VoIP Solutions
Voice over IP is rapidly gaining momentum as enterprises large and small realise the productivity and cost benefits of enhanced voice applications, more efficient system management, and call savings. While traditional PBX systems switch telephone calls using the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network), or local telephone company, IP telephony consists of technologies that use the internet protocol's packet-switched connections to exchange voice, fax, and other forms of information that have traditionally been carried over the telephone networks of the PSTN. Using the Internet or local enterprise network, calls travel as packets of data on shared lines, avoiding the calling costs of the PSTN, and improving efficiency.
IP PBX Phone Solutions
SDS provides two IP PBX hardware solutions.
SDS’s ‘Macro’ IP PBX - this is a fully featured enterprise PBX, ideal for small to medium-sized businesses looking to implement a reliable and advanced telephone system, which is not only capable of processing and routing telephone calls, but also able to connect to other applications too. Macro PBX is a complete PBX in software and provides all of the features you would expect from a PBX and more. It does voice over IP in many protocols, and can interoperate with almost all standards-based telephony equipment using relatively inexpensive hardware. This PBX offers both classical PBX functionality and advanced features, and interoperates with traditional standards-based telephony systems and Voice over IP systems. It offers features one would expect of a large proprietary PBX system such as Voicemail, Conference Bridging, Call Queuing, and Call Detail Records. It provides Voicemail services with Directory, Call Conferencing, Interactive Voice Response and Call Queuing and has support for three-way calling, caller ID services, ADSI, SIP and H.323 (as both client and gateway).
Macro PBX allows you to implement flexible dial-plans that support just about any telephony application you want; you can configure it to use traditional analogue phones and trunks, in addition to VoIP phones from any vendor and VoIP services from any standards-compliant VoIP service provider. Because it is so powerful, configuring Macro PBX may seem tricky at first, however, SDS will do the initial setup of the system for you and show you through the process of configuring your system. Along the way, you'll learn how to:
- Configure Macro PBX to use analog phones and trunks
- Configure Macro PBX to use the SIP and IAX VoIP protocols
- Write dial-plans, from the simple to the more complex
- Setup applications, from find-me-follow-me to Music on Hold
- Set up features such as speech synthesis and voice recognition
The easy to use web interface assists greatly with the configuration of the system.
Macro PBX needs no additional hardware for Voice over IP. For interconnection with digital and analog telephony equipment, Macro PBX supports a number of hardware devices, such as single and quad span T1 and E1 interfaces for interconnection to PRI lines and channel banks as well as a single port FXO card and a one to four-port modular FXS and FXO card.
The Macro PBX supports a wide range of TDM protocols for the handling and transmission of voice over traditional telephony interfaces. It also supports US and European standard signalling types used in standard business phone systems, allowing it to bridge between next generation voice-data integrated networks and existing infrastructure. It not only supports traditional phone equipment, it enhances them with additional capabilities.
Using Voice over IP protocols, it merges voice and data traffic seamlessly across disparate networks. While using Packet Voice, it is possible to send data such as URL information and images in-line with voice traffic, allowing advanced integration of information. Macro PBX provides a central switching core, with four APIs for modular loading of telephony applications, hardware interfaces, file format handling, and codecs. This then provides transparent switching between all supported interfaces and ties together a diverse mixture of telephony systems into a single switching network.
SDS’s ‘Micro’ IP PBX – this full-featured IP PBX is ideal for small businesses and home office where ease of use and low cost are paramount.
- IP PBX system with high-end features comparable to traditional large business voice services
- Up to sixteen (16) SIP compatible IP Phones per system
- Powerful self-configuration capabilities enabled with our IP Phones
- Works with most Internet Telephone Service Providers
Micro PBX marries the rich feature set of high-end PBX telephone systems with the convenience and cost advantages of Voice over IP. It has common voice system features such as an auto-attendant, shared line appearances, three way call conferencing, intercom, music on hold, call-forwarding and much more. Micro PBX opens up access to the benefits of VoIP, including low cost long distance service, telephone number portability, and one network for both voice and data.
This PBX is so easy to configure that a fully working system can be set up in minutes. New telephones are automatically detected and registered when they are connected. It has an integrated web server that allows features to be configured using a web browser. The web server has multiple levels of password-protected access to user and service level features. Service level settings may be locked by the Internet Telephone Service Provider to ensure they are not inadvertently corrupted. The Internet Telephone Service Provider also can remotely update the software and settings through a secure encrypted connection.
With its integrated router, Micro PBX can be either connected directly to your Internet connection or to another router on your network. It has separate WAN and LAN Ethernet ports. The WAN connection can be connected through DHCP or a fixed IP address. The LAN port can assign IP addresses to IP Phones and computers using NAT and DHCP.
While the Micro PBX will work with any SIP compatible IP Phone, it is the ideal host for Linksys IP Phones, such as the SPA901, SPA921, SPA922, SPA941, and SPA942. Powerful configuration capabilities enable the PBX to support a greater set of advanced features with these IP Phones, such as shared line appearances, hunt groups, call transfer, call parking lot, and group paging. With its two FXS ports, this PBX can support traditional analog devices such as telephones, answering machines, FAX machines, and media adapters. SDS also recommends the purchase of an adaptor with this PBX that includes 1 FXO port for PSTN lifeline support and telephone number retention.
Benefits of IP PBX Solutions
Since becoming the de facto standard in data communications over the last decade, IP has been heralded as the new frontier for voice communications. Many of the large encumbrant operators recognise this and are investing heavily in the replacement of their legacy networks (PSTN) to new IP infrastructures. VoIP technology adoption has been rapid with more and more companies investing in these solutions to maximise the value of their broadband connection.
- Cost savings - for many companies the key reason to transition to an IP PBX system is cost savings. As data communications users have long understood, IP offers near free communications. Calls are no longer transmitted via the PSTN, but through a broadband Internet connection, avoiding high PSTN call charges.
- Shared Architecture - another significant benefit of an IP PBX is the ability to share a common architecture. Regardless of the number of worldwide offices a company has, it only has to invest in one PBX system to handle remote access, data routing, and unified messaging. The single network architecture means less equipment and easier integration for IT staff. Communication between branches, whether across states or countries, can be easily achieved by dialling an extension number.
- Flexible Integration of Applications - Often, technology adoption is slowed by the fear that future applications will suffer compatibility problems with the IP PBX. IP PBX manufacturers have eliminated this concern by adopting a common protocol, ensuring that users can choose from a wide range of applications into the future, retaining the capital investment in their new IP PBX.
- Remote Management & Maintenance - With voice and data merged onto one common IP network, the need to maintain separate networks is eliminated, and remote management of the PBX becomes possible, with the right equipment. With an IP PBX, yearly maintenance contracts are not required. With the remote management facility, a mid-sized company could realise significant savings in ongoing maintenance costs.
Consideration Issues for IP PBX Transition
While the benefits of IP PBX systems have become widely recognized, the decision makers need to consider carefully the following issues to ensure a successful IP transition.
- Initial Investment - the deployment of an IP PBX requires a significant up front investment to replace the PBX, related applications, and possibly some network upgrades. It is important to be fully aware of these costs before undertaking any PBX replacement. SDS is able to assist with technical challenges or transition issues that may arise.
- Quality of Service (QoS) Is Unproven - Quality of Service (QoS) is a critical requirement for IP telephony. The main concern about IP telephony is that telephone calls may not sound like a "normal" phone call due to packet delay and latency through the Internet. Infrastructure Reduction and Long-Distance Savings mean little when the voice quality is poor.
Note: More networks are being designed with massive excesses in bandwidth as a means of controlling Quality of Service issues, but the problem has not been fully resolved. Our solutions both have the fallback capability of using traditional voice services if required.
- Training - with an IP PBX on a converged network, IT staff that previously maintained voice and data separately will need extensive training to administer and maintain the new system. With all data and voice transmissions routed through the single network infrastructure, workload for IT staff can increase. SDS is able to assist with staff training and system configuration.
- Features - Traditional PBX systems incorporates more than 30 years of tested and customized features. It is important to ensure that the features you require are present in your new IP PBX system. Our Macro system is extremely feature rich and is extremely customisable to meet customers needs.
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