The ability of reducing communication cost by
utilizing a SIP enabled IP PBX phone system instead of a traditional
PSTN PBX network is the first advantage people think of when
switching to an IP based PBX phone system. Essentially phone calls
made over an IP network are free. Typically an IP PBX by-passes the
wholesale charges made by the incumbent telephone company. (AT&T,
Verizone, Qwest, SBC, Bell South and Sprint) This by-pass occurs as
the customer is connected to a SIP enabled trunk provider, via an
broadband Internet circuit like a data T1 line, as opposed to
multiple telephone lines to the incumbent phone company’s switch.
The SIP provider will use the Internet to by-pass the long distance
and international charges as long as the distant end party is
connected through a SIP enable connection. For example, an
international call that is placed over an IP PBX will be carried on
the IP network from the point of origin to a break outpoint in a
foreign country. The SIP provider will incur its capital costs of
the IP infrastructure and only the wholesale charge for the foreign
national leg of the call. Previously, the service provider would
have to pay charges to the local phone company, an international
carrier and the foreign carrier. The end result is long distance and
international call charges are significantly lower than traditional
phone companies.
Benefits of an IP PBX Phone System:
- Simplify. An integrated infrastructure that supports ALL
forms of communication allows more standardization of equipment
and a single cabling infrastructure. This leads to a further
overall fall in operational costs.
- Flexibility. An IP Telephony system is based primarily on
software rather than hardware, making it easier to alter, up
grade and maintain. IP Telephony allows you to safely set up a
fully functioning office anywhere a broadband connection is
available including the home office and telecommuters.
- Scaleable. Traditional telephone systems are difficult to
expand or upgrade, it is easy to outgrow your current system and
you may need to replace hardware or, even replace your entire
system. IP Telephony systems however are easy to upgrade in line
with your company as it grows, as your needs change your IP
Telephony system can adapt easily to your changing
telecommunications requirements.
- Multimedia. Even though telephony and facsimile are the
initial applications for VoIP, the longer-term benefits are
expected to be derived from multimedia and multi-service
applications as technology develops. Videophones for example,
will bring a new dimension to corporate communication, where
visual contact with clients is important.
- Easy Installation. IP Telephony allows corporate users to
use a single high-speed Internet connection for all voice,
video, and data communications. This is known as convergence and
is one of the primary driving forces behind corporate interest
in VoIP. As we have seen VoIP is not just about reducing call
costs, it gives companies much more than that. By using a single
data network for all communications, it is possible to reduce
overall operating costs, increase employee efficiency and allow
greater flexibility in communications than ever before.
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