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In my last post, we talked about packet vs. analog communication. In this post, I outline how VoIP technology enables voice and data to work together and the requirements IT should consider when incorporating VoIP.

Voice packets by their nature tend to be very large and require a high degree of quality. When voice packets are added to an existing data-intense network, bandwidth (capacity) can suffer. When data drops out of an application, the program does not work right. When voice packets fall by the wayside, conversations don’t sound right. It is very important for modern IP networks to ensure that VoIP is provided the appropriate amount of bandwidth to support all of the corporate voice and data applications. VoIP services.

Ensuring proper bandwidth

Prior to incorporating VoIP technology into your existing network, your corporate IT staff needs to understand its voice and data requirements. Priority should be placed on voice network traffic, ensuring that these voice packets receive the appropriate bandwidth. Proper bandwidth will result in a higher quality of sound.

One of the benefits of VoIP is that it enables other services that older telephone systems can’t support. VoIP services work well over all kinds of networks, and they are portable. Being portable means that they work with any IP-enabled device or system such as an IP telephone, a computer, or even a mobile device.

IP-based telephones work by converting traditional voice signals into a format that can be seamlessly transmitted over a local area network, sharing the data networks with computers. Every IP phone has a built-in network interface card (NIC), just like a computer. These NICs standardize communications to work well over a network. If you don’t want to purchase VoIP-ready phones, routers can be installed to convert phone conversations to VoIP and to push them out over the Internet as IP packets. The bottom line is that VoIP is very expandable and adaptable, allowing you to accept new opportunities to integrate voice with other network activities.

Leveraging your existing investment

You have many available options, depending on your current inventory, your future interests, and the way you want to expand your network. Working with your IT staff, you can easily implement an IP-based solution in a way that protects your current investment in telephones and computers, while allowing you to transition to new vistas of communication.

Article Source: pcworld.com