VoIP For Dummies E-Book

Timothy V. Kelly

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Fachliteratur
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 368

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2011

Beschreibung

Put your phone system on your computer network and see the savings See how to get started with VoIP, how it works, and why it saves you money VoIP is techspeak for "voice over Internet protocol," but it could spell "saving big bucks" for your business! Here's where to get the scoop in plain English. Find out how VoIP can save you money, how voice communication travels online, and how to choose the best way to integrate your phone system with your network at home or at the office. Discover how to: * Use VoIP for your business or home phone service * Choose the best network type * Set up VoIP on a wireless network * Understand transports and services * Demonstrate VoIP's advantages to management

Leseprobe

VoIP For Dummies®

by Timothy Kelly

Foreword by Don Peterson

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Avaya Inc.

VoIP For Dummies®

Published byWiley Publishing, Inc.111 River St.Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2005923780

ISBN-13: 978-0-7645-8843-3

ISBN-10: 0-7645-8843-5

Manufactured in the United States of America

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About the Author

Timothy Kelly is an Information Systems technology professional with more than twenty-five years of experience. His background includes the design of many telecommunications network enterprises, from small simple networks that support a single building location to large multilocation networks running integrated data, voice, and videoconferencing applications.

From 1992 until 2002, Tim was principal consultant for Network Technology Services, a Pittsburgh-based company. He has completed network design engagements for countless organizations, including Alcoa, Blue Cross, Mercy Health System, Mine Safety Health Administration, the U. S. Navy, South Hills Health System, Westinghouse Telecommunications, ARBROS Communications, The Community Builders, and Lucent Technologies. Kelly is a certified ORACLE DBA Master and Network+ Professional.

Tim is an honors graduate of Duquesne University. He went on to complete the MSIS and post-graduate certificate in Telecommunications at the University of Pittsburgh. His terminal degree is a Doctor of Science in Information Systems from Robert Morris University. His research focus was the effects that converging technology networks have on organizations and people, an area in which he is well published and has made numerous presentations before academic and corporate bodies.

Tim Kelly is author of Bits & Bytes Y2K & Beyond and is well known for his consults and media appearances during the years and final months preceding the year 2000. He was dubbed a “calming influence” on the Y2K scare by the Pittsburgh media.

From 1983 to 2004, he taught Information Systems Technology courses for local Pittsburgh schools, including Duquesne University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and Robert Morris University. In 2003, with the help of former associates, he started the National Center for Converging Technology Research, an organization dedicated to helping other organizations understand how best to apply converging technologies such as VoIP in their business environments. In Fall 2004, he began teaching full-time for the University of North Carolina at ECSU.

Tim Kelly will be co-authoring a VoIP solutions book that defines the latest convergence options for running data, voice, and video applications — the “triple play.” The book will provide current coverage on the latest wireless forms of networking. The effect on business of WiMax and other fixed-wireless alternatives will be treated. Tim believes the solution to the triple play model lies with resolving the dilemma of inadequate bandwidth and that VoIP over WiMax and WiFi show how close we are to cracking this nut. The next few years for VoIP should be really exciting.

Dedication

To my primary passion source, my heart and soul, my Tushka; and our four children: Laural, Christal, Gabe, and Matt. Each beat of my heart has four distinct iterations.

Author’s Acknowledgments

I would like to thank all of my friends at Robert Morris University. They gave me a great deal to think about, chief among which was the need to put VoIP convergence into a frame that the average reader could understand. In our discussions about my ideas, I would constantly hear “think Dummies.” With the dramatic changes in the VoIP convergence marketplace in 2004, I knew the time was right to not only think Dummies but to also write Dummies.

I would like to express a truly heartfelt thanks to Greg Croy at Wiley Publishing. Greg believed in my ideas and supported me through the entire process. It is not easy to become a For Dummies author, but the guidance from Greg enriched the process while making it possible and enjoyable. I also want to thank Leah Cameron, who conducted the first nuts-and-bolts review of my work. Her feedback was invaluable. I want to thank Nancy Stevenson for her help in finalizing the Table of Contents.

I want to thank Allen Wyatt and Dave Tegtmeier, my preproduction editorial team. Assembling a group of this magnitude was no small challenge as professionals of this caliber are always in demand. But they all found the time to take on VoIP For Dummies. Words cannot express my appreciation.

I want to thank Chuck Mance, a friend of mine who lent a hand with drafting Chapter 14. Chuck is an experienced, competent IT professional. I greatly appreciate his contributions.

I also want to thank the other people who engaged my ideas about VoIP in varying degrees: Steve Phillips, Rich Krauland, all my friends at Avaya, Cisco Systems, Verizon Communications, Matt Kelly, Greg Chmiel, and all of my students and clients.

To my wife Patty (Tushka), who proofed many initial drafts but, more importantly, also helped me get to church on time and provided emotional support throughout the process.

Last but far from least, I want to thank my mother, Mary (Andreiczyk) Kelly, who gave me faith, love, and perseverance. Mom turns 80 in a few short months.

Publisher’s Acknowledgments

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Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:

Acquisitions, Editorial, and Media Development

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Acquisitions Editor: Greg Croy

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Composition Services

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Special Help Allen Wyatt

Publishing and Editorial for Technology Dummies

Richard Swadley, Vice President and Executive Group Publisher

Andy Cummings, Vice President and Publisher

Mary Bednarek, Executive Acquisitions Director

Mary C. Corder, Editorial Director

Publishing for Consumer Dummies

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Joyce Pepple, Acquisitions Director

Composition Services

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Debbie Stailey, Director of Composition Services

Foreword

Communications is the heart of your business, and voice over IP has the capability to strengthen that heart and thereby strengthen your business. VoIP is not just another form of connectivity. Yes, it combines the intimacy of voice with the power of data, but it is more than voice over the Internet or voice over your data network. It enables the merging of voice and data applications in ways that liberate business processes. VoIP extends voice communications to anyone, anywhere, over any device — it is the fundamental building block of intelligent communications. It offers businesses the benefits of significant cost savings, increased revenue, and better customer service. It puts communications at the core of the business, enabling faster decisions, revitalized business processes, and new business models.

This year is a pivotal one in electronic communications. With customer confidence growing, IP is now preferred over traditional phone systems. With VoIP becoming mainstream, the adoption rate is accelerating.

Voice over IP is no longer a wait-and-see decision. It’s happening right now. You can’t afford to limit your communications options or neglect the role that it can play in business performance. But maximizing success in switching to a VoIP system requires top-notch planning, design, implementation, and management. To help you get started and understand the fundamentals, Tim Kelly has written a fine book, VoIP For Dummies. This book lifts any confusion you may have about the subject and clearly identifies the many benefits of VoIP for businesses. This book is your portal to understanding how VoIP can make your business stronger by making your communications systems stronger. The results will be people more productive, processes more efficient, and customers more loyal.

Don Peterson

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Avaya Inc.

Contents

Title

Introduction

About This Book

Conventions Used in This Book

What You’re Not to Read

Foolish Assumptions

How This Book Is Organized

Icons Used in This Book

Where to Go from Here

Part I : VoIP Basics

Chapter 1: Getting Down to Business with VoIP

In the Beginning, There Was POTS

From POTS to Packets

Eye for IP Telephony

Gaining Flexibility with VoIP

Looking at the TCP/IP Model

Chapter 2: VoIP: Not Your Father’s Telephone Service

Mr. Bell

Analog Telephone Circuits

Telephony Goes Digital

Combining Analog and Digital

Digital Telephony Invades PSTN Territory

War Breaks Out Between Circuits and Packets

Private Telephone Systems Reduce POTS Line Costs

Private Systems versus VoIP

Converging Networks

Chapter 3: Everything You Need to Know About Charges

Accessing the Network

Service Categories Cost You Big Time

Saving with VoIP

VoIP Savings: A Case Study

Part II : Taking VoIP to Your Network

Chapter 4: Road Map to VoIP Transports and Services

CSI: Telephony

Choosing a Transport

The Five Golden Rings of CSI

How VoIP and the Internet Fit the CSI Picture

Chapter 5: Getting Switched

Understanding How the PSTN Supports VoIP

Controlling Calls

Quality and VoIP

Chapter 6: Going Broadband

Broadband Transmission Methods

VoIP with Your Cable Modem

VoIP Through Your DSL Connection

Chapter 7: We’re Dedicated

Basics of Dedicated Transports

Types of Dedication

Converging Dedicated and Switched Networks

Managing Bandwidth

Keeping a Switched Line

Chapter 8: Going Wireless

Why WiFi?

Adding VoIP to the Wireless Network

Taking VoIP to the WiMax

Getting Hip to WiSIP

Chapter 9: Using VoIP on the Internet

Network Options Affect Quality of Service

Internet Protocols and Quality of Service

Firewalls for Security

Connecting Through a VPN

Chapter 10: Telephones and VoIP

Running Down the Three Flavors of VoIP Phones

VoIP Hard Phones

VoIP Soft Phones

VoIP Wireless Phones

Maximizing Your Current Telephone Investment

Part III : Making the Move to VoIP

Chapter 11: Simplifying Cost Management

VoIP Comes and the Charges Go

The Final Four Meet VoIP

Unified Networks

Convincing Your Boss

Chapter 12: Locations Galore

Challenges of Multiple Locations

Evaluating Your Existing Networks

Developing a Plan

Staging the Implementation

Reviewing the Effect

Bottom-Line Analysis

Chapter 13: Setting Up the Smaller Office

Is VoIP for You?

Evaluating Existing Networks

Putting VoIP to Work

Financial Analysis

Chapter 14: Providing Dollars and Support

Evaluating VoIP Costs

Making the Investment

Cost-Effective VoIP Designs

Providing Support

Keeping Up with Technology

Part IV : The Part of Tens

Chapter 15: Ten Reasons Why Your Company Should Switch to VoIP

Changing Direction of the Telephony Industry

Feature-Rich, Cost-Effective Alternatives

Existing Investment Protection

Seamless Maintenance and Management

Flexibility and Portability

Enhanced Network Management

Better Utilization of Personnel

Productivity Applications

Better Bandwidth Utilization

Reduced Costs

Chapter 16: Ten Reasons Why You Should Switch to VoIP at Home

One Carrier

One Bill

Free Local Service

Reduced or Eliminated Toll Service Charges

Reduced International Toll Charges

More Bandwidth

Enhanced Internet Access

More Ports to Connect More Phones and Computers

Wireless Broadband Service in Your Home

Videoconferencing

Chapter 17: Ten VoIP Myths

VoIP Runs Only on the Internet

POTS Is Cheaper

POTS Is Faster

The Quality of Service Is Suspect

VoIP-Enabled Phones Are Pricey

VoIP Calls Can Be Intercepted

911 Calls May Not Work

VoIP Is Not Ready for Prime Time

VoIP Call Features Are Expensive

You Have to Throw Out All Your Old PBX Telephones

Chapter 18: Ten VoIP Manufacturers

Avaya

Cisco Systems

Siemens

Alcatel

Nortel

Mitel

NEC

3COM

Shoretel

Inter-Tel

Part V : Appendixes

Appendix A: VoIP Providers

Appendix B: Glossary

Numbers

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

K

L

M

N

O

P

R

S

T

U

V

W

Introduction

VoIP (pronounced voyp) is the name of a new communications technology that changes the meaning of the phrase VoIP stands for voice over and it means “voice transmitted over a computer network.”