Computers are here to stay. Now we are at the point where an off-the shelf PC has the power to handle
a small office phone system without breaking a sweat. Whether you realize it or not your next
phone system will likely have a computer running under the hood.
Voice over IP (VOIP)
Is Voice Over IP, or "VOIP" the next big thing in Telecommunications? Many people think so. It can
be just as dangerous to be the slow adopting dinosaur as it is to blindly follow the pack on the
"next big thing".
Don't just buy into the hype.
Like most new technology VOIP has advantages and disadvantages.
It's always wise to learn as much as you can.
Traditional, VOIP, or Both?
VOIP does not have to be an "all-or-nothing" decision! Some phone systems, like Asterisk,
let you use both traditional and VOIP technology together seamlessly.
A hybrid solution can give you the best
features, flexibility, and expandability of both worlds.
Open Standards: Lower Costs
Be careful. While VOIP technology has open standards there is no guarantee that your
vendor is actually going to sell you something open. If you aren't careful you might
still be locked into an expensive one-vendor solution.
The benefit of an open system (a REAL open system) is that you can easily expand and
upgrade components and features. While you can do this more cost effectively, the
true benefit is that you have an unequaled ability to customize the system to your needs.
For more technical information on VOIP standards and protocols click here.
Further Reading
We have put together some information that may help you make an informed decision about
Telephone systems in general, VOIP, and Computer telephone integration.
