| If you are changing your small business telephone | | | | have enough bandwidth for 10 to be used at any one |
| system from a traditional dedicated fixed landline to | | | | time. With a business of this size, your small business |
| the newer VoIP technology, there are some things you | | | | telephone system will usually require a T1 connection |
| need to have in place to change successfully. | | | | to the Internet. |
| 1. Internet Connection | | | | One of the best things you can do is to work with a |
| To route your calls over the Internet instead of over | | | | provider who can support both your VoIP and Internet |
| the existing telephone fixed landlines, you need to have | | | | connection needs. This will insure that you have the |
| a powerful Internet connection and equipment to | | | | bandwidth necessary to get both your calls and data |
| connect and communicate with. | | | | needs taken care of. |
| If your small business is using a DSL or cable modem | | | | 3. Hub vs. Switch |
| for your Internet connectivity, you need to research | | | | In addition to bandwidth to the Internet, internally you |
| the bandwidth needed for of VoIP communications | | | | should be using switches on your network rather than |
| (Voice over Internet Protocol). | | | | hubs. While hubs are fine for electronic data |
| If you are one of 1-2 employees, then DSL or cable | | | | transmission, the transmission of voice over your |
| should work fine to meet your needs. DSL and cable | | | | network necessitates the need for switches to be |
| modems are not ideal for VoIP, but they do work | | | | used. |
| acceptably well for a very small office of just one or | | | | 4. Media Gateways |
| two people. | | | | If you already have a small business telephone system |
| If your office grows to more than 2 users, your small | | | | in place, such as a small PBX system, you can |
| business telephone system needs to grow also. It is | | | | purchase a device called a "media gateway" to |
| time to consider a more robust Internet connection. | | | | connect your existing phone system to the Internet |
| The standard DSL and cable modems offer you a | | | | without having to replace all of your phones and |
| quicker download than upload speed. This generally | | | | equipment. |
| works fine for general computer usage, but it won't | | | | This will save you money from the equipment that |
| work so well for voice communication. | | | | would have to be replaced to upgrade to VoIP |
| So, you will need to make sure that your Internet | | | | services. |
| connection can support both the upload and download | | | | Moving your small business telephone system over to |
| speeds that you need to have clear and consistent | | | | VoIP requires some pre-planning and consultation with |
| voice communication. | | | | an Internet provider. An experienced provider can |
| 2. How Much Bandwidth? | | | | offer the equipment and the know-how to make your |
| The industry standard is enough bandwidth for about 1 | | | | move to VoIP quickly and without any inconvenience |
| 3 rd of your employees to be on the telephone at the | | | | for your employees. |
| same time ... so if you have 30 lines, you should then | | | | |