| Now we have accepted that VoIP is no longer | | | | remain open and unaffected for the duration |
| just a phone service, it has become feature | | | | of the call. Theoretically, VoIP |
| rich as it merges with computer | | | | installations would not allow such a huge |
| configurations. The VoIP's existence has | | | | bandwidth to be allocated for VoIP alone. |
| changed considerably over the last few years, | | | | Therefore, there needs to be a compression |
| coupled with the availability of broadband | | | | taking place to compact the voice data into a |
| connection to the Internet, plus leaps in | | | | considerable size before it gets transmitted |
| multimedia technology in which virtual | | | | over a packet switching network. G.723 codec |
| operations with remote sites becomes more | | | | that is incorporated in VoIP standard |
| enhanced, makes VoIP service a viable | | | | protocol H.232 can take a 64kb/s stream of |
| alternative to traditional communication | | | | data and squash it down to a mere 5.5kb/s or |
| offerings.Cost savings is not the only | | | | so. Generally, for VoIP to work reliably over |
| driving force for VoIP implementations, | | | | WAN links, there has to be low jitter, low |
| enterprises have to consider some business | | | | packet loss, a considerably high-speed |
| aspects that VoIP can bring about. VoIP | | | | connection between the endpoints, and less |
| creates potentials for applications that | | | | than 200ms delay.3. |
| could not have been done before. | | | | InteroperabilityCompatibility between VoIP |
| Collaboration, integration, and interactivity | | | | equipment from different vendors is a very |
| between employees and applications are one of | | | | important aspect to boost the use of VoIP |
| the several business benefits that | | | | products. Without standardized quality of |
| enterprises can derive from VoIP adoption. | | | | service mechanisms businesses would need to |
| Nevertheless, amid euphoria of VoIP | | | | buy all the equipment and the QoS server from |
| technology, there are three important aspects | | | | the same manufacturer. The VoIP world seems |
| to look at before a company goes VoIP. In the | | | | to be divided between many vendors with |
| following paragraphs I will summarize the | | | | reluctance to establish interoperability and |
| aspect of security, stability, and | | | | some who are trying to be end-to-end supplier |
| interoperability that play a key role in the | | | | but at the same time worried about |
| successful implementation of VoIP.1. | | | | interoperability. The protocols used in VoIP |
| SecurityVoIP implementations may expose new | | | | communication are still considered fairly |
| security risks and challenges that somehow | | | | complex in comparison to most of the other |
| become greater concern than quality and | | | | protocols involved in Internet applications. |
| cost-efficiency among vendors and users. VoIP | | | | SIP (Session Initiation Protocol - a |
| networks are vulnerable to all the same | | | | signaling protocol for Internet conferencing, |
| security risks as traditional IP data | | | | telephony, events notification, and instant |
| networks, including: | | | | messaging), that is regarded as simple and |
| | | | elegant the other protocols, is still not |
| Denial of Service (DoS), viruses, worms, | | | | efficient.On the bright side, however, SIP is |
| Toll fraud and unauthorized access, Spoofing, | | | | approaching status as an IETF (Internet |
| and port scanning. | | | | Engineering Task Force) standard, after |
| | | | several years of work. With the recent |
| It is recommended that organizations should | | | | version, it has achieved a greater amount of |
| adopt a layered, defense-in-depth security | | | | stability and changes are becoming smaller |
| strategy to address the issue with the | | | | and smaller. Phone switch companies such as |
| increasing proliferation of new | | | | Nortel have recently begun supporting SIP, |
| Internet-borne attacks and malicious | | | | and now the manufacturers of handsets and |
| activities in recent years. In this | | | | related devices will soon ramp up their |
| architecture, the network is segmented into | | | | support. Motorola, Avaya, and Proxim have |
| secure zones protected by layers of firewall, | | | | made collaboration on the creation and |
| intrusion prevention, and other security | | | | deployment of IP telephony solutions that |
| services. This strategy allows the | | | | will deliver new extents of communication |
| organizations to logically split and secure | | | | mobility and network connectivity.Finally, |
| voice and data networks in front of | | | | with these three VoIP aspects covered, |
| individual voice and data components and | | | | businesses will be able to maximize their |
| between interactive points in the network.2. | | | | investment by applying it as the backbone of |
| StabilityOne of the main issues of VoIP is | | | | internal communication such as phone |
| the amount of bandwidth required for each | | | | conversation, videoconferencing, instant |
| call. There must be adequate bandwidth | | | | messaging, faxing, etc. Another area that |
| reserved and the quality of the link must be | | | | will widely make use of VoIP is call centers, |
| well maintained throughout each call to | | | | in which Web contacts, virtual operations |
| ensure the users are not affected. As the | | | | with outsourcers overseas, and remote sites, |
| very nature of VoIP call is real-time, any | | | | such as home agents, all could improve the |
| disruption during the call would be easily | | | | customer experience. New VoIP applications |
| noticeable and unacceptable. The two issues | | | | that we have not thought about may also come |
| that enterprises usually have to deal with | | | | into existence as the services generates more |
| here are bandwidth and quality of service | | | | business and profits for companies.Al Falaq |
| (QoS).VoIP calls need a data transmission | | | | Arsendatama is web entrepreneur specializing |
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