Voip Telephony Comes of Age
With the advent of widespread broadband Internet connections, consumers are discovering what businesses have known for a while. Voice over IP telephony, or VoIP as it is known, can be a viable and cost effective alternative to the Plain Old Telephone System (POTS). As VoIP upstarts are popping up everywhere, most notably Vonage, Packet8 and Skype, even the big Internet Service Providers are offering voice over IP packages to their residential subscribers.
Such features as caller ID, call forwarding, automatic redial, and even 3-way calling are standard on most VoIP packages, whereas many phone companies consider them add ons and will charge you extra. But the real kicker is, if it is right for you and you pick the right Voice over IP solution, you should be able to reduce your phone bill by half or more.
How Does Voice over IP Work?
IP Telephony is a packet switching technology, as opposed to circuit switching as used by the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). The PSTN method uses copper wires to physically connect one caller to another through a series of circuit switches, as illustrated by the switchboard operators of old.
In voice over IP, the analog voice is converted into digital packets that are routed through the internet, and in the case of one of the parties being on a PSTN connection, the packets are routed to the nearest local switching station and placed back on the PSTN. If both persons are using VoIP, then there is no reason to use the PSTN, and the entire conversation takes place over the Internet.
Needless to say, this is much more cost effective than using land lines for the entire distance. If a caller in New York uses VoIP to call a PSTN number in Seattle, the call doesnt leave the internet until it reaches the switching station in Seattle, making it for all practical purposes, a local call.
The Drawbacks of Voice over IP Telephony
There are some points that one should seriously consider when thinking about dumping the POTS. VoIP generally requires a Broadband Internet connection, which in turn requires power. If a power outage should occur, you have no telephone service. Battery backups could solve this problem, but not on a long term basis. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) also have a tendency to go down occasionally, though they are getting better all the time. Calls can be forwarded to your cell phone if your power is out, but in real disaster situation, even cell phones are not a perfect backup, as seen by Hurricane Katrina.
Faxing over an IP network has proven to be problematic. Fax machines scan a document and convert the data into sounds, which dont travel well over the internet. In IP telephony, much progress has been made on a standard called T.38, whose mission is to convert the fax sound into sendable data. Another option is iFax, the T.37 standard that sends faxes as an email attachment or a remote printout using the Internet Printing Protocol. Today, separate Fax lines can be added by most VoIP providers for an extra charge.
Emergency services such as 911 are also an issue with IP telephony. It is the nature of the Internet that tying a particular node to a geographic location is quite difficult, and street addresses are not easily routed to a nearby call center. In the U.S., the FCC has mandated that VoIP providers implement Enhanced 911 (E911). Providers are making progress by encouraging their customers to register a street address to their phone number, enabling them to route emergency calls to a nearby call center.
Voice over IP and Broadband Connections
While a broadband connection is not absolutely necessary, it is what makes VoIP shine. Many households are turning to DSL or cable modems for their internet connections, and wireless broadband WiFi hotspots are popping up everywhere.
The problem with DSL is that it is provided by telephone companies which for the most part require you to have a landline, pretty much defeating the purpose. Some regional s are starting to unbundle their DSL services by offering naked DSL, an Internet connection without the analog line on the local loop. When you think about it, there really doesn’t seem to be much motivation for the Telcos to promote VoIP, as it would effectively be like cutting their revenues in half.
If your household has cable television, you more than likely can get broadband access through a cable modem. Most cable providers charge around $50 a month for broadband internet access, and for those who utilize the Internet often, a high speed internet connection is well worth the price. Some cable IPS’s offer residential Voice over IP for $40-$50 a month. Through the pure play VoIP companies like Vonage or Packet8, you can get VoIP for around $15-$25 a month, potentially eliminating the need for a land line at all.
Wireless networks also work great for VoIP, and are especially convenient if you travel a lot. Hotspots all over the world allow you to call anywhere using a WiFi VoIP phone. Internet phones come in all shapes and sizes with all kinds of bells and whistles. From a full business desk phone from Cisco, to phones indistinguishable from cell phones, even regular cell phones that are VoIP capable, new products and technologies are coming out every day to get you better connected for less.
Voice over IP telephony has come of age. If you have access to a broadband Internet connection, you could conceivably cut your phone bill by half or more, never pay long distance charges in the U.S. and Canada, and pay way less for International calls,as low as 3 cents per minute. Sound quality is usually as good as a cell phone connection.
To test you current broadband connection, search for the term voip test on your favorite search engine. Once you know if your connection can sustain the extra traffic, it’s just a matter of finding a reliable Voice over IP telephony service provider.
Learn About Ds3 Connection Using Ds3 Line
It is helpful to know that a DS3 connection is comprised up of two monthly charges. One is the local loop and the port charge. The local loop charge is the cost of the circuit provided by the Local Exchange Carrier (LEC) that allows DS3 access into the carrier’s network. The loop charge is based on the distance from the customer’s location to the edge of the carrier’s network; the farther the customer is from the network, the more the loop will cost. Nearly every carrier prices loops differently so it is in your best interest to price DS3 service with several providers to ensure that you walk away satisfied.
A DS3 line is also called a T3 line, which can be confusing to most who are not familiar with internet lingo. DS3 is a high-speed connection that is capable of transmitting data at up to 45 Mbps. A DS3 line is equal to approximately 672 regular voice-grade telephone lines, which is fast enough to transmit full-motion, real-time video, and very large databases over a busy network.
A DS3 line is installed as a major networking artery for large corporations and universities with high-volume network traffic. Other example applications include large call centers, enterprise wide VoIP and IP PBX systems, Internet service providers, research labs, video conference centers and software development companies. A DS3 is the second fastest, non-optical connection offered in North America. A DS3 line is comprised of 28 T1 lines, each operating at total signaling rate of 1.544 Mbps.
Digital Signal consists of cataloging digital circuits according to the rate and format of the signal and the equipment providing the signals (T). DS and T designations are used synonymously. Therefore, DS1 means T1, and DS3 implies T3. In addition, DS3 circuits provide businesses and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) with up to 45 Mb/s of dedicated Internet connectivity. This is an ideal solution for users who have outgrown their T1 connections and are in search of unlimited, high-capacity access. A DS3 line actually consists of 672 individual channels, each of which supports 64 Kb/s. DS3 lines are extremely high bandwidth connections into a carrier’s backbone. They typically include SLAs (Service Level Agreements) that guarantee uptime and performance.
DS Internet Access is the ideal solution for businesses that require high-bandwidth access at a reduced price. Whether you host high-traffic Web sites, support Web hosting or need high-capacity bandwidth on an as-needed basis, there’s a level of DS3 service (Full or fractional) that will meet your needs. Fractional to full DS3 or T3 circuits run from speeds of 3 Mbps up to 45 Mbps.
The 28 DS1 signals are multiplexed into seven DS2 signals. Then, the seven DS2 signals are multiplexed into one DS3 signal. Each multiplexing step uses bit stuffing to handle the different input frequencies. Overhead bits provide alignment, error checking, in-band communications, and bit stuffing control information.
For more resource about T3 or even about DS3 Line and espcially about T3 Line please click these links.
Callcentric And Skype A Comparative Study
Callcentric offers four plans that could be considered the cheapest in the market. They are Callcentric IP Freedom Plan, Callcentric Pay per Call, Callcentric North America Unlimited, and Callcentric World Select. All of them offer unlimited PC to PC calls to other Callcentric members for free, wherever in the world they are. IP Freedom Plan is considered the cheapest of them all, as it provides free calls to other members, wherever they are. At no monthly charge, no surcharge, no hidden fees, no per-call rate, and no other commitment, this is considered the best bargain. All you need is an adapter or software and you are good to go with the Callcentric IP Freedom plan.Callcentric has plans such as Pay per Call, North America Unlimited, and World Select which offer tremendous value for the money you pay. At a miserly monthly rate around $19.95 per month, you will be able to make unlimited phone calls to the USA and Canada. With this plan, you will be able to make hundreds of calls in a month and still pay an incredibly low $19.95.Skype has an offer called Skype Credit which asks you to pay some amount and you also need to pay a connection fee. Once you log in, the credit you have will appear next to your name. Then you can start calling any part of the world. But the catch here is the rate per call. The rates range around 1.7 Euro cents per minute, which is considered costlier than Callcentric, as you can make unlimited calls to any part of the world in case of Callcentric for just under $30 per month. This is where Callcentric scores over Skype and is considered the better option when it comes to PC to phone calling.
Business Needs vs. Network Performance: Critical Challenges Facing Network Managers
Networking is getting tougher. Networks must deliver a growing
range of services, from ERP, CRM and email to VoIP and web
services applications, each of which has its own idiosyncrasies
and requirements. Each new service introduced onto the network
contends for available resources with every other service,
impacting the network’s ability to support the business.
Meanwhile, the network itself is constantly changing. New
locations are added – some of which may be in another country or
on another continent. Equipment is upgraded and/or
re-configured. New management and/or security tools may
themselves impact service performance. Decisions about data
center consolidation and business re-organization also affect
the network in different ways. All of this makes the network a
highly dynamic environment where even subtle changes can have a
major, unforeseen impact on application performance and
availability.
Yet business users expect this complex environment to be as
reliable as electricity – despite the fact that networking
budgets are not being increased in proportion to these growing
challenges. So network managers can’t simply over-provision
network infrastructure to make sure every service has all the
bandwidth it needs. Moreover, over provisioning may not even
solve the problem and/or ensure the required level of
performance.
That’s why network managers are facing many challenges,
including:
1) Pinpointing potential network
performance issues early in the development lifecycle
Ideally, the impact of the network on a new application or
service should be dealt with from the very beginning of the
development process – when potential problems are much easier
and less expensive to fix. Unfortunately, this is rarely the
case. Problems with an application’s “networkability” are
typically discovered only after its roll-out into the production
environment is initiated. At that point, it’s usually too late
to make any significant changes in the application’s design. So
the problem gets pushed onto the shoulders of the networking
team. That’s why, in ‘05, smart network managers will focus on
nipping these problems in the bud.
2) Validating new or modified applications and infrastructure
before they are deployed in production As the network becomes
more complex and more critical to the day-to-day-operation of
the business, network
performance related risks associated with application and
infrastructure change are continuing to rise. In fact, some of
the worst business interruptions that companies have
historically experienced have not been the result of unexpected
equipment failure. They’ve been the unexpected consequence of a
planned modification. Networking teams must therefore implement
change management best practices in ‘05 that prevent them from
having to put out fires that they accidentally started
themselves.
3) Improved troubleshooting of intermittent/transient network
problems One of the most frustrating things for a network
manager is dealing with a problem that keeps disappearing before
it can be adequately understood and remedied. However, as the
business’s tolerance for network interruptions continues to
drop, these intermittent problems will become a bigger
management issue. So this year, network management teams need to
develop more effective methods for capturing transient network
conditions and discovering the root causes of these problems.
4) Accelerated time-to-benefit for new and/or upgraded
applications When C-level executives decide to make investments
in new applications and services, they want to see those
investments pay off quickly. That’s why the slow, staged
production roll-outs of the past won’t cut it anymore. Instead,
networking teams need to be able to quickly deploy new
applications across the enterprise. This can only happen if
caution and uncertainty about the actual behavior of these
applications in the production environment is replaced by
confidence and certainty in ‘05.
5) More intelligent planning for and support of business growth
Network managers constantly have to cope with change. They have
to determine how increases in network utilization will affect
application performance. They have to decide how to best
engineer the network to support business expansion,
re-organization or mergers and acquisitions. However, they can
only do so if they have an effective means of performing
capacity planning tasks and assessing a full range of “what-if”
scenarios. Such scenarios are also critical for formulating
realistic contingency plans that can ensure business continuity
under a variety of possible conditions.
Looking at these challenges, it quickly becomes evident that
conventional production network management tools alone are no
longer sufficient for today’s networking teams. These tools are
great for monitoring the production network and discovering
certain types of problems – but they don’t enable network
managers to validate new technologies and applications before
they’re deployed on the production network. They also force
network managers to solve problems that should have been
addressed in application design.
Conventional tools aren’t very helpful for troubleshooting
intermittent and/or transient network problems either, since
they don’t provide a means of reconstructing and analyzing such
intermittent conditions. Nor do they help accelerate production
roll-outs, facilitate experimentation with “what-if” scenarios,
or support formulation of network contingency plans.
So what’s an overworked, under-resourced network manager to do?
The answer is to look at network modeling technologies. These
technologies provide an environment in which new applications,
technologies and problem-solving strategies can be safely and
thoroughly evaluated. Because they allow an application’s
network behavior to be fully validated before it’s deployed in
the production environment, these technologies also empower
network managers to perform more rapid, glitch-free roll-outs.
Plus, modeling technologies are uniquely able to provide insight
into any number of “what-if” scenarios – so network managers can
make plans for growth, corporate re-structuring and/or disaster
recovery.
“Empirical” modeling solutions offer today’s network management
teams particularly excellent business value, because of their
accuracy and relative ease of implementation. This accuracy and
ease is achieved by running the actual applications against a
model that uses captured conditions from the production
environment. The result is a clear understanding of the user
experience well ahead of deployment.
For this and other network performance articles, white papers,
and industry resources, please visit Shunra at
http://www.shunra.com/resource_center.aspx.
About Shunra
Shunra’s solutions empower organizations to address service
level and performance concerns before rollout. The Shunra VE
solution creates an exact replica of the production network
environment, enabling IT professionals to safely develop, test
and experiment with applications and infrastructure before
deployment, and effectively plan for growth and change. Tailored
for networking, performance and testing professionals, and
software developers, Shunra VE facilitates collaboration across
IT disciplines so IT organizations can quickly and more
efficiently uncover and resolve problems before they impact the
business. Over 1,500 leading enterprises and technology vendors
worldwide are using Shunra’s award-winning solutions including
3M, Boeing, Cisco, Dow Chemical, EMC, FedEx, General Electric,
General Motors, JPMorgan Chase, Kelly Services, Merrill Lynch,
Motorola, Nestle, Pitney Bowes, and Vodafone. Shunra’s
headquarters are located in New York City and Kfar Saba, Israel,
with worldwide offices in the UK, Sweden and India. Shunra is
also supported through a global network of channel partners.
With The Best VoIP International Phone Service: Is Telecom Done?
A year ago, experts thought that maybe VoIP International phone service is a hyped up technology. But not today! Companies such as Vonage, eBay (Skype), and iBasis (Pingo) have used the technology to their advantage to take the lead in the VoIP market. Besides, companies such as Cisco, Linksys, Earthlink and even Microsoft are trying to take advantage of this technology and grab a piece of share in this intriguing market. But that’s not all. Voice-over-IP has grabbed a remarkable portion of the communications market.
One of the issues that every new technology has to address is the high switching costs for consumers. In other words, there are many great new technologies out there. But, unless it makes sense, financially, for consumers to switch to those new technologies, they will simply not switch. The key for innovators is to keep the switching costs as low as possible. Companies such as Vonage and Skype have done just that. These companies make the switching process convenient and easy, as long as someone has high-speed internet access. They also offer many extra features over the standard phone service for a much lower price. In that sense, the customers have nothing to lose and very much to gain. Even easier, companies such as Pingo allow people to take advantage of the same low VoIP long distance phone call rates by dialing a local access number from their land or even their mobile phone.
According to Jupiter research, companies have started to rapidly switch to Voice-over-IP services. There are several reason behind this. For starters, as mentioned before, the switching costs are reasonably low. In addition, the best VoIP International phone service networks are more efficient and companies manage to save a considerable amount of money by switching from circuit-switched connections to VoIP.
One of the services that Voice-over-IP has had a major impact on is the calling card service. Some calling card service providers have managed to use the best VoIP International phone service to cut their costs and pass those savings to their customers. For example, iBasis, which is the premiere international phone card service provider, offers its customers prices that are much lower than those of Verizon. There are many companies that have adopted similar strategy to grab market share in the communications market. Even though, these companies are cutting their costs, the real winners are consumers, saving as high as 50% on their monthly phone bills.
Many telcos have struggled to deal with the new breed of communication companies. Companies such as Skype and Vonage have taken a great deal of market share from traditional landline services companies. Most companies, which decided to compete head to head with this new breed, have already gone out of business or about to. However, a few of these companies have decided to either adopt the technology or join VoIP companies in form of alliances or partnerships.
The VoIP International phone service market is very promising, and many new players are set to join the competition in this market. Of course, early adopters hold an edge over the newcomers. However, it is too early to project who’ll take a commanding lead in this rather young market as it is expanding fast. But one thing is clear: VoIP has changed the dynamics of the communications market forever.
