Technical Brief March 2008
VoIP Benefits Become Reality for SMBs
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is the capability to transmit voice, such as a phone conversation, over an IP network, including the Internet, LAN, WAN or company intranet. The primary benefit to using VoIP is to consolidate all communications voice, data, fax, etc. into one unified network. The enterprise has been reaping the benefits of VoIP for almost a decade. Now that VoIP solutions are becoming more commonplace, the VoIP technology and infrastructure have significantly matured to be more compatible, reliable, and cost effective, enabling SMBs to realize these benefits too.
Benefits of VoIP for SMBs
By having one unified network, the most obvious benefit is cost reduction. Because everything is transmitted over the network, there is no reason for traditional PSTNs (public switched telephone networks). VoIP allows businesses to transmit more than one telephone call down the same broadband telephone line, where as with PSTNs, businesses need several phone lines
- creating an expense that can add up quickly. In addition, there is less management and expense in maintaining the additional phone network.
Other benefits include:
- Secure calls because VoIP calls are digital, they are easy to encrypt and authenticate.
- Location independence only an internet connection is needed to get a connection to a VoIP provider, therefore, calls can be made from anywhere. This allows employees to work remotely, or allows the organization to connect remote offices or branches with the same phone system.
- No long-distance charges, no FCC taxes or tariffs because VoIP uses internet connections, they are not subject to long-distance charges or FCC regulations.
- Easier, more cost-effective modifications instead of paying $50 to $300 every time somebody in the company makes a move, an IT manager can add, change or remove a phone line through a user interface, or do it remotely.
- Easy Integration with other services. Because it is available over the Internet, VoIP can easily tie in to other applications. VoIP enables integration of video conversation, message or data file exchange in parallel with the conversation, audio conferencing, managing address books, and passing information about whether others are available online to interested parties.
VoIP Implementation Models
There are a few approaches in which SMBs can implement VoIP solutions, including managed, DIY, or broadband. For businesses with limited or no IT staff, managed is the optimum approach. In a managed situation, the VoIP solution, also know as Internet Protocol private branch exchange (IP PBX) resides on site at the company and is managed remotely by a service provider for a contracted fee. The benefits for a company owning its own VoIP system is that it costs virtually the same (or less) than a traditional PBX phone system, but because of the service savings, the company's return on investment can usually be achieved quickly in approximately 1 to 2 years.
Is VoIP the right solution for your business? Spirinet Technologies has partnered with Allworx to offer rich VoIP and network solutions specifically design for SMBs, and they can help you assess
what is best for your situation. To learn more about VoIP solutions from Spirinet, visit us at www.spirinet.com.
Learning
