VoIP for Business

VoIP for Business


VoIP for Business

“VoIP” (Voice over Internet Protocol) lets you make phone calls over an IP (Internet protocol) data network. Hi Tech-C Systems, Inc. (HTCS) offers VoIP solutions for your small-to-medium business.

As VoIP communication matures and high-speed Internet becomes affordable, an increasing number of businesses are switching from conventional landlines to VoIP. This is due to the combination of bandwidth efficiency and VoIP technology, which allows both voice and data communications to be run over a single network, and can significantly reduce infrastructure costs.

The prices of extensions on VoIP are lower than for PBX and key systems. VoIP switches may include hardware, such as personal computers, which rely on standard interfaces.

VoIP devices have simple, intuitive user interfaces, so users can often make simple system configuration changes. Dual-mode phones enable users to continue their conversations as they move between an outside cellular service and an internal Wi-Fi network, so that it is no longer necessary to carry both a desktop phone and a cellphone. Maintenance becomes simpler as there are fewer devices to oversee.
how-voip-works


What do you need to implement VoIP?

VoIP requires a broadband connection – preferably with plenty of bandwidth, to accommodate several simultaneous users. Since VoIP is heavily reliant on your internet service provider (ISP), you need to watch out for provider specific things like bandwidth cap. For example, many VoIP service providers use a highly quality codec which consumes 64kb of data every second you talk. Depending on the number of users who would be making calls at your business, you may want to either increase the bandwidth on your plan, or keep close watch on your data usage, to avoid exceeding your bandwidth cap.

Make sure that your internal network (including your routers and switches), can handle accommodating several simultaneous users. Some providers suggest using routers in which you can configure the settings to assign VoIP traffic the highest priority, in order to maximize network quality.

Although VoIP voice quality typically rivals that of a landline or a good mobile phone connection, your network quality can seriously affect call quality. If you have a slow, spotty, or crowded network, audio quality can suffer greatly. VoIP solutions aimed at businesses have evolved into unified communications services that deliver all communications (e.g.) phone calls, faxes, voice mail, e-mail, and Web conferences; by any means to any compatible handset, such as IP Phones by Avaya or Cisco, or cellular phones.

IP Phones (e.g.) by Avaya or Cisco, and VoIP telephone adapters connect to routers or cable modems which typically depend on the availability of electricity, or locally generated power. Some VoIP service providers use equipment with battery-backed power supplies to assure uninterrupted service in case of local power failures.


Remember, if your ISP or power goes out, so does your VoIP service.

Some hosted services get around this issue by automatically forwarding incoming calls to voicemail, or by rerouting calls to your mobile phone, but that doesn’t change the fact that you won’t be able to make or receive calls from your office phones during a power outage.

If this is a concern for you, consider having a back-up solution, such as running a portion of your lines as PRI (Primary Rate Interface) from your telephone line provider and a second portion of your lines as SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) from an alternative internet service provider (Note: SIP lines require a reliable internet connection). That way you would have several lines for back-up if your Internet connectivity ever went down. You may also want to consider keeping an analog line for emergency 911 calls and security.

If you are interested in this type of configuration, Hi Tech-C Systems, Inc. (HTCS) can take care it for you! We can take care of all your network cabling needs.

There are many things Hi Tech-C Systems, Inc. (HTCS) can do to assure that you don’t lose connectivity!

voip-diagram

VoIP providers and IP-PBX software packages are capable of delivering more features than traditional phone providers do. All the basic features are included, such as conference calling, voicemail, Internet faxing, and caller ID, but VoIP services can also supply virtual receptionists, greeting functionality, customizable advanced call screening and forwarding rules, integration with office software, and the ability to forward voicemail to your email or your mobile phone.

Hi Tech-C Systems, Inc. (HTCS) offers many VoIP solutions for the small-to-medium business (SMB) market.

voip-diagram

In addition, Hi Tech-C Systems, Inc. (HTCS) offers these highly customizable features with our VoIP Solutions:

  • Auto Attendants
  • Voicemail
  • Caller ID
  • Music On Hold
  • Call Routing
  • Virtual Extensions
  • Dial-by-Name Directory
  • Call Forwarding
  • Call Recording
  • Call Logs
  • Call Reports
  • Unified Messaging
  • Message on Hold
  • Desktop Integration
  • Online Fax
  • Ring Groups
  • Visual Dial Plan Editor
  • Intercom
  • Call Queues
  • Find-Me Follow-Me
  • Speed Dial
  • Custom Schedules
  • Remote Access
  • LDAP Integration
  • Call Transfers
  • Online PBX Controls
  • And much more…

Our friendly staff is always available to discuss your needs and help achieve your goals. Contact us now for a quote!


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