The end-user telephone equipment business has gone under tremendous change since the break-up of the AT&T monopoly in 1984. Most businesses own a telephone system of some type and many have implemented advanced features such as automated attendant/voice mail, unified messaging, automatic call distribution (ACD), etc.

Now there is a new technology, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), achieving acceptance beyond “early adapters” as it begins to stabilize. (VoIP) is the ability to send voice traffic via data communication technologies. Instead of a “dedicated circuit” connecting a caller and the called party (circuit switched), VoIP “packetizes” voice traffic and ships it as data via the internet or other data communications network using “packet switching”, to the desired destination where it is converted from data packets to voice.

VoIP has 4 basic applications:

1. Network services
2. Local Area Network (LAN) integration of voice and data on the same network
3. Remote Teleworker or “Road Warrior”
4. Networking 2 or more systems across via the Internet

Network Services is generally using a telephone network provider (AT&T, Vonage, etc.) to provide long distance calling at reduced prices via packet switched circuits rather than dedicated circuits

LAN integration is the transmitting of voice and data over the LAN as packets of data, using the same cable/wire, HUBS, switches, etc. of the LAN

Remote Teleworker is the ability of an individual to work off-site, often from home, as if he was on-site at his desk, fully integrated into the corporate telecommunications system

Networking 2 or more systems over the internet can eliminate the requirement for expensive, dedicated private lines (T-1, TIE lines, etc.) and use the data transmission capabilities of the internet to transmit voice calls.

The technology is improving every day but voice quality may continue to be a challenge in situations where the network carrying the voice calls is not properly sized or equipped. The most important issue is Quality of Service (QOS).

The above is intended only as a brief summary of these applications. CompuTel offers systems for LAN integration, remote teleworker and networking of systems.