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What is the difference between IP Telephony and VoIP?
Many in the communications industry will use IP Telephony and VoIP synonymously. Clinical definitions will tell you that VoIP is nothing more than the use of a protocol to deliver a conversation.
IP Telephony describes the much more valuable experience of communicating effectively, reliably, and with quality utilising the same TCP/IP protocol that enables the Internet. With IP Telephony, VoIP is exploited and is given the user friendly features and productivity enhancing aspects of business communications applications as well as the network management tools that make it an assured enterprise-wide asset.
Yes, VOIP and IP Telephony are closely related and in fact IP Telephony is dependent upon VoIP. VoIP is the building block for delivering conversations over an IP network. That network is typically a data network for an enterprise that has been converged together with a private voice network in the hope that a lower cost of operation would be achieved. But without the means to manage the traffic, assure the quality of the conversation, enable the end user to control the calls with advanced business features that they have grown accustomed to using at work, then the enterprise will not be pleased with the VoIP experience.
Data traffic crosses over a network much like a freight train delivers cargo from a point of origin to a destination. As long as the delivery is made, it does not matter how comfortable the ride or how delayed it was, as long as it arrives intact at the destination. VoIP delivers voice as packets across a network in a train-like manner, vulnerable to jitter, delays, and interruptions.
Voice needs to travel in a much more comfortable manner. It needs alternative paths to guarantee continuous flow of packets regardless of the congestion on the network. For example if you have to wait a couple seconds longer for a photo to download because the Internet is slow because a lot of people at your company are using it it's probably no big deal. However, if you're having a voice conversation using VoIp you certainly can't wait a couple seconds to hear the rest of the sentence that the other person was speaking can you? Much like driving a luxury sports car, IP Telephony facilitates the delivery of voice packets across the network with speed, plenty of options, and gives the caller control over the experience.
IP Telephony unites an organization's many locations - including mobile workers - into a single converged network. It provides cost savings by combining voice and data on one network that can be centrally maintained, as well as by eliminating toll expenses for calls between locations.
Orb works in partnersip with global IP Telephony leaders Avaya, in helping companies select the right solutions, assess the readiness of their LAN or WAN to carry voice traffic, implement the solutions, and maintain them after installation.
What is the truth about migrating to IP Telephony?
Finding the right partner that delivers IP telephony without sacrificing flexibility, reliability, security, and interoperability - all while leveraging existing investments - is the key.
One approach preserves a company's infrastructure investment. Another builds it from scratch. It's important for your vendor to support either path while protecting a prior investment. The challenge for IT managers is to leverage existing applications, user-training, and infrastructure investments while deploying new solutions that will meet their future needs.
Avaya provides 'stepping-stone choices' for IP-enabling existing PBXs, allowing customers to get started at low risk and cost. Avaya offers its customers unmatched freedom and flexibility, whether they want to roll out IP telephony as rapidly as possible or pace themselves so they can preserve their infrastructure investment and slowly migrate business processes.
