Various Types Of VOIP Equipment

VOIP telephone is a form of latest technology which has proved to be a successful mode of telecommunication. The main equipment required in its operation is a "Broadband Internet Connection" along with telephone, telephone adaptor, phone jack, DSL or cable modem, and a computer. Broadband internet connection is a net connection possessing high speed.

Role Of Broadband Internet Connection In VOIP Phone Services

Broadband internet connection plays a significant role in the functioning of VOIP phones. One can easily have this net connection by using a cable modem or a high speed service like DSL. In setting VOIP connection, the phone is connected directly to the computer system or through telephone adaptor. The main purpose of this connection is to transform the analog signal into distributed digital data which is then forwarded to the broadband internet connection to complete a call.

The Advantages Of VOIP Equipment

The overall performance in terms of quality and reliability of VOIP telephone system is totally dependent upon features of the broadband internet connection like its quality, reliability, and speed. The three main advantages of using VOIP equipment are mentioned below:

1 - By having a broadband internet connection, you can easily save your money by not purchasing another telephone in order to make phone calls so you can use your traditional phone for having a complete VOIP telephone system.

2 - By having a broadband internet connection, you can easily talk to the people all around the globe and you can even chat with many people at the same time without any extra expense if they also possess a net connection.

3 - The use of VOIP phone system has helped a lot in having a control over the monthly telephone expenses hence it is helping a lot economically.

Disadvantages Of the VOIP Phone System

Though, the VOIP phone system possesses numerous advantages, but it also possesses a darker side. If the internet connection or the power supply gets cut off then the whole system of VOIP goes down. Because of this break down, the complete communication through the VOIP system also gets collapsed. This problem can be rectified by having a battery back up which should be similar to an uninterruptible power supply or UPS.

There is another option to tackle the situation of a break down by making a setting of VOIP system in such a manner that it will automatically forward the phone calls to the cell phone if a sudden break down takes place. But this option has to be worked upon in advance.

Various Types Of VOIP Equipment

The whole VOIP telephone system is composed of various VOIP equipments that are mentioned below:

1 - Computer: To have a set up of VOIP telephone system, you should possess a computer which should be compatible to a broadband internet connection because the results in terms of quality will not be superb if you opt for a dial up internet connection.

2 - Sound Card: The next most important thing that should be there to have a VOIP phone system is the presence of sound card in your computer in order to have voice clarity while hearing. You can also replace the use of sound card by using an IP phone or phone adapter. A microphone will also be needed for dialing and talking purpose.

3 - VOIP Provider: You should download the software from internet that allows the services of VOIP phones. It is always recommended to download the software of the reputated company. The installation of the software is also a very easy task.

4 - Adapter: It permits the connection of a regular phone to your computer.

Therefore, VOIP phone system has proved to be a gift of technology and has helped a lot of people in business.

How Much Bandwidth Is Chewed Up By VoIP??

Let's talk turkey for a moment (or Vonage if you want to throw a pun into the discussion ha ha.).

The age old question (OK recent topic of concern) among VoIP users and those whose bandwidth is used to make those calls is......how much bandwidth does VoIP use?

Well Virginia....that's an interesting question. Any discussion may illicit potentially tense reactions. So let's try and shed some light on the subject....in a practical fashion.

Bandwidth isn't measured like it was a garden hose of water. ON and OFF, measuring it's usage. It can be read that way, but it isn't actually looked at that way. Not by most providers anyway. (Unless of course they are trying to rationalize prices to the FCC).

For instance; as a business you may have numerous DS3/OC circuits that you pay for each month. A DS3 for instance rounded off is 45mb of pipe. Now, you pay the same thing for that circuit each month whether you put 1 voip line on it, or an entire network with hundreds of computers and such.

Same with your VoIP. You pay the same amount on an unlimited calling plan whether you make 1 phone call or 1000 calls. To try and measure actual Mega or Terabytes of data as a means of determining cost is pure rationalization.

Ma'Bell, Level 3, or any other backbone has "X" amount of bandwidth that they can use simultaneously. Some of that bandwidth is dedicated, some isn't. Some are using ATM so it can better utilize the bandwidth among inconsistant users, while there are also other flavors like Frame and TDM.

The point is, while some providers and backbone and backhaul carriers might charge a metered circuit, most sell fixed amounts of bandwidth. That's why your ISP has little statements like; "UP TO 1.5MB" or "Speeds may Vary". Just because voip has started making a presence, doesn't mean that ISP's have had to automatically start buying more bandwidth from the backbone.

If they tell you that, they are full of ......it. When DSL and cable broadband are sold to you, the max bandwidth that you are buying is formulated into their pricing and bandwidth demands.

For what it's worth, more bandwidth was probably used, until recently, on streaming audio/video, torrent, MP3 downloads, distributed computing, etc. If your service provider gets too saturated, they will offer more bandwidth at a higher price, which is what they will use to buy from the backbone/backhaul providers.

However when you have 10 people that are using the bandwidth (for VoIP) that would supply 50-100 average (internet using) joes..... not only is that causing more congestion at that junction box, but you are also causing the provider to buy more bandwidth.

You know as well as I do they will not make another tier! They will just raise the prices on the ones already established. How many average people max out their connections on a regular basis?

Anyway, the VoIP companies for the longest time have been getting pretty much a free ride on the PSTN and the ISPs.... plus were not subject to the same taxes MaBell is. So.... you can see why there is so much tension about bandwidth?

If you'd like help find just the right VoIP based solution....covering all the bandwidth in's and out's.....I suggest you take advantage of the free consulting services offered at Business-VoIP-Solution.com.

Why Should Your Company Use Unified Messaging?

Why Should Your Company Use Unified Messaging?

Unified messaging is rapidly growing in popularity among businesses and private individuals alike, and for good reason: by using a unified messaging system, it's possible to receive a number of different types of messages through a single access point instead of needing a different type of access for each message. This can be especially advantageous for businesses, as it allows them to reduce the amount of equipment that they need while making their communications systems much more efficient. If you have been considering switching your company to unified messaging but are wanting to make sure that it's right for your business needs, then consider the following in order to see whether this is the messaging solution that you've been looking for.

An All-in-One Solution

By choosing unified messaging for your company, you will be getting an all-in-one solution for all of your messaging needs. Unified messaging allows your employees to receive voice messages, faxes, e-mail, text messages, and even video messages all through their computer, cellular phone, or other access points. E-mail, faxes, and other text messages can even be received as audio through standard telephones, with text-to-phone technology that is available with many unified messaging services; even if the service that you choose does not offer this feature, your employees will still be able to receive alerts telling them what types of messages they have when using a phone, and will be able to access all of their messages via their cellular phone or over the internet.

Less Equipment to Maintain

Because unified messaging doesn't require separate machines for each type of message your employees might receive, there is much less equipment which must be bought and maintained. Additionally, the unified messaging system won't require paper, ink, or other resources the way that fax machines and some other messaging systems might; any faxes or text-based messages can be read and printed out as needed from an employee's computer, or simply listened to via telephone with a text-to-voice enabled unified messaging system.

Productivity and Cost Effectiveness

There are other advantages to using a unified messaging system, as well. Employees can spend more time focusing on their work instead of having to wait by the fax machine or visit another part of the office every time they need to send certain items off. Though the time spent doing these sorts of tasks may seem trivial, over the course of the day this can add up into a significant amount of time. This can give your employees a little extra time to get their work done, and they will be instantly alerted when the fax or message that they were waiting for arrives.

If your employees travel a lot or are often out of the office, unified messaging can be even more useful. Many unified messaging systems have features which enable messages to be sent to a variety of different access points, trying each in order so that your employee can receive their message alert regardless of whether they're in the office or away on a job. This can save valuable time as well as trips back and forth from the job site and office to check messages or receive faxes that may be vital to the work that they are doing.