed the two were perfectly compatible and highly manageable.

"Successful VoIP systems have three ingredients: robust hardware, a quality voice service provider and reliable internet connection with adequate bandwidth," he said. "The Aastra phones offer high build quality designed for heavy use environments and offer all the features most centres want. An example is power over Ethernet which centralizes and protects phone power along with dual Ethernet that reduces the need or eradicates the need to add any additional cabling for desk phones."

CPAP Australia initially used an existing ADSL service to carry both voice and data but early quality of service issues prompted the use of dedicated DSL for VoIP at the central office and increased bandwidth for remote locations. After trialling the VoIP system in tandem with the existing PSTN network for two months, CPAP switched all inbound calls to VoIP.

"Using SMT as the service provider as well as the equipment provider, service quality has exceeded all expectations," Mr Greenaway said.

For more information, contact:

Marian Macdonald is a freelance writer specialising in business to business communications.

SMT
1300 885193
www.smountain.com.au

The services offered by VoIP are extraordinary in their true nature and was unknown in the earlier times. It has gained momentum with its high-end carrier services reaching out to the mobile operators, resellers and contact centres. VoIP has efficiently reached out to manage the communication needs of people at large and even of the large organisations.

There are several innovative services offered by the voice over IP. Some of the latest services offered by the VoIP service providers can be listed below:

1.Carrier VoIP Services: It is true that customers can benefit from a collaborative agreement that encompasses 40 global network providers. This service has helped to foster economic growth through a range of value added services. It conforms to the highest quality standards.

2.Reseller VoIP Services: Organisations willing to enter into the lucrative VoIP domain, but lacking in technical expertise for the same can opt for the reseller VoIP Services. This is because the requirement for investment is minimum. This reseller panel has round-the-clock technical support and such organisations work hard to build their own brand. This is the reason why users can rely on them.

3.Contact centre solutions: These are parts of business VoIP service and are utilised for customer relationship management. These solutions help to increase the productivity, efficiency and profitability levels of contact centres and call centres.

4.Corporate business solutions: With these solutions, business organisations that have a global presence are in a better position to manage these solutions more efficiently. In fact, VoIP services offer ‘hosted solutions’ that connect various corporateoffices of an organisation into a cohesive whole. So, now with the freedom to work efficiently from various offices and with VoIP call termination services, the corporate organisations are drawing profits as never before.

5.Managed Partitioning Services: These technical solutions can be received on-demand when the customers are provided by dedicated switches. These switches can be used to provide services to the end users. So, now with these solutions, the customers can develop their own brand identity and have fulfilling relationships with their clients.

6.Solution for ISPs: The ISPs can utilise the customised solutions of service providers in order to sell voice over services to the end users. With proper technical support, equipment specifications and round-the-clock monitoring, the solutions have proved to be beneficial on several contexts.

VoIP has thus emerged as a single solution to topsy turvy situations that arise in the business organisations. Many difficult situations arising out of manual works and lengthy procedures are solved by the business VoIP service. In fact, Voice over IP has emerged as the single best solution for maintaining efficiency in corporate business solutions contact centre operations, managed partitioning services and high tech carrier services. The revered users of VoIP are also ensured of efficient technical support.

The VoIP technology has thus become a choice of people and the users can actually make the best use of this technology to become successful in their business as well as professional ventures. This system of telephony is very effective in meeting people’s needs. The users remain satisfied with the service as they can use it to make calls, send messages and also share files. The technical gratification makes users fall for the services of VoIP. In fact, people have started to abandon their traditional phone lines and adopt the Voice Over IP connections.

Information about VoIP and VoIP service providers can be gained from the Internet. Many websites give detailed information about VoIP and its service. Users can also remain updated about the various plans offered by the service providers that may be offered either by resellers or whole sellers. Voice Over IP has really brought revolutionary changes in people’s lives.

For more information, visit: Various VoIP phone services offered by one of the best VoIP provider.