MintTec offers VoIP phone systems for small and medium businesses (SME). We supply, install and maintain, and provide consultancy in optimising VoIP telephone systems. MintTec is an independent VoIP systems integrator, and works with the leading suppliers to deliver the best Business VoIP solutions.

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On Choosing a VOIP System Design
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Like all other technologies, phone systems have also been through different stages from
time to time. Every time there was some advancement in the older technology, the
competition became a reason to bring more advancement in this technology and today,
there is a huge choice of voice systems on the market. Every manufacturer will try to show
their product achieves all of the main criteria and ‘ticks all the boxes’, however these
systems vary considerably, so ensuring that a chosen product fits in with your organisation’s
specific requirements is invaluable.
When considering a new VoIP or IP Telephony system, it is important to consider how
solutions are specified; this is typically done in one of two ways. One is via a ‘features and
benefits’ analysis, i.e. how well do the features available on the proposed system align with
the business needs. Manufacturers often develop ‘killer’ apps, i.e. applications that you feel
you must have when you see them, to hook organisations looking from this direction. There
is a danger in this method in that the actual technology and its connection method through
the network is ignored, which can have disastrous consequences for future deployment.
The alternative is to look at the technology and how well it fits the business in terms of its
LAN/WAN (local area/wide area network) and the overall business requirements.
For some organisations there may be compelling factors that push them the ‘technology and
how well it fits’ route even though there may be no ‘must have’ applications identified in the
pre-specification stage. Examples of this may be advanced WAN topography with multiple
linked sites, and those organisations who may have a chance of significant change at some
stage during the lifecycle of the system.
With regards to feature requirements, most products will offer at minimum the following:
Automated attendant
CLI (Calling Line Identity)
DDI (Direct dial inwards)
Hunt groups
Voicemail
Viewpoint of other extensions department wide
Other features which are often options that organisations may wish to consider are:
Call Recording - for training purposes would be highly useful, however if archived, evidence
could also be considered for resolving disputes etc.
Centralised Reception - could either take all inbound calls or overflow of non answered calls
through the organisation.
Centralised Applications - many applications are duplicated. Centralisation would reduce
administration and potentially overall implementation/roll out costs.

2. Centralised Directory - a single directory (split into departments).
Computer Telephone Integration (CTI) - Automated link to databases.
Disaster Recovery - either to remote sites or co-locations.
Management Information - this can greatly enhance the overall ability to manage costs,
resolve disputes etc.
Mobile Extensions - mobile as extensions can bring external employees closer into the
organisation and enable them for example to hold and transfer calls to other extensions on
the network.
Remote Sites As Extensions Off The Main Site - This can enhance communications, and
bring these persons closer into the network. In addition it will give ‘free’ calls to these sites
and voice will travel over the existing data links.
Video Conferencing - Quality is important however, as poor quality options tend to be
utilised initially and then dropped as they do not give sufficient interaction to all parties.
The most reliable route to the proper selection of a VoIP Phone System or IP Telephony
system is to specify the most appropriate system using both methodologies, but absolutely
in the correct order. First, pre-specify the system by short-listing and prioritising the
products that satisfy the ‘technology and how well it fits’ criteria. Then rank the systems
based on their ‘must have’ applications. It is far easier to add applications than it is to go
back and look to customise (if actually possible) the underlying network technology.
Summary:
Choosing a VoIP phone system for your business is a very important decision since
communication is the face of your business. Different people choose different VoIP system
designs for different reasons. A right and flexible decision in this regard is one that defines
all your key business requirements.
Author Box –
MintTec offers VoIP phone systems for small and medium businesses (SME). We supply,
install and maintain, and provide consultancy in optimizing VoIP telephone systems. MintTec
is an independent VoIP systems integrator, and works with the leading suppliers to deliver
the best Business VoIP solutions.
For Further Contact:
Website: http://www.minttec.com/voip/
Tel #: 01962 892920
Fax #: 01962 892929
Email: info@minttec.com