19-04-2011, 10:06 AM
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ABSTRACT
The main objective of this paper is to provide a conceptual view on “Voice over Internet Protocol” (VoIP), its techniques characteristics and functions. What’s Voice on Internet Protocol? The benefits, the VoIP market, VoIP solutions, and implementation. It is the most important concept in IT and as well as in Business point of view.
This brochure is for small businesses who want to cut the cost of their phone bill. It’s also for those who want to integrate their phone system with their business applications, to make staff more productive and offer better customer service and it covers the benefits of implementing VoIP, with advice on how to go about it.
INTRODUCTION:
What is VoIP?
Many small businesses are faced with spiraling phone bills. One way of reducing your bills is to use your IT network for phone calls between your branches, and to use the internet for external calls. This is known as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
VoIP can also dramatically improve the way you work. If you switch phone calls to IT network, you can merge voice and data, boosting staff productivity and enhancing customer service. As the price of high speed internet Connections comes down, it’s well worth taking a fresh look at long term plans for phone and IT network. Protocols are the set of rules that should govern data communications.
VoIP enables businesses to make phone calls across computer networks, providing a low cost and efficient way to complement traditional phone systems. VoIP can be used in local office networks or between sites, enabling you to integrate call handling with other parts of your business such as your website.
The benefits:
1) The main advantage of VoIP is cheaper phone calls. Another key advantage is being able to combine phone calls with business data. It means you can adopt call centre style technology, with each incoming call triggering onscreen pop ups with customer details.
2) As the cost of high speed internet access (broadband) comes down, VoIP is now within reach of small businesses. Some telecoms companies and internet service providers are now offering VoIP deals targeted at the small business sector.
3) With VoIP, voice data is compressed and transmitted over a computer network. This means VoIP uses up to 90% less bandwidth than a traditional phone call and is consequently more cost-effective and more efficient.
4) VoIP is helping the phone companies save money, and by introducing a VoIP phone system on your own computer networks, you could do so too.
For any business, the immediate benefits can be:
• Cheaper external, long distance and international calls for the price of a local call.
• Free internal calls to all parts of your company that share a computer network. With
a Virtual Private Network (VPN) in place you can speak to connected colleagues at
different branches or on the road free of charge.
5) Cheaper calls are not only advantage.If you merge phone and networks, VoIP helps you work more efficiently and make company’s phone network easier to look after.
• Simpler infrastructure: With VoIP on your computer network you can add
telephones and increase call capacity without running additional cabling.
• Scalability: Traditional PBX (Private Branch Exchange) phone systems have a set
number of ports for telephones to plug in to.
• Reduce operating costs: Because a VoIP-enabled system is based on software
rather than hardware, it is easier to manage and maintain.
• Improve productivity: VoIP treats voice as if it were any other kind of data, so
users can attach documents to voice messages or participate in virtual meetings
using shared data and Videoconferencing.
• Wireless-compatible: With a wireless LAN in place, mobile devices like PDAs and
smart phones can use your VoIP system. (If you install a wireless LAN, you need
to make sure you have appropriate security measures in place.)
• Enhanced customer service: A VoIP enterprise can put web users in touch with customer service staff on website. You could also look at implementing customer relationship management software (CRM).
• Dependable call management: Voice-related services, such as follow me
roaming, caller-ID, call forwarding and broadcast messaging, become simpler to
maintain and can be updated as needed by your employees.
• Flexibility: VoIP systems provide greater flexibility as you can run a number of ‘Virtual users’ through each network socket.
The VoIP market:
The good news is that the UK communications industries regulator, is pushing suppliers to introduce low-cost voice over broadband services in the UK. These services could be of interest to small and medium-sized companies.
As it’s a competitive market to see a raft of new products and services over the next few years, from traditional telephone service suppliers, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and network suppliers. Managed services where phone and data network are likely to be popular options for those who don’t have in-house expertise.
VoIP solutions getting started and necessities:
VoIP allows phone calls to be made between PCs that are connected on a computer network. This can be an internal LAN (Ethernet, wireless-based) or any computer connected to the internet.
PC-TO-PC CONNECTIONS:
To make and receive VoIP calls internally in your business you will each need a multimedia equipped PC (Pentium) or an Apple G4.
You also need to be connected to some kind of network:
• Internet: Home users who have an internet connection you can, phone any suitably
equipped PC in the world free of charge with a dial-up connection. But for serious
business use, you need a high speed internet connection such as broadband.
• Private networks: VoIP can work across almost any data network, including
wireless or Ethernet-based LANs and Virtual Private Networks (VPN), as well as the
internet itself. The quality of service depends on congestion and transmission speeds
of the network in question.
SOFTWARE:
You need appropriate software to make VoIP calls on PC or Apple Mac. The latest operating systems include applications that let you make PC-to-PC calls.
• Microsoft Windows 2000 users can use Net meeting.
• In Windows XP, Messenger has this capability.
• Apple users use iChat which comes with Mac for use with broadband connections.
• Applications such as Skype let PC, Mac and Linux users chat free of charge over
the internet. The software is suitable for personal use rather than business use.
HARDWARE:
You could use computer’s built-in microphone and sound card to make and receive calls, but most users find headsets and handsets more practical.
• Analogue handsets plug into your existing soundcard. They are simple to operate
but sound quality can be variable.
• USB handsets plug into any PC and deliver audio as they have built-in sound cards.
SIP models can plug into any PC and make/receive calls from anywhere in the world.
• Analogue telephone adaptors units that convert your existing analogue phone
into an internet capable (SIP) phone.
• IP phones are available, which plug into the data network. Making phone calls over
the internet, you can check email, browse the internet and access your company’s
business applications.
PC-TO-PHONE CONNECTIONS:
To call people who have phones rather than VoIP-enabled PCs, your company needs a modern, IP-enabled PBX (private branch exchange). They come with a standard gateway which connects VoIP calls to the public phone network.
You may need to download the service provider’s software to convert your PC into a telephone, and use a PIN number to access the service. Using an Internet Telephony Service Provider is a low cost option, as you do not need to invest in additional hardware.
PC-to-phone services for businesses can be set up with single or multiple user accounts (with itemized billing) and can be a cost effective solution if you need to make international or long distance calls on a regular basis.
PHONE-TO-PHONE CONNECTIONS:
If reducing your international phone bill is the sole concern you can even opt for an account with an Internet Telephony Service Provider that gives you access to its low tariffs via a calling card solution. Here, you subscribe to a VoIP service and pre-dial its code when you are calling abroad. You don’t have to upgrade your network to take advantage of these services, so it’s a low-cost option.
VoIP solutions going further
VoIP is not just about cheaper phone calls. If you merge your phone and data network, it can dramatically change the way you work, improving customer service along the way. For example, you can use call centre technology to improve the way you deal with customers. Each incoming call can trigger your database to show a customer’s address details and transaction history on screen.
So if you’re planning to upgrade your telephone system or if you’re implementing broadband on your IT network, it would be wise to make sure any new systems you install can cope with VoIP.
VOIP ENABLING YOUR SWITCHBOARD:
Most businesses use Private Branch Exchanges (PBXs) to manage shared external lines and switch calls between users on internal lines.
By taking this route, businesses can preserve their existing investment, and take advantage of VoIP. You may find that the new equipment pays for itself within a year, through the costs you save on your phone bill.
To do this you will need:
• An IP-Private Branch Exchange server (IP-PBX server). It deals with call routing
and connection requests, monitors data traffic and manage bandwidth allocation.
• A gateway which provides the bridge between VoIP traffic and the standard
telephone network.
• Software that allows multimedia-capable PCs to operate as high performance
telephones using the company network
VOIP BETWEEN SWITCHBOARDS:
If you are mainly interested in cutting the cost of internal calls between different branch locations, you can install VoIP gateways at each branch’s PBX telephone system and bypass the public telephone system. There is no need for equipment changes for the users, as individual phones are unaffected.
This will create a single, multi-location ‘office’. You will cut the cost of inter-office phone costs and staff will benefit from remotely accessible voicemail and Direct Dial-In (DDI) numbers. The return on investment (ROI) here is straightforward: it’s the reduction in your phone bill less the cost of the hardware. With the ratio of internal to external calls at around 4:1 for the average business, the telephone savings could be substantial.
ABSTRACT
The main objective of this paper is to provide a conceptual view on “Voice over Internet Protocol” (VoIP), its techniques characteristics and functions. What’s Voice on Internet Protocol? The benefits, the VoIP market, VoIP solutions, and implementation. It is the most important concept in IT and as well as in Business point of view.
This brochure is for small businesses who want to cut the cost of their phone bill. It’s also for those who want to integrate their phone system with their business applications, to make staff more productive and offer better customer service and it covers the benefits of implementing VoIP, with advice on how to go about it.
INTRODUCTION:
What is VoIP?
Many small businesses are faced with spiraling phone bills. One way of reducing your bills is to use your IT network for phone calls between your branches, and to use the internet for external calls. This is known as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
VoIP can also dramatically improve the way you work. If you switch phone calls to IT network, you can merge voice and data, boosting staff productivity and enhancing customer service. As the price of high speed internet Connections comes down, it’s well worth taking a fresh look at long term plans for phone and IT network. Protocols are the set of rules that should govern data communications.
VoIP enables businesses to make phone calls across computer networks, providing a low cost and efficient way to complement traditional phone systems. VoIP can be used in local office networks or between sites, enabling you to integrate call handling with other parts of your business such as your website.
The benefits:
1) The main advantage of VoIP is cheaper phone calls. Another key advantage is being able to combine phone calls with business data. It means you can adopt call centre style technology, with each incoming call triggering onscreen pop ups with customer details.
2) As the cost of high speed internet access (broadband) comes down, VoIP is now within reach of small businesses. Some telecoms companies and internet service providers are now offering VoIP deals targeted at the small business sector.
3) With VoIP, voice data is compressed and transmitted over a computer network. This means VoIP uses up to 90% less bandwidth than a traditional phone call and is consequently more cost-effective and more efficient.
4) VoIP is helping the phone companies save money, and by introducing a VoIP phone system on your own computer networks, you could do so too.
For any business, the immediate benefits can be:
• Cheaper external, long distance and international calls for the price of a local call.
• Free internal calls to all parts of your company that share a computer network. With
a Virtual Private Network (VPN) in place you can speak to connected colleagues at
different branches or on the road free of charge.
5) Cheaper calls are not only advantage.If you merge phone and networks, VoIP helps you work more efficiently and make company’s phone network easier to look after.
• Simpler infrastructure: With VoIP on your computer network you can add
telephones and increase call capacity without running additional cabling.
• Scalability: Traditional PBX (Private Branch Exchange) phone systems have a set
number of ports for telephones to plug in to.
• Reduce operating costs: Because a VoIP-enabled system is based on software
rather than hardware, it is easier to manage and maintain.
• Improve productivity: VoIP treats voice as if it were any other kind of data, so
users can attach documents to voice messages or participate in virtual meetings
using shared data and Videoconferencing.
• Wireless-compatible: With a wireless LAN in place, mobile devices like PDAs and
smart phones can use your VoIP system. (If you install a wireless LAN, you need
to make sure you have appropriate security measures in place.)
• Enhanced customer service: A VoIP enterprise can put web users in touch with customer service staff on website. You could also look at implementing customer relationship management software (CRM).
• Dependable call management: Voice-related services, such as follow me
roaming, caller-ID, call forwarding and broadcast messaging, become simpler to
maintain and can be updated as needed by your employees.
• Flexibility: VoIP systems provide greater flexibility as you can run a number of ‘Virtual users’ through each network socket.
The VoIP market:
The good news is that the UK communications industries regulator, is pushing suppliers to introduce low-cost voice over broadband services in the UK. These services could be of interest to small and medium-sized companies.
As it’s a competitive market to see a raft of new products and services over the next few years, from traditional telephone service suppliers, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and network suppliers. Managed services where phone and data network are likely to be popular options for those who don’t have in-house expertise.
VoIP solutions getting started and necessities:
VoIP allows phone calls to be made between PCs that are connected on a computer network. This can be an internal LAN (Ethernet, wireless-based) or any computer connected to the internet.
PC-TO-PC CONNECTIONS:
To make and receive VoIP calls internally in your business you will each need a multimedia equipped PC (Pentium) or an Apple G4.
You also need to be connected to some kind of network:
• Internet: Home users who have an internet connection you can, phone any suitably
equipped PC in the world free of charge with a dial-up connection. But for serious
business use, you need a high speed internet connection such as broadband.
• Private networks: VoIP can work across almost any data network, including
wireless or Ethernet-based LANs and Virtual Private Networks (VPN), as well as the
internet itself. The quality of service depends on congestion and transmission speeds
of the network in question.
SOFTWARE:
You need appropriate software to make VoIP calls on PC or Apple Mac. The latest operating systems include applications that let you make PC-to-PC calls.
• Microsoft Windows 2000 users can use Net meeting.
• In Windows XP, Messenger has this capability.
• Apple users use iChat which comes with Mac for use with broadband connections.
• Applications such as Skype let PC, Mac and Linux users chat free of charge over
the internet. The software is suitable for personal use rather than business use.
HARDWARE:
You could use computer’s built-in microphone and sound card to make and receive calls, but most users find headsets and handsets more practical.
• Analogue handsets plug into your existing soundcard. They are simple to operate
but sound quality can be variable.
• USB handsets plug into any PC and deliver audio as they have built-in sound cards.
SIP models can plug into any PC and make/receive calls from anywhere in the world.
• Analogue telephone adaptors units that convert your existing analogue phone
into an internet capable (SIP) phone.
• IP phones are available, which plug into the data network. Making phone calls over
the internet, you can check email, browse the internet and access your company’s
business applications.
PC-TO-PHONE CONNECTIONS:
To call people who have phones rather than VoIP-enabled PCs, your company needs a modern, IP-enabled PBX (private branch exchange). They come with a standard gateway which connects VoIP calls to the public phone network.
You may need to download the service provider’s software to convert your PC into a telephone, and use a PIN number to access the service. Using an Internet Telephony Service Provider is a low cost option, as you do not need to invest in additional hardware.
PC-to-phone services for businesses can be set up with single or multiple user accounts (with itemized billing) and can be a cost effective solution if you need to make international or long distance calls on a regular basis.
PHONE-TO-PHONE CONNECTIONS:
If reducing your international phone bill is the sole concern you can even opt for an account with an Internet Telephony Service Provider that gives you access to its low tariffs via a calling card solution. Here, you subscribe to a VoIP service and pre-dial its code when you are calling abroad. You don’t have to upgrade your network to take advantage of these services, so it’s a low-cost option.
VoIP solutions going further
VoIP is not just about cheaper phone calls. If you merge your phone and data network, it can dramatically change the way you work, improving customer service along the way. For example, you can use call centre technology to improve the way you deal with customers. Each incoming call can trigger your database to show a customer’s address details and transaction history on screen.
So if you’re planning to upgrade your telephone system or if you’re implementing broadband on your IT network, it would be wise to make sure any new systems you install can cope with VoIP.
VOIP ENABLING YOUR SWITCHBOARD:
Most businesses use Private Branch Exchanges (PBXs) to manage shared external lines and switch calls between users on internal lines.
By taking this route, businesses can preserve their existing investment, and take advantage of VoIP. You may find that the new equipment pays for itself within a year, through the costs you save on your phone bill.
To do this you will need:
• An IP-Private Branch Exchange server (IP-PBX server). It deals with call routing
and connection requests, monitors data traffic and manage bandwidth allocation.
• A gateway which provides the bridge between VoIP traffic and the standard
telephone network.
• Software that allows multimedia-capable PCs to operate as high performance
telephones using the company network
VOIP BETWEEN SWITCHBOARDS:
If you are mainly interested in cutting the cost of internal calls between different branch locations, you can install VoIP gateways at each branch’s PBX telephone system and bypass the public telephone system. There is no need for equipment changes for the users, as individual phones are unaffected.
This will create a single, multi-location ‘office’. You will cut the cost of inter-office phone costs and staff will benefit from remotely accessible voicemail and Direct Dial-In (DDI) numbers. The return on investment (ROI) here is straightforward: it’s the reduction in your phone bill less the cost of the hardware. With the ratio of internal to external calls at around 4:1 for the average business, the telephone savings could be substantial.
