Tuesday, May 15, 2012

SIP Trunking as a Strategic Advantage

Many businesses considering deploying a SIP trunking solution have concerns regarding voice clarity and quality. Luckily, this does not have to be a concern if Quality of Service (QoS) is adequately adhered to. Some examples of proper QoS measures include: correct link provisioning, and prioritizing voice over data traffic. Speaking solely in terms of reliability, however, SIP trunks rank far superior than their conventional PSTN counterparts due partly to the fact that a multitude of fail over solutions can quickly be implemented.

In recent years, the small to midsized business market flocked to VoIP in record-breaking numbers; however, a large number of those businesses are utilizing VoIP for the sole purpose of communications on the corporate local area network. Meaning that VoIP is only being utilized as a medium of facilitating internal calling, but, all calls made outside of the local network are done over the PSTN gateway. While these businesses have executed the potential for solid returns, they have not yet realized the full potential of SIP based communications.

In a SIP trunking scenario, the potential for substantial returns on investment (ROI) is apparent given the ability for SIP trunking to further enhance the already advantageous benefits of VoIP by extending its reach beyond the LAN. It is only when communications are extended outside of the corporate LAN that businesses can begin to fully understand the potentials for IP communications.



SIP trunking delivers many advantages:

a.) The removal of expensive subscriptions like Basic Rate Interfaces and Primary Rate Interfaces.

b.) The freedom to forgo the costly investment in PSTN gateways

c.) The flexibility to grow as needed, at relatively low cost

d.) The resource-saving ability to optimize bandwidth by delivering both voice and data across the same connection



SIP trunking providers are able to offer benefits to the business consumer that the telephone company simply cannot. Although some telephony providers deliver no-charge PRI subscriptions for businesses meeting a minimum monthly calling level, deals like this often end up being a major hindrance. Experienced SIP providers have perfected their delivery method and therefore can offer more competitive pricing and service structure than the local phone company.

The cost effectiveness of a true SIP solution is realized by replacing an existing PSTN gateway / PRI installation with a SIP trunk or edge device. When deployed correctly, return on investment (ROI) should be realized in a matter of months. In most scenarios, the costs associated with deploying a SIP capable edge device is less than that of installing a new PSTN gateway – making it a wiser and more cost effective investment.

For more information on SIP Trunking please feel free to visit our website.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Nortel BCM Phone Systems of the Highest Quality

The telecommunications system is one of the most crucial factors of a successful business. A business can immensely benefit from Nortel BCM phone systems because they deliver high quality communication solutions at amazing prices. A lot of companies can take advantage of the communications solutions provided by Nortel because they cater to the needs of every office model ones and even branch offices. Communication within a business can be effectively enhanced by the wide variety of facilities and features these phones come with.

Not only are these phone systems listed under the very best with the highest rating, they even offer a combo that includes both data and voice solutions. Wireless Telephony and firewall are some data routing and IP features that these phones provide along with unified messaging, interactive voice response, high quality and telephony for which the Nortel BCM holds a solid reputation.

There is a wide variety of models from Nortel phone systems and the features have to be analyzed for selecting the best as per one’s requirement. There are some extremely interactive and advanced BCM phones that you would find included in the collection.

Some of the most popular models in the market are listed as follows:

BCM 450: Office environments that have 30 to 250 employees will find that this is the perfect business solution for them. Unified messaging, internet access, computer telephony integration (CTI), IP networking, Intelligent contact center functionality and Meet-me conferencing are some of the attractive features of these Nortel BCM phones.

BCM 400: Features found in normal phones are part of this system. Also bundled in along with this are multimedia call center, unified messaging, telephony and IP and data routing. This model has been considered best for branch offices having a number of 90 IP users and small and medium businesses.

BCM 200: Telephony, IP routing, interactive voice response and multimedia system amongst others are some all-in-one features that this phone boasts of and hence, this system is designed for less than 90 users.

BCM 50: This particular Nortel BCM system includes contact centers, telephony, unified messaging and internet access in its primary feature list which can greatly enhance the performance of small to mid size businesses. Anywhere from 3 to 50 users can use this particular system so it’s the ideal communication solution if you are new to the market.

Having the right kind of communication is crucial to the success of a business. Especially in the scenario of a new business, a lot of effort has to be made for establishment of the right communication infrastructure. The Nortel BCM has become the preference of countless businesses when it comes to fulfilling their requirements in terms of infrastructure because these telephone systems are such that they can be operated conveniently and without any hassles. Furthermore, these telephone systems can provide you access to all kinds of analyzing data that you might need. A number of companies have chosen these systems nowadays.

For more information on the Nortel BCM, please visit our site.

Siemens. The Phone of the Modern Era

Looking back at Charles Darwins explorations, it is safe to say that most of his principles apply to the modern world as well. To survive, you must adapt and evolve with ever changing trends and patterns. The same holds true for the world of communication on so many different levels. Take a Siemens Phone for example. Compare any modern-day Siemens Phone to its decade-old predecessors and you will know just what we are talking about. Siemens has adapted to all the modern day expectations people have from their phones. Be it mobile phones, cordless phones or conference/video phone solutions, Siemens are dedicated to producing the phone of the modern era.

Let’s get to their range of cordless phones first. These cordless handsets are equipped with some of the most exciting features and facilities. If state-of-the-art technology is what you demand from your cordless phone, a Siemens Phone is sure to meet all your requirements. The high quality material used in these phones with galvanized keypads and other swank features make these instruments truly irresistible. These phones are also equipped with TFT color display units and futuristic interfaces. In fact, some of these phones have features such as mini-USB slots, headset jacks, easy-to-use volume controls and lots more that truly make it much more than a cordless phone.

This, however, is not the end of the features you can expect with a Siemens Phone. You can also opt for cordless phones that can use VoIP services without having to turn on your PC. These phones allow the user to switch between fixed-lines and the internet for calling. So you can easily switch to VoIP for making international calls at nominal rates. HDSP technology used in these phones allows you to use top quality VoIP services without having to switch your PC. Again, since these phones are multi-line, you can register with 6 SIP or other accounts in a single hand set. This allows the user to make three simultaneous calls which includes a single fixed-line call and two VoIP calls.

The best thing about a Siemens Phone is that it offers all traditional features while also adding some modern-day features previously unimaginable in an ordinary phone. These phones allow the user to gain access to certain features that can only be deemed to be next generation. This will include some cool features such as weather updates, RSS feeds, online phonebooks and lots more.

Other normal features such as built-in answering machines, hands-free features etc. all make your Siemens Phone experience that much more exciting. Siemens has been in the business of making phones since donkey’s years. Their longevity is a testimonial to quality in itself. On the other hand, you do not need to trust them blindly. Pick up any Siemens Phone and you will see just what the hype is all about. However, when you purchase a product, make sure you go through all available brochures and reviews. The Siemens range of products is wide and exhaustive. It is always better to read up before you pick up a phone.

For more information on our phone products, please visit our website.

Hosted PBX Adoption Expected to Rapidly Increase

Modern-day advances in digital communications have strengthened the position that Hosted PBX providers, like BroadConnect Telecom, hold over traditional telecommunications providers. Such advances have enabled end users everywhere to reap the advantages of a full service digital platform, while enabling them a unified communications platform to keep costs low.

This report concludes that enhanced Voice over IP (VoIP) services have far surpassed the capabilities of historic telephony services. Thanks to future-proof communications, this can now be considered a viable means of incorporating a full-service unified communications solution designed specifically to meet the unique challenges of the SME market. Recent studies would suggest that SME demand for quantifiable unified communications hosted services coupled with the industry preference for high quality VoIP service would present a competitive risk to the already unstable conventional telephony model.
Avaya Hosted PBX

Findings indicate that while small businesses have not been entirely smitten by the idea of leaving their old phone carrier behind, the Hosted PBX market is expected to rapidly increase over the next 3 years. In fact, it is estimated that the hosted services market will reach record highs at $1.2 billion by 2015; up from one-half billion dollars in today’s market. This substantial increase will come as a direct result of an accelerate adoption rate as more and more small business owners realize the immense benefits of Hosted PBX services.

From a businessman’s perspective, Hosted PBX delivers results that the conventional telephony carrier simply cannot. For example, smaller businesses can now take comfort in knowing that they have access to a high level of business-enhancing features, performance and service without the hassles and costly expense of doing business with the telephone company.

Furthermore, Hosted PBX services, from a reputable service provider like BroadConnect, delivers substantially lower operating costs and provides an efficient alternative to enterprise-owned, proprietary, and infrastructure-based phone systems.

For more information, please visit our website.

Monday, May 7, 2012

Does your business need an IP PBX?


Regardless of the size of business that you have, you’ll definitely, at some point, need to upgrade your phone system. A quick survey of the market today reveals that there are numerous communication technologies. On top of that, the right system can greatly benefit your business. One of the top ones is the IP PBX System. This has become extremely popular recently because of its high reliability and incredibly fast interface. Furthermore, a large number of businesses are using it because it can help them cut down on huge telephone bills. This system just requires an internet connection because you will be making calls to your clients via the internet. Coupled with an appropriate internet plan, you now have the ability make international calls at a tenth of the normal cost! The IP PBX System has a multitude of advantages that are associated with it. In comparison to traditional landlines, it stands out because of its portability, convenience, low cost and the amazing and sophisticated features that it provides. As per the needs and requirements of the business, the system can be selected and the most obvious benefit that a business will reap will be in terms of cost. The traditional phone lines cost more whereas your telephone bills will be significantly reduced with this system. There is no need for cabling either because it’s already connected to your internet set up so there is no major installation needed either. Furthermore, for efficiency as well as ease of use, an IP PBX System remains unmatched because of its advanced features. It has an integration facility which you can connect with your PC and keep track of your customers. This is because you can see who is calling you by installing functionality features in the system so dealings with customers are more efficient and satisfying for the customer. In addition, usually traditional systems incur high bills because of long distance call charges. But this system allows an individual to stay connected with people from every corner of the globe regardless of their location at amazingly affordable charges. What’s more is that an internet connection is the only requirement; otherwise the phone is also portable so it can be taken anywhere without any break in communication as there is a unique address for each phone. So whether your phone lines are down or there is some other glitch due to environmental disturbances, you can stay in contact and communicate with your customer with an IP PBX System. A number of IP phone providers in the market can be found that provide reliable services at affordable costs. Whether its pictures, video or text and documents, it is possible to use varying types of data in this system. 3 way calling, call transfer facilities, voicemail, call forwarding and caller ID are some additional features that these telephone systems can offer to businesses. Also both traveling and home based employees will discover that these phone systems are highly beneficial for them. The homes can be linked to offices and hence giving employees the flexibility to work from home if required. Only a high speed internet connection is needed. Regular and reliable communication can also be maintained during traveling by the worker. Practically endless benefits can be reaped with the help of an IP PBX System because almost all kinds of businesses can put it to use. To get maximum gains from your business, it is best to use it for all your communication requirements. For more information on BroadConnect Telecom’s systems, please visit our website.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Polycom Opens New Unified Communications and Video Collaboration Solution Center in Auckland, New Zealand


AUCKLAND, New Zealand, May 02, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- --New center offers customers hands-on experience with latest UC and video solutions, from Polycom(R) RealPresence(R) Platform to immersive room systems, mobile, social, and cloud applications Polycom, Inc., PLCM -1.07% the global leader in open standards-based unified communications (UC), today announced that it has established a new solutions center and office in New Zealand, located in Auckland's Central Business District. According to the 2011 Frost & Sullivan NZ Unified Communications market report, New Zealand's unified communications sector was worth $113.3 million in 2010 and is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 9.3 percent between 2011 and 2017, of which the growth of the video conferencing and collaboration sector is forecast at a CAGR of 15.6 percent. Andre Clarke, New Zealand country manager at Frost & Sullivan commented, "Polycom has experienced strong growth in New Zealand driven by an equally strong demand for video collaboration solutions. New Zealand companies are realising that investing in video solutions starts paying for itself immediately with significant savings in travel costs and improvements in business productivity. Polycom's commitment to providing productivity-enhancing video collaboration solutions gives it strong brand recognition in this rapidly expanding segment." Responding to New Zealand's growing demand for unified communications and video collaboration solutions, the solutions center showcases the latest video, cloud, and mobility solutions. All designed to make video and voice collaboration simple to use, while meeting the diverse and often complex needs of New Zealand business, from large scale enterprise to SMBs and government departments. "Video collaboration is becoming increasingly important and recognized as a mission-critical business solution to remove the barriers of distance and time, creating greater trust and understanding through visual connection. At Polycom we are committed to solving the challenge of being there through the power of video collaboration. Our new solutions center has been designed to offer practical video collaboration solutions that will transform the way people connect and share information whether they are in the office or on the move," said Michael Chetner, vice president Asia Pacific, Polycom. The solutions center will showcase Polycom(R) RealPresence(R) Platform, a comprehensive software infrastructure offering that provides secure, easy-to-use video collaboration across any combination of environments whether on the go, at home, or in the office. It provides an open standards-based foundation for integrating the diverse UC applications and infrastructure in most enterprise environments--from video endpoints to mobile devices to UC communications infrastructure from Microsoft, IBM, Broadsoft, Juniper, and Siemens, to name a few. The Polycom solutions center, located in Auckland's Shortland Street, allows customers and partners to participate in interactive demonstrations to experience the latest innovations in high-definition video, voice, and unified communications solutions. These include Polycom(R) RealPresence(R) Mobile, which delivers the latest mobility solutions, allowing executives to connect face-to-face while on the move to Polycom(R) RealPresence(R) Immersive, high definition (HD) quality immersive telepresence for truly lifelike across the table conversations that improve productivity and decision making. The solutions center further expands Polycom's presence in New Zealand and the Asia Pacific region as a whole, and is the newest addition to Polycom's network of solutions centers around the world, which continues to expand with recent openings in Hong Kong, India, Korea, Moscow, and Sydney. About Polycom Polycom is the global leader in open standards-based unified communications (UC) solutions for telepresence, video, and voice powered by the Polycom(R) RealPresence(R) Platform. The RealPresence Platform interoperates with the broadest range of business, mobile, and social applications and devices. More than 400,000 organizations trust Polycom solutions to collaborate and meet face-to-face from any location for more productive and effective engagement with colleagues, partners, customers, specialists, and prospects. Polycom, together with its broad partner ecosystem, provides customers with the best total cost of ownership, interoperability, scalability, and security for video collaboration, whether on-premises, hosted, or cloud-delivered. Visit www.polycom.com or connect with Polycom on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding future events and future demand for our products, including statements regarding the future growth of the UC market in New Zealand. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including the impact of competition on our product sales and for our customers and partners, the impact of increased competition due to consolidation in our industry or competition from companies that are larger or that have greater resources than we do, potential fluctuations in results and future growth rates, risks associated with general economic conditions and external market factors, the market acceptance of Polycom's products and changing market demands, including demands for differing technologies or product and services offerings, and possible delays in the development, availability and shipment of this new joint solution. Many of these risks and uncertainties are discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2011, and in other reports filed by Polycom with the SEC. Polycom disclaims any intent or obligations to update these forward-looking statements. (C) 2012 Polycom, Inc. All rights reserved. POLYCOM(R), the Polycom "Triangles" logo and the names and marks associated with Polycom's products are trademarks and/or service marks of Polycom, Inc. and are registered and/or common law marks in the United States and various other countries. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. SOURCE: Polycom, Inc. Polycom, Inc. Michael Rose, +65 9838 1500 michael.rose@polycom.com