FAQ
What is a VoIP enabled PABX?
What is a Voip provider?
What is a SIP trunk?
What is a PSTN / ISDN gateway?
Which is the ideal PABX?
Which are the ideal phones?
Which is the ideal voip provider?
Which is the ideal gateway?
Is it difficult to change over from an old PSTN PABX to a VoIP enabled one?
Do I need extra wiring?
What is a VOIP enabled PABX?
A VoIP enabled PABX is a normal PaBX like you might have already in your office, though it supports transmission of VoIP, i.e. transmission of voice and other type of communication over IP networks, like the internet.
What is a Voip provider?
A VoIP provider is a provider that provides VoIP service over the internet, in simple terms a large scale PABX. When used for personal use, usually you have to install a software on your computer called softphone (software telephone), which acts like a normal phone. Using an ID, username and password provided from the voip provider on registration, the soft phone will connect to the voip provider from where you can make calls. In large company infrastructures, typically the PABX itself is awlays connected to the voip provider.
What is a SIP trunk?
A SIP trunk is a different type of registration voip providers use. In a typical scenario, to connect to a voip provider you need an ID or number, a username and a password. In a sip trunk configuration, the connection is usually binded to an IP and there is no need for any kind of password to register with the voip provider.
What is a PSTN / ISDN gateway?
A PSTN or ISDN gateway is like a converter which converts the typical telephone lines (PSTN, ISDN etc) to VoIP enabled lines. In typical scenarios, the gateway is installed between the lines and a VoIP enabled PABX, so these lines can still be used for incoming and outgoing calls through a VoIP enabled PABX.
Which is the ideal PABX?
The ideal PABX is the PABX that have all the functionalities you desire and suites your budget. There are many voip enabled PABX’s available on the market. While some experts suggest to go for open source PABX, some others suggest to go for an appliance, and some other suggest to go for a commercial software solution. Having an appliance as a PABX is not suggested. Upgrading the hardware of such PABX is very costly. Open source PABX, although they sound cheap (open source is free), installing them and supporting them can be very costly and a headache. Commercial software companies which develop pabx, for a much cheaper price can deliver you an easy to install and configure pabx, and unlike open source they are also backed up by professional support for a fraction of the price. Installing most of the commercial VoIP enabled PABX’s requires a minimum or even no technical knowledge of VoIP. Also, commercial software PABX’s run on a normal PC, which you can upgrade at a later stage for very cheap.
Which are the ideal phones?
Before you purchase VoIP phones, always check that the PABX you purchased supports them and their functionality. Since VoIP is still relatively new, there are many phones which utilize propriotary technology for some of the functions on the phone which you might desire, and if the PABX does not support them, you will have problems. Another important feature of hardware voip phones is the power saving features. Unlike many other typical pstn phones, voip phones require electricity to function and modern ones also include big screens. Most of them have the option to switch off the screen after X amount of minutes on idle, which can save big companies a good amount of money from their electricity bills.
Which is the ideal voip provider?
There are many voip providers available, all of which have different price plans. Before applying for a voip provider service, if you are going to connect it to a PABX, always check that the PABX you purchased support them. Like voip hard phones, there might be features and specific functionality in a voip provider that the PABX of choice does not support. Other than that, always make sure they have good support service, as most probably you will need it. You must also make sure that they have a good uptime, since you wouldn’t want to end up without being able to make a call.
Which is the ideal gateway?
Like voip phones and voip providers, before you purchase a gateway make sure that the PABX of choice supports it. You must also make sure that the gateway in question supports your country’s toneset and the number and type of lines you are currently using.
Is it difficult to change over from an old PSTN PABX to a VoIP enabled one?
Migrating from an old PSTN type PABX to a VoIP PABX should not be of a problem. If you will be using a software based VOIP enabled PABX, you can simply setup the new PABX and use already installed network cabling for the phones. Once all is setup, you can simply switch off the old PABX. Support departments of software companies who develop software based IP PABX’s, usually help you and support you with the changeover, so you can be able to finalize the change over as smooth as possible without any downtime, if possible.
Do I need extra wiring?
No. Since all VoIP products work on an IP based network, and in your office you already have an IP based network, you can use the same network cables. Also, most voip phones have two network ports, one to be connected to the network and the other one to be connected to another network device which requires network access. Therefore if you do not have any extra network points, simply connect the VoIP phone to the network point, and the station or computer which was previously directly connected to the network point, can now be connected to the voip phone.