Implementing VoIP for business users
Voice over IP (also known as VoIP, IP telephony or Internet telephony) is a term used to describe the way voice calls are sent via a packet based data network e.g. over the Internet or a Wide or Local Area Network. 8el's NGN VoIP services offer a number of advantages compared to traditional fixed line telephony solution.
The success of any VoIP solution relies on five key factors;
1) The quality of the equipment at each end of the call
Using a high bandwidth codec (The method of encoding a phone call into a digital network) is fine in a high bandwidth environment (e.g. a LAN), however it is unlikely that users are always going to be on the same site and thus a bandwidth efficient codec needs to be selected. 8el's VoIP Solution offers the ability to select a preferred codec, potentially saving companies expensive capacity upgrades whilst delivering the quality associated with traditional voice calls.
2) Quality of Service (QoS)
8el networks are QoS enabled and experienced in running VoIP traffic across low bandwidth links. They allow business critical applications and time sensitive traffic (e.g. VoIP) to be prioritised across the network, thus providing a seamless end-user experience.
3) An intuitive user experience
Rather than customers investing heavily in handsets, the approach that 8el has adopted is to offer users the ability to 'drive' the stand alone phones via a iPath that is linked to the hardware. By using this approach, the cost of the phones can be minimised and the feature sets can be easily managed by the administrator. This move towards a simple 'click in response' event process plays to the fact that users are increasingly becoming familiar with software communications and control. This approach also minimises the likelihood of needing to purchase handset hardware that will go out of date as the technology develops.
4) The availability of the service
With the arrival of NGN telephony services the managed service provider is at last in a position to offer a single point of ownership rather than simply a point of contact. 8el's solution is built on the N+1 principal with customer sites or call backup routes preconfigured allowing 8el to provide a continuous service. DR policies can be configured to invoke telephony re routes either automatically or upon administrator demand via the web portal.
5) The flexibility of the platform
Additional moves and changes are possible via software or a web portal as profiles can be issued as and when required. CallPort charges on a per profile basis, enabling companies to deliver the features and benefits of an NGN service without the associated capital expenditure and maintenance of an IP-PBX solution. To discuss implementing an NGN solution, please call 0118 338 3000.
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