FAQ

Voice over IP (VoIP) is a methodology and group of technologies for the delivery of voice communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol (IP) networks, such as the Internet. Other terms commonly associated with VoIP are IP telephony, Internet telephony, broadband telephony, and broadband phone service. IP telephony is an important part of the convergence of computers, telephones, and television into a single integrated information environment.

IP telephony (Internet Protocol telephony) is a general term for the technologies that use the Internet Protocol’s packet-switched connections to exchange voice, fax, and other forms of information that have traditionally been carried over the dedicated circuit-switched connections of the public switched telephone network (PSTN). Using the Internet, calls travel as packets of data on shared lines, avoiding the tolls of the PSTN. The challenge in IP telephony is to deliver the voice, fax, or video packets in a dependable flow to the user. Much of IP telephony focuses on that challenge.

The premise is simple: Instead of using the existing telephone lines in your building, or having new ones installed, you push all of your voice, teleconferencing, and video traffic through the Internet.  The single most expensive component of a phone bill is the minutes. VoIP differs from regular telephone service by treating your phone conversations as data passing through your IP network. In today’s world, broadband is relatively cheap and easy to get, so VoIP has considerable appeal to businesses that want to cut costs and use their existing resources more efficiently.

Unified Communications is an industry term used to describe all forms of call and multimedia/cross-media message-management functions controlled by an individual user for both business and social purposes. This includes any enterprise informational or transactional application process that emulates a human user and uses a single, content-independent personal messaging channel (mailbox) for contact access.

Are you missing important calls? Are you staffed to handle calls at peak hours? Are you struggling to deliver best-in-class customer support? Is your current phone system costing you money? The right Unified Communications solution will not only help your organization stay competitive and improve efficiency, but it should provide a significant savings in your total business communications cost.

A private automatic branch exchange (PABX) is an automatic telephone switching system that switches calls between VoIP (voice over Internet Protocol or IP) users on local lines while allowing all users to share a certain number of external phone lines. A PABX can assist in lowering the costs of certain calls while also maintaining the ability to make and receive traditional phone calls.

CCTV (closed-circuit television) is a TV system in which signals are not publicly distributed but are monitored, primarily for surveillance and security purposes. Because the cameras communicate with monitors and/or video recorders across private coaxial cable or wireless communications, they gain the designation “closed-circuit” to indicate that access to their content is limited by design only to those able to see it.

Modern CCTV displays can be colour, high-resolution displays and can include the ability to zoom in on an image or track something or someone.  When used in conjunction with Network Video Recording  systems a good CCTV system is great for monitoring traffic, keeping track of and recording activities in buildings, grounds security and banks, casinos, or airports.

The Session Initiation Protocol is a communications protocol for signalling and controlling multimedia communication sessions.

SIP Phones are telephones that use VoIP technologies for making calls over an IP Network or the traditional Public Switched Telephone Networks. There are two types of SIP Phones. The first type is the hardware SIP phone. It resembles the common telephone on the outside, but uses purpose built hardware inside so it can receive and make calls using the internet. The second type is software-based. These allow any computer to be used as a telephone by means of a headset with a microphone and/or a sound card.

Videoconferencing (VC) is the conduct of a video conference or videoteleconference) by a set of telecommunication technologies which allow two or more locations to communicate by simultaneous two-way video and audio transmissions. It has also been called ‘visual collaboration’ and is a type of groupware. Videoconferencing differs from videophone calls in that it’s designed to serve a conference or multiple locations rather than individuals. The best reasons to consider using VC is for saving two important business resources… time and money.