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How can you make sure that your network is living up to the requirements, both before and after deploying VoIP services? Given below are some very useful guidelines you can look up to before deploying VoIP in your network, or when you desire to better the quality of your network after deployment.

Whether choosing a vendor partner or testing and deploying the VoIP network yourself, ensure your tools provide granular diagnostics and reporting capabilities that enable you to efficiently troubleshoot all possible VoIP issues. Your tools should be utilizable throughout the complete VoIP deployment lifecycle, for both assessment and troubleshooting, implying that one tool can be employed to both identify the problem and correct it.

Network quality parameters like delay, jitter and loss, which influence the number of calls a network can handle, are linked with network design issues that range from what kind of network equipment you are using to whether your communications network is accessible across the street or across the country. The best way to estimate your VoIP call capacity is by simulating VoIP calls on the network, which will assist you in determining how many calls you can handle and still maintain good enough voice quality.

Estimating how many calls your network can deal with is only the beginning, especially if you get a surprisingly low mean opinion score (MOS) reading when handling a small number of VoIP calls. For example, when a Canadian financial institution was deploying VoIP , it realized that most of its locations were capable of dealing with as many as 24 VoIP calls–but one link was showing signs of backtracking at just six calls. While this location had the same 10-Mbps WAN link as the other locations, it was not delivering10-Mbps throughput. Communicating with the WAN service provider solved the problem.

When deploying a VoIP network, enterprises also should abstain from testing only the quality of the VoIP application. Because the various applications performing on an IP network affect each other, VoIP may negatively influence other applications that are currently performing on the network. Efficient VoIP testing should examine the full range of services performing across the enterprise.

Enterprise networks keep on changing all the time. Adding new applications, widening the network to new locations or boosting network usage can all potentially have a negative affect on voice quality. Ongoing testing proactively analyzes the influence of network changes.

Once you deploy VoIP in your data network, it becomes the most crucial application on your network. Turn off your e-mail server for 30 minutes and most people will not even realize. However, in the case of drop in process calls or being unable to provide dial tone, you will find that the users will not stand these things at all. Constructing your network prior to VoIP deployment, and monitoring it afterwards can help you a lot in ensuring IP telephony efficiently handles advanced telephony and data services across one network–instead of becoming a severe headache for you.

http://www.datacraft-asia.com - The leading independent IT services and solutions company in Asia Pacific. Datacraft combines an expertise in networking, security, Microsoft solutions, storage and contact centre technologies to craft IT solutions for businesses.

Voice over IP telephone services are revolutionising how the world communicates, individuals, and businesses are embracing the capabilities and harnessing the power of the internet. Despite voice over IP being a great technological breakthrough, security is still a major concern, yet with the proper precautions it should not have to be.

Most users implementing VOIP these days are primarily concerned about voice quality, latency and interoperability. However we shouldn’t overlook the security risks that can crop up when the voice and data worlds converge, users and analysts say.

With voice over IP, voice traffic is carried over a packet-switched data network via Internet Protocol. VOIP networks treat voice as another form of data but use sophisticated voice-compression algorithms to ensure optimal bandwidth utilization. As a result, VOIP networks are able to carry many more voice calls than traditional switched circuit networks. Voice over IP also enables enhanced services such as unified communications.

Securing voice traffic on such networks isn’t very different from securing any data traffic on an IP network. In a VOIP world, private branch exchanges are replaced by server-based IP PBXs running on Windows NT or a vendor’s proprietary operating system. Such call management boxes, which are used both for serving up VOIP services and for logging call information, are susceptible to virus attacks and hackers. Break-ins of these servers could result in the loss or compromise of potentially sensitive data..
Consequently, it’s important that such equipment is properly locked down, placed behind firewalls, patched against vulnerabilities and frequently monitored using intrusion-detection systems.

The University of Houston went one step further and made sure that its call manager and its entire VOIP network aren’t directly accessible from the Internet. The school has put its IP PBXs in a different domain than its other servers and has limited administration access to the servers.

VOIP gateway technologies are also a potential weak point. When VOIP is used externally, gateway technologies convert data packets from the IP network into voice before sending them over a public switched telephone network. When VOIP is used internally, the gateways basically route packetised voice data between the source and the destination.

The concern here is that such gateways can be hacked into by malicious attackers in order to make free telephone calls. The trick to protecting against this lies in having strict access-control lists and making sure the gateway is configured in such a fashion that only the people on this list are permitted to make and receive VOIP calls.

As with traditional telephony, eavesdropping is a concern for organizations using VOIP-and the consequences can be greater. Because voice travels in packets over the data network, hackers can use data-sniffing and other hacking tools to identify, modify, store and play back voice traffic traversing the network.

Ultimately, it’s important to remember that securing a VOIP infrastructure involves nothing that is drastically different from the measures corporations have always taken to protect their data. To sum up, There are a few simple things any corporation can take to protect their VOIP network, firstly separating and isolating voice traffic onto a virtual LAN is one way of mitigating the risk, of unauthorised access. Secondly using access lists that define exactly who is entitled to access the network will stamp out external threats. Finally using encryption, as you should with any sensitive data, adds another layer to your secure communication.

John Mce writes on behalf of G3 telecommunications http://www.g3-tel.com/ Find out about enterprise & business VOIP solutions & IP telephone systems at G3 Telecommunications.

Are you fed up with traditional telephone service and being at the mercy of the companies who constantly increase the rates on long distance, as well as local phone privileges? It may be time to find a different way to place a call to your family and friends. Broadband phone service is an increasingly appealing concept replacing the common telephone company services of Sprint and AT&T. Also known as VoIP or Voice Over Internet Protocol, broadband phones are another way of referring to an Internet phone.

How an Internet Phone Works

When speaking on an Internet phone, your voice is transformed into a digital signal, which travels across the World Wide Web in packets before it reaches whomever you are speaking to. These packets of data are converted into an analog signal before the person on the other end hears what you are saying. A broadband phone isn’t much different from a regular phone. You won’t be using any exotic, high tech receivers and you don’t have to change all of the phone jacks in your home. To place a call over broadband technology, all you have to do is pick up the receiver, dial a number and wait for someone to answer on the other line. You can also benefit from the same services you have grown to love, such as caller ID, call waiting and voicemail options.

Long Distance Calls

One of the main reasons people are making the switch to broadband telephone services is because the cost to place a long distance call is quite impressive. Most Internet phone services offer a flat rate that allows unlimited calls throughout the month. These calls can be placed to anywhere in the U.S., as well as Canada. Some companies also offer reasonably priced international calling plans.

Broadband Phone Service Providers

You will find a variety of Internet phone service companies springing up to pick up the pieces of unsatisfied traditional phone company customers. Local cable providers are also taking advantage of this service by offering digital phone access through some of their service packages.

Requirements

In order to enjoy a broadband phone service, a high speed Internet connection is needed. This can be accomplished through cable or DSL access.

A Few Disadvantages

Since your phone service will be provided through the Internet, this means that during thunderstorms and power outages, you run the risk of losing your telephone access. When the power gives out, so does your phone service because it is connected through your computer. This also means that if an emergency should arise during this time, you will not have a way to communicate to the outside world, by phone that is. Also, 911 access is not available for all broadband phone users.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as high speed broadband at http://www.highspeedbroadbandservice.com

How much are you paying for long distance phone calls? What is the latest deal you received in the mailbox? It can get even better. Would you consider paying one cent a minute for long distance phone calls if there were no strings attached? It could get even better than that. Would you believe that you could call out to anyone of your friends with a computer through your computer rather than using the telephone?

Did you know it can be done for FREE over the Internet? No kidding. No cost to you or the receiver. It is called Broadband and it is totally awesome. There are several programs available on the Internet to sign up on and it works just like a telephone call. The two computers involved in communication will need to have a microphone and speakers. It is also possible to teleconference while connected via broadband by the integration of a small camera that hooks up to the computer.

Get on the bandwagon by looking into some of the different Broadband programs offered. Aside from the obvious question of how does one go about signing up, one might ask how fast is it? Does it take forever to get the vocal message back and forth between parties?Technology has come a long way my friend. The difference in transmissions relay between the telephone to telephone connections versus the computer to computer connection is miniscule.

Companies find this particular use very handy because the amount they save in phone charges and traveling to attend meetings is astronomical. This way all of that money can be saved and perhaps even reinvested in the company to increase asset value. As well as serving as a convenience to your company, it just sounds prestigious to say that your company will teleconference via broadband for meetings.

For the average Moe, technology can be a scary thing sometimes. Wires and numbers and signals Oh my! If you are too scared to attempt this journey on your own, utilize your resources. For little to nothing a professional from your local internet provider can explain to you step by step instructions to help you hook up onto the broadband service of your choosing but most likely all you would have to do is ask around at school, work, or family gatherings to see who has the technological know how. It is so painless!

Just think of all the money you can save. The first step is for some reason always the hardest. Simply get started and once you start to see the amazing savings in long distance telephone bill, you’ll be hooked my friend. In addition to all of the fun you will have playing with teleconferencing you get to keep in touch with all of your friends and family.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as high speed broadband at http://www.highspeedbroadbandservice.com

In today’s home and business life, we need to communicate with many people who are far away. Using a regular telephone will get you a huge bill with the long distance charges. Even a cell phone can be inadequate for all your long distance needs. The cell phone can cut you off or go to roaming. This can make phone calls expensive and frustrating for both parties on the line.

There are different ways to make phone calls or have live conversations with someone on the Internet. There are web sites that are set up like a regular phone service with all the same amenities. These phones services can come with a charge depending on the features and usage. They can have things like call waiting, three way calling, and voice mail.

This is a good option for people who need to do a large part of their business on the phone and want a reliable and inexpensive way to do it.

There are programs and hardware you can add to your computer to turn it into a phone. There is telephony software that will give you access to the phone system. You also need to have a microphone and speakers or a headset before making calls. There are wireless headsets available so you are not tied to your computer.

You can have live conversations through the use of web based messenger services. There are many web servers like MSN and Yahoo that have a messenger service that you can download onto your computer. They allow you to send instant messages, picture, and files. They can also allow you to turn your PC into a video phone with the use of a web camera. All you have to do is contact the person you want to speak with, and then invite them to view your camera. After that is set, there is a button that allows you to speak to them directly. Then viola, you have a videophone.

There is also voice over Internet protocol (VoIP). With this technology you can make a call from anywhere there is a broadband connection. So business travelers can take their phones with them on trips and always have access to their home phones. Another alternative is the soft phone. A soft phone is software that loads the VoIP service onto your desktop or laptop. It has an interface that looks like a traditional phone. As long as you have a headset or microphone, you can make call from anywhere you can get a broadband connection.

These advancements in phone calling technology may one day make the landline phones a thing of the past. 30 years ago it would have been amazing to make a phone call from anywhere but your home or public pay phone. Now you can go anywhere and do anything and still have the ability to communicate with anyone you choose.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as fast DSL internet connection at http://www.fastdslinternetconnection.com

What is VoIP? It uses the same principles as a phone but it uses the transmission of the internet. Most Ip Telephony to VoIP phones are actually free - amazing no call charges and no more bills.

So if there were Ip telephony networks set up all over the world with everyone using them, it would have a massive effect on not only the current phone providers but maybe mobile service providers aswell. VoIP relies on broadband or internet connection to connect to other users but is this a bad thing? You pay your one off broadband fee every month get your VoIP setup and communicate with all other VoIP members for free no matter how long you talk.

Although the traditional phone is still being used and not likely to be replaced in the near future IP telephony is the way forward, nearly every household and business has internet access now so why not take advantage of it - If there was a mass installation of wireless networks throughout the world as there is with mobile networks you would be able to take a digital IP telephony phone anywhere and get connection, yet again absolutely free unless you are ringing current household numbers or mobiles.

Most companies at the moment offer variations of packages so you can communicate with other VoIP members and different networks at a flat monthly fee.

There is now also a wide range of these phones being released onto the market that does everything a house phone would do such as answer messages and caller Id. That being said there is still a lot of growth needed for such phones such as connecting to emergency call numbers and being made available on a global stage with masses of wireless networks, but I feel that this will shortly be answered.

Moving forward into the next decade VoIP will be the number one way to communicate and if the current service providers do not jump on the bandwagon fairly shortly there will be a lot of redundancies! As the speed that IP telephony is growing you got to get in or lose out.

So the answer to my question will VoIP replace the traditional phone and mobile well in the short term no, but now lets look at the next 5 years cheaper calls, free calls and the ability to communicate from almost anywhere globally then the only way forward will be VoIP communication. So let us see how it plans out.

Musa Aykac - http://www.callagenix.com/
http://www.squidoo.com/0800number

As you work your business on a daily basis, you are probably wondering how yo can expand the reach of your business. Usually this means you need to build up the infrastructure of your business and you will need to increase your marketing efforts. One of services we will recommend you look at is the unlikely voice over internet protocol or VOIP Technology.

To increase your business expansion capabilities one of the first things you probably have completed is to determine how your product or service meets the needs of a particular market. That market being in a defined area means the people and or prospective customers have a particular set of biases and familiar ways of doing business. This usually means that you have to do the first rule of sales which is meeting the customer on familiar terms.

One of the ways to establish a presence in a remote area is creating a local presence in your targeted area. This would mean acquiring physical office space and a local address, etc. However In this day of the internet moving real people and equipment may not make sense. As this type of office expansion move can be expensive or impossible to do for the solo business owner, a business owner needs to look at the latest VOIP technology called voice over internet protocol or VOIP.

.Available as voice over internet protocol or voice over cable generically termed broadband phone service; VOIP services are dramatically different from the traditional services of the past. A detailed explanation of VOIP is more then we can cover here but one of the primary advantages of using VoIP services is that you can order up additional services without needing a person deployed to install service. A second advantage is that you also don’t need regulatory body or local VOIP service provider to approve you entry into this remote area of your goals.

With VOIP you can obtain a local telephone number in almost any where because this type of mobility is allowed to occur no matter where you are because the VoIP adapter that you receive from the service provider is specially coded with your VoIP phone number. Alternately you cn also get a software driven type VOIP service right from your computer. Regardless of the type of service you get, this now means no matter where you go, your number goes with you.

Establishing business offices at multiple locations - VoIP Virtual Numbers allow multiple inbound telephone access numbers in different cities. With this feature, it is possible to establish your business in multiple locations by creating a “Virtual Presence” using virtual numbers.

These virtual numbers can be routed to any number that you specify. If you live in Chicago, you can have access numbers in New York, Houston and San Francisco all routing through to your number in Chicago.

With this feature, business addresses can be established in different cities and even countries. You can set up these virtual numbers based on the locations from where you expect to receive many phone calls.

Besides enhancing the image of your business, customers get the benefit of calling a local number which is less costly for them. You get to expand your business without physically entering a remote market and you do it at a low cost.

As you can see this is how to globalize a business and as you can see with VOIP software there are many possibilities when you take a different look at what seems to be a regular IOVC VOIP technology component. But as demonstrated, voice over internet protocol has many additional benefits including helping you globalize your business.

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