Why Does VoIP Matter to My Business?

Hint: It doesn't and no one wants to tell you!

What is It?
Voice over Internet Protocol (Voice over IP, VoIP) is a family of technologies, methodologies, communication protocols, and transmission techniques for the delivery of voice communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol (IP) networks, such as the Internet. Other terms frequently encountered and often used synonymously with VoIP are IP telephony, Internet telephony, voice over broadband (VoBB), broadband telephony, broadband phone, and IP Communications.

The steps involved in originating a VoIP telephone call:

1) Signaling and media channel setup. 2) Digitization of the analog voice signal. 3) Encoding, packetization, and transmission as Internet Protocol (IP) packets over a packet-switched network.
Even though IP Telephony and VoIP are terms that are used interchangeably, they are actually dierent. IP telephony refers to digital telephony systems that use IP protocols for voice communication. VoIP is actually a subset of IP Telephony. VoIP is a technology used by IP telephony as a means of transporting phone calls.

VoIP systems employ session control protocols to control the set-up and tear-down of calls as well as audio codecs which encode speech allowing transmission over an IP network as digital audio via an audio stream. The codec used is varied between dierent implementations of VoIP (and often a range of codecs are used); some implementations rely on narrowband and compressed speech, while others support high delity stereo codecs. VoIP is available on many smart phones and internet devices so even the users of portable devices that are not phones can still make calls or send SMS text messages over 3G or Wi-Fi.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice_over_IP

Phew! That was exciting!

Hold your breath. One more thought ...

SIP, if you are not already familiar, is something you will be hearing about. Most IP capable communications systems are working toward, if not already fully able to utilize native SIP devices, making the system a full or compatible SIP based communications solution. The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is an IETFdened signaling protocol widely used for controlling communication sessions such as voice and video calls over Internet Protocol (IP). The protocol can be used for creating, modifying and terminating two-party (unicast) or multiparty (multicast) sessions. Sessions may consist of one or several media streams.

How is it that VoIP Matters to MY Business?

Or, put a little less delicately: SO WHAT?!

Facts: Fiction:

Improve Efficiency. Reduce Costs. Increase Effectiveness. Increase Communications Anything called VoIP means the same thing.

Two Key Points for You to Consider and Evaluate:

1) Carrier Services: You remember Ma Bell right? The world is a little better than the days of Ma Bell as there are many competitive carriers vying for your business. As pricing continues to fall and functionality continues to improve, carrier options increase. Now, phone service is bundled often with Internet access and if needed, securely connecting sites together using MPLS (utilizing, you guessed it, IP.) 2) Telephone System: This equipment either resides at your facility, thus it is yours i.e. Premise Based, or, you pay for this usage monthly and only have phones at your oce called a Hosted solution. For a number of reasons you may choose to host your own system as a 3rd alternative.

Carrier Services
Hint #2: You get what you pay for and your business needs dependable service.
Carrier Services should be chosen from among the top three to four leaders in your region. Do not go with anyone less than 25% the average of all quotes. An important part of this process is to have I.T. support and the telephone system provider involved in this process as certain decisions can aect costs and eciency.

Technology Investment
Technology investment decisions have always included many key criteria. This same approach applies to IP communications investments. This was the way it was before VoIP or even the Internet and should not be changing because terms like VoIP and SIP start to get thrown around.
Your I.T. team is important here. Involve them and/or have condence in the I.T. capabilities of your IP Communications / Telephone System vendor. The bene ts of modern systems allow you to connect to databases, sync with email, communicate from almost anywhere in the world seamlessly. Yes, IP Communications can run in your current computer network but do not be fooled, you most likely will need to spend some $s for it to not impact the rest of your business and be a reliable solution.

KEYS:

1) Cost to acquire, maintain, and update? 2) How long will it last - when do I have to replace it? 3) How do I add increased functionality for increased eciency? (See #1) 4) Who will support my business? What happens if they go away or I am not happy with their service? 5) Other items: Security, Disaster Recovery, Availability of Support, Remote Employees, et. al.

Want to know the best way to ensure FAILURE with an IP Communications solution?
Ask your brother in-law. Buy the cheapest system you can find from a small company in Idaho.
Or more likely choosing a system because your vendor happens to carry it. There are hundreds of options, make sure you consider national companies with nancial stability, if they go out of business they cannot support you. He knows someone that has VoIP at their house.

Look up VoIP for Business through an Internet search engine.

You know vendors pay to be there right?

Rely solely on your I.T. help person to make the call.

Its a business decision not an I.T. decision.

Be sure to consider not only the hard costs, but the increase of eciency that can be gained from a newer, more capable communications system for your business including improved customer service, quicker sales turn around, improved employee exibility, and more.

3 Steps to Ensure Success

The fact is only you know your business and what you need today, and for the future. To ensure success we suggest doing these three simple things:
1) Contact local, well established vendors with experience in communications and I.T. Check your local Better Business Bureau or ask some other business owners. 2) Have an introductory meeting with each vendor, ask them what they would do if it was their decision as far as features and capabilities. 3) Make a list of the features you are seeking, send it out to at least 5 vendors, then have each of them present their solution.
An important point here is not only the vendor, but the manufacturer they choose to propose to you. There are many low end, small companies that have built IP Communications systems. Your business is worth a solution from a trusted established company.

VoIP Doesnt Matter

IP Communications Do!
This is an important decision for your business and can be the dierence in your success in the coming years. The fact is IP Communications do matter and can move your business forward. Just dont make the mistake that many have before you in buying a technology versus investing in a solution for your business. Take the time, you are worth it, and so is your business. Dont spend more time choosing a desk or the color of your oce walls.

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