Introduction

VOIP is an acronym for Voice Over Internet Protocol, or in more common terms phone service over the Internet.
If you have a reasonable quality Internet connection you can get phone service delivered through your Internet connection instead of from your local phone company.

 

How does VOIP work?

A way is required to turn analog phone signals into digital signals that can be sent over the Internet.
This function can either be included into the phone itself or in a separate box like an ATA .

VOIP Using an ATA

Ordinary Phone ---- ATA ---- Ethernet ---- Router ---- Internet ---- VOIP Service Provider

VOIP using an IP Phone

IP Phone ----- Ethernet ----- Router ---- Internet ---- VOIP Service Provider

VOIP connecting directly

It is also possible to bypass a VOIP Service Provider and directly connect to another VOIP user.

IP Phone ----- Ethernet ----- Router ---- Internet ---- Router ---- Ethernet ---- IP Phone
 

Applications using VOIP

Traditional telephony applications, such as outbound call center applications and inbound IVR applications, normally can be run on VOIP.

Why use VOIP?

There are two major reasons to use VOIP

• Lower Cost
• Increased functionality

Lower Cost

In general phone service via VOIP costs less than equivalent service from traditional sources. This is largely a function of traditional phone services either being monopolies or government entities. There are also some cost savings due to using a single network to carry voice and data. This is especially true when users have existing under-utilized network capacity that they can use for VOIP without any additional costs.

In the most extreme case, users see VOIP phone calls (even international) as FREE. While there is a cost for their Internet service, using VOIP over this service may not involve any extra charges, so the users view the calls as free. There are a number of services that have sprung up to facilitate this type of "free" VOIP call.

Increased Functionality

VOIP makes easy some things that are difficult to impossible with traditional phone networks.

• Incoming phone calls are automatically routed to your VOIP phone where ever you plug it into the network. Take your VOIP phone with you on a trip, and anywhere you connect it to the Internet, you can receive your incoming calls.
• Call center agents using VOIP phones can easily work from anywhere with a good Internet connection.

---

NEC VoIP UNIVERGE Business Communications Solutions

UNIVERGE™ is NEC's IP architecture for unifying multimedia networks while enabling robust business solutions. UNIVERGE is open and standards-based IP architecture, ensuring interoperability with other broadband media, IT equipment and applications. It also enables seamless and mobile communications in a multi-network environment.

Maximizing Productivity

NEC’s UNIVERGE Desktop IP Terminals provide all the features and functionality of traditional phones with the seamless integration of advanced IP applications. Integration of voice and data is no longer limited to the network or the PC desktop; it is now in the end-users’ hands.

UNIVERGE Desktop IP Terminals are ergonomically designed for natural comfort and facilitate use through an array of menu-driven soft key functions and easy-access function keys. Together, these aspects of the terminal deliver power, versatility and programmability to all user stations, maximizing efficiency and productivity.

Because the entire desktop surface is crafted for user productivity and fosters better speed, service and performance, the UNIVERGE Desktop IP Terminal can help your business reach more profitable heights.

---

The Mitel 3300 solution is designed to increase business efficiencies by providing features such as seamless IP networking across multiple sites, easy to use interfaces and the ability to cluster up to 250 controllers as a single system.

The 3300 supports the industry’s largest range of desktop equipment, including web enabled IP devices, wireless handsets and a professional front end for your callers.

By ensuring calls are routed to the correct extension every time, the 3300 lets you communicate in a more efficient and professional way.