Independent Studies
There’s a wealth of good information available when you’re considering switching to VoIP for your business phone service. We’ve made it easy for you to read more, by compiling here some of the latest studies, emerging technologies, and cost-saving analyses from industry resources, so that you can make an informed decision when it comes to your business VoIP phones.
As always, we encourage you to contact your authorized Vintalk representative (link to Contact Us page) for more precise answers to your VoIP questions. Thanks for visiting us at Vintalk!
Section One: VoIP Basics
Making Sure Your VoIP Provider is Here for the Long Haul Sometimes the signs of a corporate collapse are easy to see, but sometimes it happens without warning. Given recent news about companies such as Vonage and SunRocket, it’s only sensible to stay aware of your VoIP provider’s strengths and weaknesses, as doing so could give you a sense of how long it’s going to be around. At the very least, monitoring the state of your VoIP provider could give you some clues as to what to look for in a replacement should things go south.
IP Phone Features That Will Make Your Life Better
VoIP has plenty of mainstream appeal for business, but many companies have yet to discover the perks of IP phones. In fact, research firm In-Stat found that while total IP phone annual shipments will grow from 10 million units in 2006 to 164 million units in 2010, only 40 percent of IP PBX (Private Branch eXchange) seats are configured with IP phones.
Extending VoIP to Remote Locations
In the early days of VoIP, the central issue facing the industry was whether voice quality could be effectively maintained using IP as the transport. Technology vendors, service providers and corporate network managers put a huge amount of effort into addressing this issue. As a result, VoIP is now an attractive alternative to conventional analog voice and the PSTN. As real-world VoIP rollouts continue, however, a new set of challenges emerging. In particular, businesses are encountering a variety of unanticipated problems as they deploy VoIP to remote locations.
Section Two: Network Assessment
Assessing Your Network for Voice Readiness
Learn whether your current network is ready to upgrade to VoIP.
For most organizations today, it’s less a matter of if and when, but more, a matter of how to embrace IP telephony communications. Since 2005, when the balance tipped and more IP telephony systems were shipped than traditional time-division multiplexed (TDM) phone systems, Voice over IP (VoIP) has become the technology of the present and the
future. In thousands of installations worldwide, VoIP communications are daily enhancing collaboration, increasing productivity and lowering costs. But even networks that have been optimized to handle large and complex data workloads may not be ready for an IP telephony implementation.
Section Three: Industry Trends
Voice Over IP-Trends and Direction
A growing number of organizations have moved toward Voice over IP (VOIP) and away from TDM technology. A successful VOIP deployment requires a clear understanding of current trends, architectures, VOIP triggers and business drivers. Organizations can benefit greatly from developing a VOIP project team to design, implement and manage the rollout. Preparation is key, and taking the time to properly evaluate all options is essential. IT departments, already spread thin, must consider the option of Managed Service Providers (MSPs) or plan to use VOIP management tools.
Enhancing VoIP with Voice Peering
From the invention of the telegraph to the emergence of the Internet, the world has evolved and reinvented itself over and again. Technology has always created efficiencies and opportunities. Despite skepticism from some, history shows that every time there was a change for the better, investors and the public realized and followed. The drive for a better life has invariably and inevitably shifted workforces and profits across different industries. Investments were made and revenues collected directly or indirectly with the evolution. The latest trend in the technology world is voice peering, whether between carriers, enterprises or anyone joining to form this new community.
Section Four: Cost Benefits and Quality Assurance
The ROI of IP Telephony Management
Too many companies implement their VoIP network without factoring in time for an analysis or budgeting to purchase the tools they need for ongoing IP telephony monitoring and maintenance. This paper explores current trends in VoIP and presents a compelling look at the hard numbers behind the costs and benefits of IP telephony management.
Your Call Experience Is More Than Just Voice Quality
The voice quality available from traditional telephony has long been taken for granted and has set the benchmark for VoIP and IP telephony. In this informative white paper, independent industry-commentator Gary Audin explains the difference between voice quality and call quality; why they need to be monitored, measured, and managed, and how to achieve the standards of quality callers have come to expect.
UK Textile Distributor Slashes Costs And Improves Service Using Voip To Sri Lanka Call Center
ILS Promotions Centralizes Multi-National Operations and Reduces Telemarketing Costs Over 50%
The OffShore Challenge—ILS Promotions is one of the UK’s leading distributors of fine Asian textiles. The Bradford-based company wanted to initiate a major telesales initiative to promote its offerings and develop closer relationships with its 300 specialized retailers throughout the country, as well as to potentially expand that customer base. Because office and HR costs in the UK were prohibitive, ILS decided to investigate the possibility of setting up its call center in Sri Lanka. In addition to slashing its operational costs, a Sri Lankan call center would also allow ILS to staff the center with Asian textile experts.
Bibliography
Making Sure Your VoIP Provider is Here for the Long Haul; Robert Poe, July 16, 2007; www.voip-news.com
IP Phone Features That Will Make Your Life Better; white paper, author unknown, July 2007; www.voip-news.com
Extending VoIP to Remote Locations; white paper, author unknown, September 7, 2006; www.quintum.com
Assessing Your Network for Voice Readiness; prepared by 3com.com (www.3com.com); author unknown, November 2005; www.voip-news.com
Voice Over IP-Trends and Direction; Katherine Trost, Nemertes Research (www.nemertes.com), 2007; www.prognosis.com
Enhancing VoIP with Voice Peering; White Paper, Jinci Liu, Stealth Communications (www.stealth.net), published July 2005, updated January 2006; www.thevpf.com
The ROI of IP Telephony Management; Robin Gareiss, Nemertes Research (www.nemertes.com), Fall 2007; www.prognosis.com
Your Call Experience Is More Than Just Voice Quality; white paper, Gary Audin (www.voiploop.com), 2006; www.prognosis.com
UK Textile Distributor Slashes Costs And Improves Service Using VoIP To Sri Lanka Call Center; case study, Joanne Lowy, November 16, 2005; www.quintum.com