VoIP and SIP Technologies

The telecommunication industry as a whole has been going through some drastic changes to improve and converge technologies. The history of telephone systems:

Internet Protocol or IP Based Network

Customer commonly ask, what is IP Telephony? To make this as simple and easy to understand we have spoken to one of our CCS Support Avaya VoIP specialists. To be part of a data network, each device (PC, workstation, server, network printer, handheld wireless device, IP phone, etc) requires an assigned IP Address. This IP Address allows it to communication with other devices internal to your corporate network as well as to external the internet and world wide web. Each device will have a different IP Address so information can be sent and received properly.

For example, you mail an envelope and it requires a distinct address recipient address and senders address: 2930 Central Street Suite 200, Evanston, IL 60201. Your envelope magically gets to its destination being handed off from mail person to mail person then to main postal office of your hometown moving across the country to your destination main postal office then into your hands. This is the same concept with IP Addressing and your data network. There are main servers across the world that hold information about the best route to take to get to the desintation. If you send an email the email is turned into a data packette (IP packette) and moved across the global network until it finds its destination address. Your email takes the best route which is updated on a daily basis and bounces from router to router passing along the information until it reaches its destination. Routes to pass information are typically determined as best path, quickest path, and path with least traffic and route can automatically vary. For example, if the mail person was delivering a package and the road was closed, that person can take an alternative route. Keep in mind speed is of the essence in both scenarios and on the global data network it is constantly updating the data traffic route to find best path.

VoIP: Voice over Internet Protocol

The internet has brought a lot of technological advances to the telecommunication industry. Voice over Internet Protocol or VOIP allows for the transmission of voice over the internet. This allows customers to share internet resources and communicate at a cheaper rate. Always on internet you pay a monthly recurring fee whereas traditional dialtone services you pay usage charges. Service providers have been able to provide more bundled minute packages allowing voice to run over data network throughout the world. With more and more wireless and mobile technology VoIP helps users communication with their main office as if they were in the same office. Corporate data networks typically share server resources and are always data connected between main and remote sites. In the past, corporations had to get separate voice and data lines however today you can share the data connection and allow voice to stream across your data network providing seamless integrations. VoIP allows for more flexible options that included:

(a) employees working from home
(b) working on the road
(c) more options for remote site integration
(d) easier moves
(e) more options for integration with data applications onsite, and more.

VoIP does face quality challenges but the Avaya CCS Support Group are here ready to assist you by providing optional network assessments to see if your network can handle the additional voice traffic as well as help your data infrastructure build a solid foundation for growth. VoIP challenges that organizations face today include: jitter, echo, packet loss, security, reliability, latency, bandwidth issues, DTMF (for fax and credit card transmission), 911, and more. However, with the CCS Support Group here to help we can ensure your organization is ready to deploy VoIP.

SIP or Session Initiated Protocol:

SIP is a technology that allows to work in combination with traditional Avaya as well as Avaya VoIP technology. SIP is most commonly used for presence, http, and mime applications type. SIP uses URLs vs IP Address (VoIP). A URL is an email address like support@convergedsystems.com. Some benefits include:

(a) enhancements to instant messaging integration to phone systems for presence on an IP PC phone
(b) simpler web based applications for end users allowing dialing from internet devices
(c) deskphone devices automatically registering with other devices on the network
(d) SIP phone standard features automatically built into SIP technology without call processor [ie. Call hold, park, forward, etc],
(e) access to LDAP URL for Domain Networked Environments and more.

IP Deskphones, IP Devices, and IP Endpoints:

IP endpoints are considered a deskphone or application on your PC or mobile phone. This phone allows you to sync up to your main phone system and work as if you were in the office. It is totally transparent to customers no matter where you are. Just login to your network which build a tunnel to your headquarters and dial as if you were in the office.

Multiple Site IP Networking, VoIP Networking , SIP Networking, Site-Site Networking:

Customers with multiple sites today, find it inexpensive and easy to deploy IP telephony within their organization. Keep in mind you can have a traditional phone system infrastructure with digital and analog phones and then do site-site IP networking – this is called a hybrid phone system or a mixed environment. Multiple site organizations typically have VPN (virtual private network) already setup to share data between locations and all we need to do is share voice. For those organizations that do not have a VPN solution in place, the CCS support group can help with small business, mid-market, and enterprise class type products. Once you network your sites you can see benefits like:

(a) increased business hours
(b) sharing resources like receptionist
(c) 3 to 4 digit dialing between sites
(d) centralized voicemail,
(e) busy status of users at other sites,
(f) hot desking or roaming profiles between sites and the ease to login anywhere and more.

VoIP Trunking & SIP Trunking

IP service providers are becoming more plentiful these days. Converged Communication Systems has partnership with the premier service providers of both traditional phone service and IP phone service across Chicago as well as nationwide! If you are looking for bundled rates promotions or would like a free analysis contact the CCS Sales Department 847-424-1500. We can look at your traffic as well as your cost and see what other options are out there. We work with companies like Cbeyond, XO Communication, Globalcom, Access One, AT&T, and more to provide a complete solution for your business. Looking for T1 Chicago service or nationwide T1 service whether voice or data, contact the CCS sales team to review all options based on product offerings in your geographic location as well as size and pricing points – we have the right solutions for you. Some of the benefits of VoIP trunking and SIP trunking include :

(a) more flexible features and service offerings
(b) bundled rates and free minutes
(c) cell phone packages included on your phone service minutes
(d) sharing of voice and data service to optimize your traffic.

Options Traditional Phone Systems, Hybrid Phone Systems, VoIP Phone Systems, & SIP Phone Systems:

Converged Communication Systems is ready to help find the best solution for your organization. Remember, you do NOT need to deploy all the technologies above, you can pick and choose what works best for your organization today. Keep in mind you can buy VoIP trunking and go with a traditional phone system, you can buy a VoIP phone system and use traditional phone service, or you can go all IP service and all IP infrastructure. Whether it’s a traditional phone system that allows you to migrate in the future when you are ready to these other technologies, a hybrid (a mix of traditional and IP Telephony) or a full VoIP Telephone System (or SIP Telephone System), we are ready to help! Avaya telephony solutions are best in class an extremely flexible. With Converged portfolio of products we sell and support, we can provide the superior total end-end solution for your organization.

Contact the CCS Team 847-424-1500 for more information about our IP products and services.