Northern Colorado Voip, Denver and Fort Collins

This article looks at some reasons to consider an IP phone system for business requirements. We consider the possible systems that are available today, including PC phone systems. We then take a look at some considerations for small to medium business needs analysis when upgrading to an IP phone system.

One aspect first to be aware of is the advantages IP interfaces provide to a business telephone system. IP connections basically improve the flexibility of a business telephone system, particularly in dealing with extensions. It is much easier to move phones within the office. An IP interface also provides support for easily setting up home offices and making connections when travelling. Also, systems with a built-in Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) feature allow connecting over the Internet without any extra hardware for analog to digital conversion.

Some of the most widespread commercially available systems today are Panasonic, Avaya Partner, Lucent, Merlin, Nortel Norstar, Comdial and Vodavi (from Vertical), NEC, Toshiba, Mitel, and Shoretel phone systems. Not all of these systems support IP interfaces, so we advise checking with a trusted vendor for the latest offered features. In addition to a “traditional” phone system, any PC or computer can be used as an IP phone system with downloadable free software. Keep in mind that “free” systems will require a much higher level of expertise on your staff (or from your local provider).

What is the method to most effectively choose from among these available business telephone systems? Actually, most any of these systems would be an adequate pick for the average small business. If you already have a business telephone system, then you can make a list of important features that must not be lost, should you select a different manufacturer. And for some, hiring a professional to perform a detailed needs assessment would be in order. But for most, the key selection criterion will be finding a good local dealer who can adequately support your business needs.

Furthermore, bear in mind that routing your voice traffic over the Internet might necessitate an upgrade of the company’s Internet connection, in order to support voice as well as data. Integrated voice/data services are useful for this, particularly if supplied with a Quality of Service (QOS) attribute, which effectively prioritizes voice traffic over less critical data traffic. Thus when employees are downloading large files or watching online videos, business telephone quality will not be affected.

If the business needs a very reliable phone service, then you should consider a T1 connection, which is delivered with a Service Level Agreement (SLA), to minimize downtime. Since T1 lines have reduced significantly in price from hardly a few years ago, when the average monthly cost was over $1000 to now often under $300, a T1 has become a much more reasonable solution. The options and number of vendors supplying T1 services have also increased dramatically in recent years. A telecommunications broker can assist with selecting the best T1 service provider according to your needs.