Technocom Blog

What Is A VoIP Phone System?

Many small businesses use key phone systems, which allow users to directly see and control calls by simply pressing a button (or “key”) on a phone. Large companies use Private Branch Exchange (PBX) systems to connect telephone extensions to each other and the outside world. Most businesses use a hybrid system, which combines some of the call control features of a key system with the connectivity capability of a PBX.

Key systems have many limitations, including the types of carrier services they can support. Most are only able to route calls over standard business lines. Hybrid and PBX systems are capable of routing calls over high speed circuits such as a T1 or broadband cable connection. (See our last blog post for information about carrier services.)

Conventional key, hybrid and PBX systems typically use electro-mechnical processes to connect and switch calls. This technology has been replaced by digital call processing using Internet Protocol (IP). Simply defined, IP is a set of standards used to move data packets across a network. VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone systems use IP to deliver voice communications over a network. These systems are able to route calls using digital carrier services as well as standard analog lines.

Compared to conventional office phone systems, VoIP technology provides superior funtionality, increases productivity, enhances customer service, and lowers costs. A home office or a telecommuter can connect to a VoIP system located at a main or branch office. Branch offices within the same city, another state or elsewhere in the world can all be seamlessly connected using your private network, cell phones and the internet. This places your customers in better contact with sales and service, creates more ways for employees to connect with each other, and reduces long distance costs.

Technocom is an Avaya Business Partner. Avaya is a world leader in VoIP systems, and has made this technology affordable and accessible to small and medium businesses. The Avaya IP Office System is scalable, flexible, provides a wide variety of powerful communication tools, and can support a few users or a thousand users. To learn more about this powerful solution, watch this video http://bit.ly/dKF1UE or download this brochure http://bit.ly/e1qnOt.

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What Is A Carrier Services Provider?

Simply put, a Carrier Services Provider is a company that delivers telephone and data communications to and from points within an area. Think dial tone and internet access.

Once upon a time all services were delivered over a standard copper line, and the only flavor was analog. That service is commonly referred to as POTS — Plain Old Telephone Service. Over the past several years carrier technology has been evolving. Today there is an entire alphabet soup of services available: DSL, T1, DID, SIP, IA, EoC.

So what are these services, how do you determine which is best for your business, how do they compare in pricing, and which service provider should you choose?

A combination of POTS lines and a DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is the most common carrier service for small businesses. The POTS lines deliver your telephone calls, and the DSL provides multiple speed options for the delivery of internet services, as well as a channel for a fax, a credit card machine, or a modem.

When a business requires more than 8 lines, a T1 circuit is a more practical and efficient way to deliver carrier services. Rather than providing “lines”, a T1 circuit provides up to 24 digital channels that can be provisioned between voice and data services. Data speeds on a T1 circuit are much faster than services delivered on a conventional DSL circuit. A T1 can also deliver DID (Direct Inward Dialing). DIDs are issued in number blocks, and the numbers can be assigned in a variety of ways in telephone system programming.

SIP (Session Initiated Protocol) is now commonly available with T1 circuits. This compression technology reduces the bandwidth needed to deliver voice calls, making more bandwidth available for data services. IA (integrated Access) allows the bandwidth to be dynamically allocated between voice and data, giving priority to voice calls. If available, EoC (Ethernet over Copper) can deliver higher data speeds than a T1 circuit at less expense than a fiber optic connection. Broadband services from a cable provider can deliver voice, high speed data and television over one connection.

Before committing to any carrier services, it is vital to confirm that your telephone system is compatible with those services. The best way to assess your options and evaluate your equipment is to speak with a telecommunications consultant. Also, carrier service rates and fees are frequently revised. Review your contract to see when it expires, and speak with a consultant 3 - 6 months before its expiration. You may be able to upgrade services or reduce costs at the end of your contract.

Technocom is an authorized agent for carrier services from CenturyLink, Integra Telecom, Comcast and others. We can analyze your current services, impartially review a variety of carrier options, and then make a recommendation for your consideration. We will also evaluate your phone system to confirm that it is compatible with these services. If it is not, as an Avaya Business Partner we can propose a phone system solution too.

Call us at 503.454.7310 to learn more or schedule a no-cost consultation.

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