VoIP
Advantages
Some of the advantages granted by VoIP technology are:
Deployment speed
The time required to start and make working a new system is drastically reduced, since the data network (Ethernet) can be used as is. Moreover the configuration of all features of the system is quite easy, due to the web-based configuration interface, and the dynamic handling of the IP configuration of the phone (dynamic IP address by means of DHCP, auto-configuration of IP Phone)
Cheaper management costs
The costs required for the management of a VoIP system are reduced due to the possibility of on-line management by remote site, and the management of telephone and data network together.
Cheaper telephone costs
(Toll-bypass)
The VoIP technology can carry call to different premises
over data links, giving virtually no telephone costs.
Also some national calls can become local call, using a premise
as a telephone of interconnection. In this way the telephone traffic
can be optimized, optimizing the contract stipulated with
telephone operators.
Reliability and scalability
With the VoIP technology there are no hardware limits, as in the number of slot used for phones in a traditional telephone system. Also it is possible to realize high-availability solutions with hot swapping of VoIP systems, and with the "re-homing" of IP phones to the backup system.
Remote PBX
If the premises of an enterprise are connected by Internet links (maybe through VPN) or point-to-point links, the enterprise can install a PBX only, probably in the main site, carrying phone calls from remote sites to the PBX sites and viceversa, optimizing for example human resources as phone operators and phone network managers.
Easiness of adding/removing/changing internal phone numbers
(Add/Move/Change)
With web based configuration interface the adding or moving or
changing of internal numbers is an easy task. Also activating
a new phone spot is almost automatic with the auto-discovery
features of IP phones.
Advanced IP services integration
Voice-mail and unified messaging, for instance, can be integrated with VoIP platforms, so that all message systems inside the enterprise (voice, email, fax, voice mail) can be managed together. Other services that can be integrated are:
- answering machine;
- calls accounting;
- custom addresses book for different phones;
- custom waiting tone or music (wav or mp3 format);
XML applications
Applications and XML services can be shown on the LCD display of
IP phones, as yellow pages search, custom enterprise applications and
so on.
Equars developed the following applications:
- Yellow pages search.
- Stock Exchange Indexes.
- News and informations.
- Weather forecasts.
- Remote control of enterprise process via IP phones.
