SIP - Now A Reality

In October last year, it was predicted that 60% of all telephone lines would be replaced by SIP in 2011.  

Modelled on the internet, its openness allows enterprises and carriers to interoperate over IP connections. It is increasingly being regarded as a well designed and mature foundation for VoIP.

SIP trunking technologies are certainly becoming more popular to SME’s as a way to lower costs. Typically, a single ISDN30 line installation could cost in the region of £6,000 and savings could be as great as 40% when replacing a normal BT landline service.

However, there are other benefits too, such as increased flexibility, especially as scaling the number of users is easy to do. There have been problems in the past with the robustness of connectivity for voice packet applications but the technology has vastly improved and it is now considered a viable alternative to ISDN. 

When asked whether SIP trunks are ready to replace ISDN? BT’s Head of Sales Engineering, John Bedwell said; “Yes, though I believe it is a good idea to understand what journey the user is on”

We agree, which is why we encourage users to adopt an auto failover as a resilience mechanism for any potential failures. 

O-bit rings in VoIP security

O-bit Telecom has bolstered its VoIP portfolio with the launch of Purple Network Hosted Secure.  

Connecting directly into O-bit’s NGN, Hosted Secure allows VoIP traffic to run over a secure IP VPN rather than the Internet.

A key USP of Hosted Secure is its full integration with SpliceCom handsets, offering users the full feature rich services available on the platform.  O-bit is the only company able to offer full integration over a WAN for SpliceCom handsets.

To speak to one of our consultants today and find our more call 0800 092 1471

Snow Ready

Last December saw temperatures in the UK drop to almost record breaking lows, this year we seem to have started a month earlier, with 2010 recording the coldest November night in Britain since 1985. 

Travel conditions have become perilous, with road closures, rail cancellations and air disruption rife.  In Scotland, Wales and parts of Northern England, drivers are being asked to stay at home unless it is absolutely necessary to travel.  Widespread School closures are causing even more havoc up and down the country due to burst water pipes and broken boilers. 

Inevitably, this has a direct affect on day to day business, as employers can not get to work, or have to stay at home unexpectedly to look after the kids.  Today, businesses can take steps to improve their communication and information technology infrastructures to buffer the effect of an outbreak on their daily operations.  This is not necessarily as complicated or expensive as it sounds. 

One of these steps is switching to a business VoIP service, which allows employees full and secure access to the business communications network of their company from their homes. The flexibility and features of this service makes it suitable for all types of organisations, but in particular those that are multi-sited. It allows for employees to be just as efficient when they are outside of the office, as they are in the office. 

To overcome the effects of a national crisis, businesses need to make sure that they have a flexible working policy in place to avoid unexpected downtime, and ensure employees that can’t make it into work can continue working productively from home, or indeed wherever they are.

Snow Ready?

December 2009 saw temperatures in the UK drop to almost record breaking lows. Travel conditions became perilous, with road closures, rail cancellations and air disruption rife. Widespread School closures caused even more havoc, which according to the Federation of Small Businesses, had a significant knock on affect for many companies through lost working days.


Before the snow became such a problem, we had the threat of the swine flu pandemic bringing the country to a stand still. The reality was far less dramatic, but businesses did see unusually high rates of employee absenteeism.


Neither one of these threats have been completely conquered, and even if they had, the truth of the matter is that there is always another potential threat around the corner. Today, businesses can take steps to improve their communication and information technology infrastructures to buffer the effect of an outbreak on their daily operations. This is not necessarily as complicated or expensive as it sounds.


One of these steps is switching to a business VoIP service, which allows employees full and secure access to the business communications network of their company from their homes. The flexibility and features of this service makes it suitable for all types of organisations, but in particular those that are mutil-sited. It allows for employees to be just as efficient when they are outside of the office, as they are in the office. This means that if they are contagious, they can work from home without the risk of spreading illnesses among their peers. Furthermore, if they are stranded due to bad weather, they can continue to work without disruption.


To overcome the effects of a national crisis, businesses need to make sure that they have a flexible working policy in place to avoid unexpeted downtime, and ensure employees that can’t make it into work can continue working productively from home, or indeed wherever they are.


Helpful Links:

VOIP Solutions and SIP Trunks
Your Business and Swine Flu
Homeworker
Mobile Working
Audio Conferencing
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