Network Assessment

At Vintalk, we know that pre-deployment network assessment is clearly a critical, yet often overlooked step in IP telephony migration. That’s why we’ve adopted a three-part program to ensure your network is VoIP ready and stays that way:

• First, we proactively assess every network environment for inefficiencies.
• Second, we simulate VoIP traffic to determine viability.
• Finally, we integrate the applicance for ongoing monitoring.

More about the need for assessment:

Customers today want VoIP for the cost savings and the flexibility/feature set that it provides. However, the costs associated with purchasing the tools and hiring an expert to manage the solution is prohibitive for most SMBs.

Service providers want to offer a managed VoIP service but have similar challenges. Customers that are geographically dispersed, field techs who lack sufficient expertise, high start up costs per SME customer, etc… All these components inevitably lead to expensive truck rolls and decreasing margins.

To be successful offering VoIP today the entire lifecycle of the service being offered needs to be managed. Vintalk has partnered with Packet Island, Inc. to address those three distinct phases that need to be addressed when installing VoIP service:

Network Assessment

Because of the high packet rate and low latency requirements imposed by VoIP, it’s never safe to assume that your network can support an IP phone system. This is very important for cost control, because one of the biggest costs in the industry today is technician time spent in troubleshooting VoIP service quality issues in poor networks. Vintalk’s answer to this problem is Packet Island’s proprietary VoIPAssess, a VoIP network assessment solution that minimizes on-site technician time, while being more thorough than most on-site intensive software solutions.

Deployment Verification

Many VoIP problems found within the first month of a deployment can be traced back to improper installation. Many of these require an onsite visit to troubleshoot and/or fix the problem. Using Packet Island’s VoIPAssess, Vintalk can provide instant remote support to make installs successful, verify proper installation, and even create a snapshot of VoIP quality after the installation. All of which this leads to a more satisfied business phone customer, as well as lower support costs.

On-Going Monitoring

Network assessment, though essential, is not a panacea. Even well-provisioned networks degrade over time. This is inevitable as more and more devices get added to the network and more bandwidth hungry applications are deployed within the SME. In fact, network degradations don’t have to be gradual—overnight degradation can happen because of virus/trojan/worm attacks. As such degradations happen, real-time services such as VoIP are the first to feel the effect—and as a SMB, your business depends on fast resolution from your VoIP Provider. That’s why Vintalk has adopted another Packet Island solution: VoIPCare, a VoIP monitoring solution that provides an in depth view of all VoIP traffic on the network.

For more information about Network Assessment and its application to your business internet phone needs, please contact a Vintalk Customer Care Associate today.