Essex set to introduce VoIP in new network

Essex County Council is looking at setting up a framework contract that will update communications systems, leading to the introduction of more VoIP services.

The authority and other public sector organisations are set to benefit from the plans, which hope to increase the use of flexible working and tools such as video conferencing and instant messaging.

The council said: "Fixed to mobile telephony conversion will allow us to route incoming telephone calls to desk phones or mobiles without the caller being aware of this, and provide the option to significantly reduce the number of fixed-line handsets on the estate."

Organisations that will be able to take advantage of the technology include Essex Cares and the Essex Probation Service.

In recent weeks, the benefits of VoIP were outlined by the Internet Telephony Service Providers' Association's Trefor Davies, who claimed that substantial savings can be made by using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) trunking.