The simplest and easiest setup is using one of the available PC-based solutions like Skype, MSN, Yahoo or Vonage. These use almost any PC connected to the internet over DSL or cable. It works on dialup but bandwidth limit becomes quickly an issue.
The PC needs a good quality audio card and speakers and microphone or a headset - which I strongly recommend. Calling PC based members (Skype, MSN, Yahoo) works well and is free. Calling regular phone numbers costs money and/or requires additional equipment. Vonage gives you a 10 digit number in your area with 500 monthly minutes the monthly cost is $9.99. Skype offers Out-calling and In-calling plans which can be expensive - no free minutes.
The next level is the consumer VoIP system designed to replace a single regular phone line. These are offered by many large telephone and cable companies but also by third party such as Vonage. They require an ATA (Analog Telephone Adaptor) connected to your internet connection. ATA extract voice packets and provide a PSTN port for a regular phone or PBX. These routers manage traffic load to handle voice call quality which is as good as a regular land line.
Small business setups can grow to I-PBX solutions. I-PBX have more features than PBX and can cost as much as PBX. Three main solutions exist:
- All IP from end to end. There is no phone line from the Telco but an internet access to connect to the VoIP provider. Moving from an old PBX to an all IP can be costly and even more if the local wired network is old and doesn’t support QoS.
- IP to PSTN, this often a good upgrade solution. The existing PBX is replaced by an I-PBX, the Telco is replace by a VoIP provider but the internal phones network is kept. This solution doesn’t work if the old PBX uses dedicated non-PSTN phones (Rohm, Nortel…)
- PSTN to IP a good phone and switch upgrade solution. The Telco lines are kept and feed an I-PBX. The phone network is replaced by IP phones - this solution can be costly if the local wired network is old and doesn’t support QOS.
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