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Business managers and owners are looking at new ways to stayahead of the game. Current ads promise that IP Telephony is theanswer to many of today's business dilemmas. While technologycan be used to enhance a business model, technology fortechnology sake is never the answer. If it has been determinedthat IP Telephony is one of the tools to boost productivity andcustomer service; there are ways to purchase that technology. Years ago, many businesses utilized Centrex lines to reducelarge capital expenditures for telephone equipment. This meantthat the business kept no main telephone equipment on site, itsimply "rented" lines and telephones for each of their phonelocations. The goal was to enhance features while reducing cost.However, the opposite became true when new and less expensivecompetitors were able to compete with the local phone companies.A company that was in business for 10+ years could have easilypurchased a phone system of their own a couple times over.Today, the phone company and other IP service providers areoffering the next generation of this concept - - Hosted IP or IPCentrex. The hosted IP/IP Centrex services do offer some very nicebenefits including very little or no capital outlay for newphones and features, plus a highly flexible disaster recoveryplan for incoming communication. Some questions that should be asked before instituting acontract for Hosted IP/IP Centrex are as follows: 1.Are theadditional features going to enhance business practices? 2.Canthe provider effectively deliver 9-1-1 calls? 3.If the goal ismonthly payments rather than a large capital purchase - is therea lease option or other type of solution that would provideequity when the term is attained? 4.Is the IP Centrex vendorgoing to be able to service the contract until completion?Remember that even though a vendor may be new to this type ofservice, if they have proven to stand by other service roll-outsit may not be a huge risk. 5.Are there short term contractsavailable? Try to obtain a contract that has a business downturnclause that will allow a reduction of lines so payment is notrequired for phones no longer need. 6.Is there an installationfee? And if so will this fee combined with the monthly paymentsexceed a new system purchase? Many people in the business community today utilize digitaltelephone systems by a variety of manufacturers. Somemanufacturers such as CISCO, 3-Com or Interactive Intelligenceonly offer IP Telephony. However, others such as NEC, Inter-Tel,Toshiba, Avaya, etc. offer a combination of both digital and IPTelephony or all of one or the other. There are inherentdifferences between the two technologies. Digital Technology1.Uses cables that are separate from the computer system. 2.Doesnot have to run on CAT5 or CAT6 cable. 3.Typically has atelephone cabinet with a processor and separate circuit boardsfor connection of lines and phones. 4.Very reliable IP Technology 1.Can run on the same cable as the computer.2.Must be connected to a minimum of a CAT5 cable even if it doesnot share with the computer on the desk. 3.Stores systemsoftware on a server, in a router or in a traditional telephonecabinet. 4.Competes with bandwidth on the data network. IP Telephony has benefits that are great for some companies andirrelevant for others. 1.Ability to connect remote workers usinga cable modem, DSL line or other high speed internet connection.2.Customized call routing based upon inbound calleridentification, status ID for callers (known as presence).3.Advanced custom applications. Attendance and student recordreview in a school district, database integration for cardealership sales and service departments, inventory control andupdates for manufacturing companies. 4.Desk to Desk video at avery inexpensive rate. 5.One network to maintain. While there are benefits to this technology, there are alsothings to watch out and prepare for (This is just a partiallist). *Now that the phone system is part of the data system itis vulnerable to viruses and other spy-ware threats. *Warrantytimes are generally far less traditional phone systems so theon-going maintenance costs may start 90 days followinginstallation. *IP phones require power at each phone - either bya local power outlet or data switch equipped with Power overEthernet (PoE) capability. *Quality of Service (QoS) is vital toprioritize voice over data calls. *IP phone have more stringentdistance limitations. *A ten year life cycle cannot beanticipated. *Analog lines (plain old telephone lines) andanalog phones, fax, modems, etc. are often challenging andcostly to connect to a full IP system. *Data cable (minimum CAT5rating) must be available at each phone location. *Theenvironment must be conducive to the IP equipment. Certainmanufacturing floors require refrigerated and sealed cabinetsfor their PC's. The same would be required for an IP phone set.*Internal support departments may need to be structured. Ifthere are separate support groups for voice and data they mayneed to be combined or one eliminated. This assessment isextremely important to the success of an IP Telephony project.Do not overlook this important aspect before making a purchasingdecision. Uneducated decisions are recipes for disaster in anyproject. Don't rush into a change of this magnitude. Take thetime to assess the business functions, the existing networkinfrastructure and support groups, and make sure the environmentand resources are in place this type of change. |
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