Document

““VOIP" SYSTEMSVOIP" SYSTEMS

prepared by:prepared by:

Dean AdolphoDean Adolpho

Stephen Van Kampen-LewisStephen Van Kampen-Lewis

Michael KelterMichael Kelter

Maureen Yee-LamMaureen Yee-Lam

What is VOIP?What is VOIP? Definition:Definition:

Voice-Over Voice-Over Internet ProtocolInternet Protocol

• VoIP- stands for VoIP- stands for

Voice over Voice over Internet ProtocolInternet Protocol

PSTNPSTN

PSTN- stands for PSTN- stands for Public Switched Public Switched Telephone Telephone NetworkNetwork – Same thing as Same thing as

POTS (Plain Old POTS (Plain Old Telephone Telephone System) System)

PSTNPSTN

VOIPVOIP

Key VendorsKey Vendors

AT&TAT&T

WorldComWorldCom

SprintSprint

Initial Reasons to Initial Reasons to Look at VoIPLook at VoIP

High costs of traditional High costs of traditional phone linesphone lines

Redundancy of multiple Redundancy of multiple communication systemscommunication systems

Phone service disruptionsPhone service disruptions

– Old buildings, old phone Old buildings, old phone lineslines

– Inconsistent service (eg. Inconsistent service (eg. London)London)

BenefitsBenefits

#1- Savings on phone #1- Savings on phone billsbills

– Highest costs often between Highest costs often between locations locations

– High costs for High costs for connecting/transferring callsconnecting/transferring calls

Eg. DirecTV Eg. DirecTV cost $0.01- cost $0.01-$0.02 per transfer$0.02 per transfer

Spends $60 million/yr on Spends $60 million/yr on telecomtelecom

– 75% on connecting calls75% on connecting calls

BenefitsBenefits

Increased AgilityIncreased Agility

– Faster installation of Faster installation of services than traditional services than traditional phone linesphone lines

– Increased employee Increased employee mobility mobility

Plug phone into any Plug phone into any broadband outlet broadband outlet anywhere in the world anywhere in the world and speak as though and speak as though from home officefrom home office

BenefitsBenefits

Tactical AdvatagesTactical Advatages

– Reduced network admin & Reduced network admin & reduced hardware expensesreduced hardware expenses

Hardware upgrades improve Hardware upgrades improve entire network because entire network because dedicated voice system dedicated voice system redundancy avoidedredundancy avoided

Many telephony functions Many telephony functions moved into software realm, moved into software realm, thus easily modifiedthus easily modified

BenefitsBenefits

– Integrate things like: unified Integrate things like: unified paging system, emails, paging system, emails, phone, faxing all from same phone, faxing all from same platform platform

Listen to and compose Listen to and compose emails by phoneemails by phone

– Actual benefits not fully Actual benefits not fully realizedrealized

New technology not even New technology not even invented yetinvented yet

BenefitsBenefits

Examples of Novel Examples of Novel UseUse

– Hospital in Providence Hospital in Providence

Nurses wear wireless Nurses wear wireless communication badges communication badges attached to scrubsattached to scrubs

Patient monitors Patient monitors tapped into system for tapped into system for precision alertsprecision alerts

VoIP’s VoIP’s VulnerabilitiesVulnerabilities Currently there is:Currently there is:

– no regulator no regulator – no control no control – no one person to validate what’s on no one person to validate what’s on

your networkyour network

Voice spam (SPIT-Spam Over Voice spam (SPIT-Spam Over Internet Telephony)Internet Telephony)

VoIP’s VoIP’s VulnerabilitiesVulnerabilities

Businesses with Businesses with phone systems phone systems tied in to tied in to networks give networks give hackers hackers additional entry additional entry point into point into network network

VoIP’s ChallengesVoIP’s Challenges

Maintaining call Maintaining call quality; high quality; high quality sound quality sound requires a lot of requires a lot of bandwidthbandwidth

Data transmission Data transmission problemsproblems

VoIP’s ChallengesVoIP’s Challenges

Network or computer crashesNetwork or computer crashes

Power OutagesPower Outages

Is VoIP the right solution for Is VoIP the right solution for your business?your business?

Is your current Is your current phone system phone system more than 5 years more than 5 years old?old?

– Most PBXs (in Most PBXs (in traditional phone traditional phone systems) are fully systems) are fully depreciated in 5 yearsdepreciated in 5 years

Do you have separate bills for Do you have separate bills for high-speed internet access, high-speed internet access, local phone lines, and long local phone lines, and long distance services?distance services?

– Consolidating these services Consolidating these services can save up to 20%can save up to 20%

Is VoIP the right Is VoIP the right solution for your solution for your business?business?


Are large amounts Are large amounts of monies spent of monies spent on reconfiguring on reconfiguring your current your current system?system?

– Each move, add or Each move, add or change (MAC) to a change (MAC) to a PBX is very costlyPBX is very costly


Do you have Do you have telecommuters or a telecommuters or a remote work-force?remote work-force?

– Productivity-enhancing Productivity-enhancing features of VoIP have a features of VoIP have a powerful impact on powerful impact on remote work-forces remote work-forces efficiencyefficiency

Do you have the latest tools and Do you have the latest tools and functionality for office efficiency?functionality for office efficiency?

– Forward emails as wave files to anyone Forward emails as wave files to anyone inside or outside your companyinside or outside your company

– Click to dial from your computerClick to dial from your computer

– Review call logs onlineReview call logs online


Buying VoIPBuying VoIPSales ChannelsSales Channels

Buy from a local resellerBuy from a local reseller

– Licensed, certified resellers have Licensed, certified resellers have proven expertise, customer support, proven expertise, customer support, and quick response times for and quick response times for problems that require an on-site visitproblems that require an on-site visit

Buying VoIPBuying VoIPPricingPricing

Prices vary Prices vary depending on:depending on:

– Features requiredFeatures required

– Existing phone Existing phone

structure structure

– State of data State of data network network

Buying VoIPBuying VoIPChoosing a SystemChoosing a System

Inquire about reusing existing Inquire about reusing existing equipmentequipment

Compare phone systems and Compare phone systems and investigate details carefullyinvestigate details carefully

Make sure system built on open Make sure system built on open standardsstandards

Buying VoIPBuying VoIPPlan For the FuturePlan For the Future

Cost difference between including Cost difference between including extra capacity at beginning of extra capacity at beginning of project and adding more project and adding more hardware later is significanthardware later is significant

Buying VoIPBuying VoIPDon’t Buy Used EquipmentDon’t Buy Used Equipment

VoIP technology is evolving at rapid paceVoIP technology is evolving at rapid pace

– Even last year’s equipment is extremely Even last year’s equipment is extremely dateddated

Installation cost (significant portion of Installation cost (significant portion of price) does not change whether system price) does not change whether system is old or newis old or new

Buying VoIPBuying VoIPInvestigate Your VendorInvestigate Your Vendor

Don’t take chances Don’t take chances on unlicensed or on unlicensed or unauthorized unauthorized vendorsvendors

Make sure you get Make sure you get all the administrator all the administrator documentation and documentation and passwords passwords

ConclusionConclusion

Overall we recommend Overall we recommend careful integrationcareful integration

– Use pilot programsUse pilot programs

VoIP is becoming more VoIP is becoming more and more and more commonplace because commonplace because of cost savings and of cost savings and increased productivityincreased productivity

ConclusionConclusion

Must weigh the growing capabilities of Must weigh the growing capabilities of young technology against its disruptive young technology against its disruptive potentialpotential– New way of doing businessNew way of doing business– Needs careful planning well before deploymentNeeds careful planning well before deployment

Decision to use VoIP should be made on Decision to use VoIP should be made on case by case basis.case by case basis.– ie. applications in call centers make a natural ie. applications in call centers make a natural

fitfit

Overall we recommend careful integrationOverall we recommend careful integration– perhaps a pilot programperhaps a pilot program

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