VoIP News: August 2007

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) considering deploying a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network in their workplace have been reassured that the providers of the systems view security as paramount. Recent reports have highlighted supposed emerging problems which could allow unauthorised people to listen in on calls, but secure networks provider Enterasys Networks has said that these are easily preventable by providers using existing security technologies.

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is set to become the industry-standard for business telecommunications, according to new internet phone company Digital Voice IP. The telecommunications provider says that the advantages of VoIP make it far more desirable to businesses than the traditional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). Companies with a number of remote office workers or overseas branches stand to benefit the most from the new technology, enjoying massive savings on the service charges levied by PSTN providers such as BT.

Experts are drawing attention to the cost-cutting benefits many businesses could enjoy by switching to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telecommunications. Kathryn Vercillo wrote in the Washington Post that companies can save huge amounts by using VoIP phones, singling out global enterprises as having the most to gain from the new technology. "With VoIP, your calls are routed through your computer, allowing them to be conducted without long distance charges no matter where in the world you are calling," she explained.

East Sussex county council has launched a multi-million pound scheme to install a broadband network across its 174 primary schools, in order to provide web services such as VoIP. In partnership with telecoms giant BT, the secure, high-speed broadband network will use a mix of fibre and radio connections and also incorporate the council offices. "This project will provide schools with a better broadband network at exactly the same cost," said councillor Bob Tidy, cabinet member for e-government on East Sussex council.

Companies choosing to adopt unified communications (UC) will soon have to begin planning how to increase the flexibility of their office networks, it has been suggested. Industry analyst Art Rosenburg, commenting on the findings of one firm who had experienced performance issues on their networks, said that more flexible systems could adapt to the different demands on the network at certain times of the day.