Voice over Ip - the Wave of the Future

Running head: VOICE OVER IP THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE

Voice over IP the Wave of the Future

Gretchen A Schoser, Gina Moore, Steven Horning

University of Phoenix

Network and Telecommunications Concepts

NTC - 360

Terry Harte

Sep 15, 2004

Abstract

This paper demonstrates the new technology of voice over ip. This emerging technology will prove to be a cost reducing effort for companies to look into over the next several years. Over the last three to four years the technology has also been introduced to the consumers which has added to savings on their monthly phones bills and they way that they conduct business from day to day.

Voice over IP the Wave of the Future

Description

Voice over IP is a method of taking an analog signal and turning into a digital signal that is transmitted over the internet. A good thing about this type of service is that you can drastically reduce your monthly phone bill by using this type of service; most of the cost comes from the fact that you are bypassing your local phone company and all the changes that are associated. (Tyson & Valdes, 2004)

VoIP is so revolutionary that this technology alone has the potential of totally reworking the world's phone service.

There are three different kinds of VoIP.

ATA - This is the most common way to make a VoIP call. You use a device called an analog telephone adapter. This adapter allows you to connect a standard phone to your computer or internet connection and place a VoIP call. This device is a analog to digital converter.

IP Phones - Specialized phones look like normal phones, however instead of using a standard RJ-11 connector, it uses the RJ-45 Ethernet connector. These types of phones connect directly to your router and have all the hardware and software included.

Computer - to - Computer - This is the easiest way to use VoIP. With the use of free software, a sound card, a microphone and speakers you can turn your computer into telephone. The only charge that you have to pay for this service is the cost that you pay each month to your Internet Service Provider. (Tyson & Valdes, 2004)

There are many features of VoIP that make this an attractive alternative to traditional phones service two of the most important are flexibility and price. VoIP is flexible in the fact that this is a portable technology meaning that if you have a laptop or PDA that has wireless connectivity you can go to any of the local "Hot Spots", turn on your device and use products like a soft phone, with this device you have the ability to have access to your home phone. Another popular feature with VoIP is price. Most companies that offer VoIP services such as Vonage and AT&T offer minute rate plans, like cell phone companies, and they also offer unlimited plans. Because you do not have to pay for the unregulated charges that accompany your regular phone bill you have the potential to save a great deal of money each month. This is a big consideration for large and small companies. (Tyson & Valdes, 2004, VoIP Features) Most of the VoIP companies provide phone features that traditional phone companies charge extra for free. These are services like Caller ID, Call Waiting, Call Transfer, and voice mail. This is an attraction for the traveling business person, giving them all the conveniences of the office while they are on the road. (Tyson & Valdes, Price)

Technical specs for the ECLIPS VOIP platform

The ECIPS VOIP system is piggy backed on the current Avaya PBX that is already being used by a specific company. Avaya designed this addition so that very little hardware changes, and no software changes, would be needed to convert your current system to a VOIP system. For the ECLIPS VOIP platform to operate properly the following hardware is needed. Two S8700 servers are needed, one to run the PBX and the other one used for redundant operation. One G700 media gateway, which is used to link the PBX and the Cisco routers. This piece of equipment is extremely important because this is how the VIOP phones get their IP addresses. You will also need one IP server interface board (IPSI) per port network that is being used in the switch. Most Avaya G3R switches utilize 2 port networks; so 2 IPSI boards will be needed. The purpose of the ISPI boards is to convert the digital signal being used by the PBX into an IP signal that is being sent by the router. Once the IPSI board are in place and configured, and all cables are connected to the router you have just switched your PBX from a digital platform into an IP platform. It is Possible, however, to have one port network running IP and the other port network running digital. Simply connect one ISPI board to the router and leave the other one disconnected. The purpose for this would be if half of your building is running IP but the other half is running digital. Another issue to keep in mind is that conventional fax machines will not run on an IP platform, so in most cases one portion of your switch still needed to be configured or analog service. It is possible to run the ECLIPS VOIP system with your current software release. Avaya recommends that you use Release 11 for optimal performance. Another change that needs to take place is the installation of new voice over IP phones. Avaya has 2 types of phones that work well with ECLIPS. Models 4612, and 4624 are the preferred phones to use when running ECLIPS VOIP.

Future Trends

The trend for this technology is that most companies by the year 2006 will be using this type of calling. (Tyson & Valdes, 2004, Trends) The main reason for this is cost. If you have a company that is spanned around the world it is much cheaper to route your calls through the internet than through the local phone company. Businesses with need a communication system that will increase productivity, reduce costs, and provide them with a competitive edge. (Ferriter, 2004)

Many suppliers have developed products that support open standards such as the Session Intitiaon Protocol (SIP). SIP not only allows for VoIP communication but also supports video, fax and instant messaging. SIP is extensible and is able to support new forms