IP Phone System: Can Your Network Handle It?

Some of the companies already understood that traditional cable telephony was behind. Just as the communication was totally modified with the advent of the internet, telephony was also positively impacted by it. Much has been talked about IP telephony, or VoIP as it is also known, and how it can bring advantages and differentials to companies of all sizes. This write up will also talk about how it works and how it can be one of the means to reduce significant costs to the business. Now is the time to talk about its handling and what is needed to count on IP telephony as a strong partner for your company. Therefore, this article presents a checklist that will facilitate this process and contribute to this change.

Step 1- Planning and deployment

When planning any change or structuring, you need to take into account the specific characteristics of each business, such as work mode, flow of calls within the call center, growth vision and available resources. Another important factor that needs to be assessed early on is the infrastructure available. This assessment should raise all data on physical data such as enterprise cabling, IP routing, cable and equipment layout in space, and so on. forward. In general, it is necessary to identify all weaknesses in the infrastructure.

Identified the problems, it’s time to get your hands on the dough! Surely you will need to make changes to the network, such as implementing QoS on LAN / WAN, updating the switches, for example. Lastly, it is always good to invest in team training. Although voice over internet protocol technology is much simpler to use and maintain, it is still important to ensure that everyone is safe in using the service.

The advantages of using IP telephony are clear, so much so that today is the most used option in the market. It is important, increasingly, to be aligned with technologies and innovations. In a competitive market such as telecommunications, those who invest and innovate are always one step ahead.

Step 2 – Network Assessment (LAN-WAN)

The first item in this checklist begins with the evaluation of the level of update and usefulness of the network. One of the crucial points that can determine the successful implementation of an IP telephony system is whether the speed and bandwidth are able to provide the infrastructure needed for such a desirable performance.

If the internet link, switches and routers are old and /or unable to optimize the performance of the Internet, the possibility of results being lower than expected is great and may make it impossible to use IP as a means of telephony. So, first of all, it is imperative to analyze the current situation of the network to receive the VoIP. This assessment will help define which network points need to be reconfigured or updated to support all the requirements that this technology requires to function with quality.

Step 3 – Create network service maps

Before you begin implementing IP telephony in your company, it is recommended that network maps be drawn up to define the service levels that will be used. This allows you to identify bottlenecks and network failures that need upgrading or must be extended to withstand increased traffic.

Step 4 – Device selection

Now that you’ve done the initial network assessment, it’s time to define which device will be used to make and receive calls. There are a few different formats for this purpose:

• Physical devices with IP technology – They are devices similar to traditional ones, but already have IP technology integrated. That is, all data conversion is done on the device itself without the need for an adapter;
• Software – They are platforms for computers, which can also work on smartphones, and intermediation for calls via IP. In this case, no type of equipment is required, since the entire process of receiving data is done by the chosen system;
• ATA – The analog phone adapter, as it is also called, has the function of converting analog calls from a common telephone to a digital device, allowing IP calls to happen via a common telephone;
• Central IPBX: It is an IP telephony system that functions as a telephone exchange, such as IP telephone system Dubai, but offers other functions besides those already offered by a central PBX, such as segmentation of extensions, activation of automatic answering of calls, automatic rejection of calls with programmed numbers, extension programming, among many others that can be programmed directly from the computer.

Step 5 – Choose a VoIP Operator

VoIP carriers allow local / DDD / DDI calls to be made at lower rates than those practiced by conventional carriers. With an IP telephone exchange, it is possible to hire more than one operator at the same time. With this, the exchange will make the connections through the one that offers lower cost, thus, a great resource to reduce costs.

Having a VoIP operator is crucial because it is through it that IP telephony services will be realized. It works the same way as traditional telephony, ensuring that the voice, after being converted, is delivered to the other end of the line. The contracting of this service can be done by a pre or postpaid line and can offer benefits according to the chosen company. Before defining which carrier will serve your company, seek to know what services are included in the contract and consider what the professionals who will operate the system have to say about it.

Step 6 – Do constant analysis

For IP telephony services to perform well, it is necessary to create constant monitoring processes because, as we know, networks are not static and not being aware of possible instabilities can be a risk. Any changes in user behavior or infrastructure are likely to impact the network and harm IP telephony services. With these analyzes and assessments, it is possible to gather accurate information so that these mismatches are solved in a short time, preventing the network from being the victim of bigger problems. Thus, services can be improved frequently and communication will not be interrupted by gender problems.

Conclusion

Ready! Now you know what needs to be done to turn your traditional connections into digital ones through IP telephony. Implementing this technology in your company can be a great step not only for reducing costs, but also for the technological development of the organization, which is key to keeping your business in time. If you are not an IT professional, you may need support at the time of putting it into practice, but nothing that will stop you from getting started as soon as possible. However, in spite of the benefits, there are also some disadvantages of the method, such as Internet addiction, which causes several cons. For example, the quality of the call will depend on a good connection and this can end up messing up, besides not being able to rely on the technology in emergency situations in which we cannot go online. Still, VoIP has become increasingly popular and shows it’s worth it.