s such as mobility and branch office IP trunking make VOIP a winner for many. The ability to design custom integration apps for instance gives HUGE productivity gains. IP phones are every bit as reliable as other digital phones when they are placed on a properly designed network. Properly designing such a network does not cost a fortune, but it does require a little common sense and planning. Regardless of the technology, a phone system is only as good as the connection between Many businesses apply VoIP much like electronic voting machines have been done- a solution in search of a problem. They get VoIP not because it's better, or provides things they need, but because it's the latest technology.

Despite the all too frequent uneducated decision making process in the business world.....there are some advantages to VoIP over the standard alternatives.

For example site-to-site IP links can save a bundle over point to point T1's. With an IP pbx you can (depending on who makes it) offer interactive services to your customers and deploy other similar features that are far more costly with old analog PBXs. Videoconferencing is as simple as buying worksites video IP phones or videochat software (expensive or impossible with a standard PBX). Expansion is also quite easy. But possibly the biggest selling point is that the best is yet to come- sure we don't have dial by name or anything like that yet, but wait a few years...

Where many businesses differ is in their view on the benefit of Open Standards and the cost savings this will bring. While Open standards can yield big dollar savings in the right situation....that shouldn't be persued blindly without regard to all potential ramifications.

Some businesses view the dollar savings as holy mantra in their decision making process. Often to the detriment of common sense, technical application, and overall business impact.

While those businesses who follow a well informed and well thought out approach to an educated decision tend to take the position....."When I buy a solution for my business, I want reliablility, accountabillity and stability.

For this reason they prefer to buy from a major vendor with a track record, and are reluctant to use an Open source product like Asterix, because they do not know who to shout at when it needs fixing, as it surely will sometime during its life.

Other advantages such as mobility and branch office IP trunking make VOIP a winner for many. The ability to design custom integration apps for instance gives HUGE productivity gains. IP phones are every bit as reliable as other digital phones when they are placed on a properly designed network. Properly designing such a network does not cost a fortune, but it does require a little common sense and planning. Regardless of the technology, a phone system is only as good as the connection between t

you can (depending on who makes it) offer interactive services to your customers and deploy other similar features that are far more costly with old analog PBXs. Videoconferencing is as simple as buying worksites video IP phones or videochat software (expensive or impossible with a standard PBX). Expansion is also quite easy. But possibly the biggest selling point is that the best is yet to come- sure we don't have dial by name or anything like that yet, but wait a few years...

Where many businesses differ is in their view on the benefit of Open Standards and the cost savings this will bring. While Open standards can yield big dollar savings in the right situation....that shouldn't be persued blindly without regard to all potential ramifications.

Some businesses view the dollar savings as holy mantra in their decision making process. Often to the detriment of common sense, technical application, and overall business impact.

While those businesses who follow a well informed and well thought out approach to an educated decision tend to take the position....."When I buy a solution for my business, I want reliablility, accountabillity and stability.

For this reason they prefer to buy from a major vendor with a track record, and are reluctant to use an Open source product like Asterix, because they do not know who to shout at when it needs fixing, as it surely will sometime during its life.

Other advantages such as mobility and branch office IP trunking make VOIP a winner for many. The ability to design custom integration apps for instance gives HUGE productivity gains. IP phones are every bit as reliable as other digital phones when they are placed on a properly designed network. Properly designing such a network does not cost a fortune, but it does require a little common sense and planning. Regardless of the technology, a phone system is only as good as the connection between

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Where many businesses differ is in their view on the benefit of Open Standards and the cost savings this will bring. While Open standards can yield big dollar savings in the right situation....that shouldn't be persued blindly without regard to all potential ramifications.

Some businesses view the dollar savings as holy mantra in their decision making process. Often to the detriment of common sense, technical application, and overall business impact.

While those businesses who follow a well informed and well thought out approach to an educated decision tend to take the position....."When I buy a solution for my business, I want reliablility, accountabillity and stability.

For this reason they prefer to buy from a major vendor with a track record, and are reluctant to use an Open source product like Asterix, because they do not know who to shout at when it needs fixing, as it surely will sometime during its life.

Other advantages such as mobility and branch office IP trunking make VOIP a winner for many. The ability to design custom integration apps for instance gives HUGE productivity gains. IP phones are every bit as reliable as other digital phones when they are placed on a properly designed network. Properly designing such a network does not cost a fortune, but it does require a little common sense and planning. Regardless of the technology, a phone system is only as good as the connection between

businesses who follow a well informed and well thought out approach to an educated decision tend to take the position....."When I buy a solution for my business, I want reliablility, accountabillity and stability.

For this reason they prefer to buy from a major vendor with a track record, and are reluctant to use an Open source product like Asterix, because they do not know who to shout at when it needs fixing, as it surely will sometime during its life.

Other advantages such as mobility and branch office IP trunking make VOIP a winner for many. The ability to design custom integration apps for instance gives HUGE productivity gains. IP phones are every bit as reliable as other digital phones when they are placed on a properly designed network. Properly designing such a network does not cost a fortune, but it does require a little common sense and planning. Regardless of the technology, a phone system is only as good as the connection between

s such as mobility and branch office IP trunking make VOIP a winner for many. The ability to design custom integration apps for instance gives HUGE productivity gains. IP phones are every bit as reliable as other digital phones when they are placed on a properly designed network. Properly designing such a network does not cost a fortune, but it does require a little common sense and planning. Regardless of the technology, a phone system is only as good as the connection between the box and the station.

A hybrid is having your systems still rely on tried and true POTS and T1/PRI trunks for your PSTN connectivity at your offices. It works, so why change it, in my opinion (but thanks VOIP for bringing down Bell prices). You then can use VOIP for expanding your capabilities and saving money (IF it isn't at the expense of reliability/stability) rather than trying to be "bleeding edge" just for bragging rights. The "bleeding edge" pursuit can definately prove a costly one.

Overall the best advice for a business considering a VoIP solution for their telecommunication needs is that one must keep a number of things in mind. At the moment, there's little reason to tear out a perfectly good analog PBX and replace it totally with VoIP unless you are rewiring your building, have expanded beyond its capacity, or require VoIP style features. But at the same time, for a business buying or doing a full upgrade, purchasing analog gear isn't really a good investment.

In the end make a smart informed business decision. To VoIP or not to VoIP....that is the question. The answer may be yes....no....or even maybe.