Wednesday, April 15, 2009

The Quality Of Your VOIP Solution Lies With The Weakest Link

The most reliable of all VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) solutions will always perform in accordance with the quality of the data connection involved. In determining just how well your proposed VOIP solution will work for you, look no further than your weakest data connection.

Whether you are looking for malaysia music hosted VOIP PBX solution, implementing remote IP telephones or Softphones connected to the office via VPN, connecting multiple offices via T-1 or fiber, or just using VOIP telephone service, the common denominator that dictates your quality of voice service www tmnet com my your data connection. Since Voice Over IP is streamyx combo registration data protocol, it only makes sense that the quality of your service will be dictated by the strength of your data connection. Your voice conversations require uninterrupted bandwidth of up to 90k each in order to perform with the same quality that has little malaysia to be expected from traditional analog or digital phone service. Not having the available bandwidth or uninterrupted bandwidth needed will cause poor results.

The most common methods of commercial VOIP applications seen are connecting offices together via data connections and connecting remote users to the on premise telephone system. Both applications have tremendous financial and efficiency benefits, but only if they can be implemented with quality of service. The ability to share resources such as a common receptionist, the ability to bypass toll charges by using IP, the ability to connect remote workers, track results, and to attract top talent with flexibility and state of the art technology all have tremendous monetary benefits to the implementing company. However, wireless broadband isp care must be used in selecting the data connections used in order to implement the solution successfully.

We take a look at the various types of data connections available for these applications, and look at the weakest link in the solution

ADSL

SDSL

Cable

Wireless

Fractional T-1, T-1, Bonded T-1, DS3, OC

Point to Point T-1

Frame Relay

Fiber Optic

We will take a look at the asymmetrical connections first, as they tend to be the most unreliable. Asymmetrical data connections include standard residential quality DSL, some business DSL, Cable internet, Satellite internet, and Microwave internet. In most of these cases, the download speed will often greatly exceed the upload speed. For instance, it is not unusual to see a DSL package listed at up to 1.5 M download, and up to 384k upload. "Up to" being the key. You never get full speed, and it can often be quite a bit less. A speed test will be in order during several parts of the day to test for speed and network variations. DSL typically offers no guarantees of service levels or uptime, and as a shared network, speeds will fluctuate throughout the day. Web traffic must be carefully monitored if you are using your data connection for voice applications, as it is common for voice conversations to be interrupted with data traffic if QoS routers are not in place.

ADSL circuits also tend to suffer from more jitter and latency than other types of high quality data circuits, so if kl maps solution is used to connect remote users of offices, it is imperative to have a VPN router on both sides of the connection to ensure the best possible quality. Some downtime is to be expected on an annual basis, but it can be a tremendously cost effective connection option. Wireless options such as satellite or microwave are never suggested, as there is typically too much latency involved to maintain call integrity. ADSL is not typically recommended for a location with more than 1-2 users. ADSL is never recommended for a hosted solution.

SDSL, or symmetrical DSL, is a preferable option over ADSL. This type of connection offers users the same upload and download speeds, and it is typically a business class circuit that comes with some quality guarantees. Often speeds are seen such as 1.5M down/1.5M up. 768k down/768k up. Preferable over ADSL options, but also much more costly. For some companies, this would be a minimum acceptable solution for a location with multiple users.

Fractional T-1, T-1, Bonded T-1, DS3, OC: All of the T-1 varieties of service and greater are tremendous options for VOIP solutions. All Fraction T-1 circuits and above have been thoroughly tested over time, and they provide end users with a tremendously reliable solution. With symmetrical data solutions typically starting at 384k and up, T-1's have a guaranteed uptime unmatched by other available data circuits besides fiber. Voice Prioritization is still required at either the network level via MPLS or at the end user level when connecting offices. Voice conversations must always have priority over bursts of data traffic in order to maintain optimum call quality.

Point to Point T-1's: As one of the most preferred methods of connecting offices, Point to Point T-1's offer superior reliability and keep your voice traffic from competing with unpredictable internet or carrier network traffic. Point to Point T-1's require routers with QoS, CSU/DSU, and can be quite an investment up front, but they provide tremendous quality and uptime. By bypassing the carrier data network altogether, you are assured of a dedicated connection between your sites to be used only as you prefer. Depending on the size of the connection, offices with dozens or hundreds of people can be set up to operate off of Point to Point T-1 circuits without requiring local dial tone.

Frame Relay: If your network utilizes Frame Relay, it is not recommended to run voice services over it. Frame was never designed to support voice traffic, and there are much better and more cost effective options to choose from.

Fiber Optic. Fiber being available for direct connection or for point to point applications is becoming more and more common. Some residential varieties such as FIOS from Verizon are of an asymmetrical nature, but typically still provide plenty of reliable bandwidth to support remote users. tm net wireless fiber options can bypass all traditional points of failure on standard networks and can provide the best possible VOIP connection solution. Fiber bypasses the local ILEC in most cases, and it gives you a clean clear connection straight to the carrier central office. With high traffic volume capabilities and superior clarity and reliability, fiber has come to the forefront as the preferred medium for VOIP solutions. Fiber is not always cost effective, but the quality results are undeniable.

When selecting the medium or circuits that will support your VOIP solution, understand that the main limitation to quality you will experience will be the weakest link in your data network. If your main location has a T-1, but your remote users with IP phones have an ADSL circuit, your weakest link lies in the ADSL circuit. If you are going to experience quality issues, it will most likely occur there. If your main location has a bonded T-1 or DS3, but your remote warehouse has Cable internet, your weakest link will be your Cable connection. As always, work with your local telecommunications professional to determine the best and most cost effective data circuits to use when implementing a business grade VOIP solution.

Steve Norris is a Texas based telecommunications professional that provides Dallas Business Telephones and telecom services from over 80 carriers nationwide. He specializes in hardware solution for multi-location business with advanced infrastructure needs. Over 90% of his clients are able to implement a new Fort Worth Business Phone System without increasing their budget with TeleTAP.

JAN 14 ?Everything that can be said about the upcoming KT by-election has already been said in cyber-space so Im not going to add my two sen to the ongoing debate about who is better and which party should win.

All I want to say is that, for the non-Malay community, especially the Chinese community, there really is no choice.

If you believe in the opposition ceramahs, when you vote for BN, you vote for the continuation of racist policies, Umnos continued arrogance and further marginalisation of the Chinese community. You also vote for corruption, abuse of power and people who regard Malaysian citizens who are not Malay-Muslims as pendatang.?/p>

Broadband - Jumping the Gun?

According to the industry leading telecommunications operator, BT and the UKs independent regulator, Ofcom pressures to roll out what would prove a highly expensive fibre optic network throughout the charter broadband could be premature.

The network in question would use "fibre to the home", providing broadband speeds port klang malaysia up to 100Mbps. The main downside of which, would be the implementation cost, which is estimated at anything up to 15bn.

Peter Philips, Ofcom's head of strategy expressed concern to whether evidence for tmnet streamyx hotspot a fast network, is required within the UK.

Uncertainty over whether or not consumers will be willing to pay the extra costs for faster broadband celcom broadband and streamyx also been expressed.

Such "fibre to the home" networks are commonplace within Japan and South Korea, who are the world malaysia weather in broadband speeds. Similar roll travel are starting in the US, France and Germany.

The Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG) started the debate on whether or not the broadband phone deal needed internet connection speed a fast network back in spring of this year.

"There is lots of competition and innovation in the broadband market and [it is not clear that] current bandwidth is a problem. We don't need to make any rash moves but the time is ripe for some collective thinking," According to BSG's chief executive Antony Walker.

The roll out of ADSL+2, (ADSL successor) will begin next year, an is set to be implemented fully across the UK by 2011. ADSL+2 will make available streamyx hotline speeds of up to 24Mbps.

The only commitment BT has made with regards to "fibre to the home" is that it will implement such technologies in new housing estates.

Although 24Mbps is a far cry from the 100Mbps consumers within certain areas of the world enjoy, the impression from both Ofcom and BT is that it will be some time before such broadband networks are required, and subsequently the tm net my mail throughout the UK.

Liam is a UK based author currently focusing on broadband. Compare broadband deals online today.