IP TELEPHONY / VoIP
IP Telephony and VoIP both refer to the channelling of voice calls and voice data through the internet thereby eliminating the cost of expensive PABX systems and line dedication. IP Telephony and VoIP solutions provide efficient and cost effective options for businesses of all sizes.
IP TELEPHONY – WHAT IS IT?
IP telephony (internet protocol telephony) is the general term for technology that uses the internet to exchange voice and other forms of communication that have traditionally been carried over a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), more commonly called a ‘telephone line’.
VOICE OVER ip (VoIP) – WHAT IS IT?
VoIP (Voice over IP) is a subset of IP Telephony. Put simply it is specific hardware and software that enables the internet to be used as the transmission medium for telephone calls by sending voice data in packets using IP telephony rather than traditional telephone methods.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES?
IP Telephony and VoIP both refer to the channelling of voice calls and voice data through the internet thereby eliminating the cost of expensive PABX systems and line dedication. IP Telephony and VoIP solutions provide efficient and cost effective options for businesses of all sizes. Gone are the days of expensive telephony costs and maintenance.
The right VoIP solution will give your business a professional phone system with the choice of multiple extensions, customised greetings, operator assistance, call queuing, time scheduling and a host of other features. Callers can be directed by extension to staff anywhere in the world to regular phones or mobiles.
Other benefits include:
• Multiple extensions and greetings
• Dial by name directories
• Automatic call forwarding to any number
• Automated attendant/help desk systems
• Call queuing
• Voicemail to email and call recording
• Ring groups and hunt groups
• Automated time schedules
• Easy web management functionality
• Highly responsive to business needs as easily scaled up or down
• Benefits available to any size business – small, medium or large
WHAT DO I NEED and HOW CAN ‘IT SUPPORT’ HELP?
YOU need a good internet connection with adequate bandwidth
IT SUPPORT will support you through the following important steps:
• help determine what kind of internet/broadband connection you currently have
• provide advice about what you need before moving to IP telephony / VoIP
• conduct online speed tests to check and measure current connection capability
• advise on whether your existing connection is adequate
• assist with checking what connections (ie. fibre/vdsl) are available for you
• recommend a fibre/vdsl provider/ supplier
• facilitate move and set-up to fibre/vdsl
YOU need to choose the type of VoIP service best suited to your business needs
IT SUPPORT will provide independent advice, support and technical services
Choosing the right type of VoIP service is important in order to make optimal use of the technology for greater benefits and lower costs.
There are multiple VoIP options on the market. Working through the options can be time consuming and confusing. IT Support will help you make the right decisions based on your business needs and budget now and moving forward.
YOU need to choose a VoIP provider
IT SUPPORT will provide independent advice and facilitate an introduction
Once we have helped you decide what type of VoIP service is best, you then need to choose a provider to subscribe with. The market is flooded with options. IT Support can help recommend and facilitate an introduction to a trusted provide who best suits your business needs, budget and culture.
YOU need to get your VoIP equipment / hardware
IT SUPPORT will provide hardware options best suited for your business and budget
The equipment you need for VoIP can be cheap or expensive, a mix of the two or somewhere in-between. What you need and what you buy will very much depend on your needs and your budget. For hardware-based VoiP solutions we will recommend a solid material. IT Support can present, source and supply hardware options best suited for your business and budget based on a wide range of options. IT Support isn’t tied into any agreement with any single supplier. This leaves us open to independently advise and recommend the best priced options available on the market.
YOU need to move existing phone numbers or get new ones
IT SUPPORT will help with establishing if existing numbers can be transferred
It’s possible to keep existing business numbers. IT Support can help to establish if existing numbers can be transferred (ported) and assist (if necessary) with the logistics of porting.
YOU need set-up and installation
IT SUPPORT will make it easy by facilitating the entire process
IT support will help the purchase, supply, deliver, set-up and configuration your set-up. We will also help with project management to ensure the set-up and/or transition to VoIP goes as smoothly as possible with minimal to no disruption.
FINALLY, A WORD ON QUALITY
If all the steps we have outlined above are followed correctly with the help of trusted professionals, advice and equipment, you should expect getting set-up and going to be a pleasant process.
If not done correctly IP Telephony / VoIP can be a source of frustration. We have been called in to help frustrated customers after they have already moved to VoIP. Most commonly we find most issues are as a result of bad voice quality, dropped calls, echo etc.
It is our experience that the major cause of frustration is mostly related to bad or inadequate internet connection, bandwidth and coverage. We can’t stress enough the importance of working through the process to ensure you have the necessary internet connection together with the appropriate solution and best hardware for your budget. It is also very important to subscribe with an IP Telephony company that guarantees excellent support as part of the package.
IT Support puts significant value on understanding customer needs and the importance of ongoing support. We also value all the technical and professional relationships that bring support and value to the table. For that reason we will only recommend service providers we are confident can and will provide the best solutions with the best support options.
What now?
We’re happy to discuss options. If you decide to go ahead, we will get the ball rolling and support your business through the process.
Give our service line a call – 09 2813421 or
contact us by email – service@itsupport.net.nz