If you thought that the idea of audio and video conferencing was the biggest thing that could have happened to your business, then here is something even better. Voip is the new king in the realm of business phone systems, which aim to improve your video and audio conferencing experience.

Before the introduction of Voip, organizations were using business phone systems like Private Branch Exchange (PBX), Key telephone systems and Key less phone systems (KSU). Although these systems were effective and provided various services like audio conferencing, video conferencing, voice mail systems, etc yet there was something missing from them. They were expensive to install, difficult to maintain and not easily compatible with different systems. So the need was there for a better technology, and Voip came as the answer to those needs. Through Voip, people can stay connected virtually over the internet and take advantage of the integration of internet with video conferencing solutions.

Voip has provided better video conferencing solutions to organizations. Not only has the cost of installing and maintaining this system reduced, due to its minimal infrastructural requirements, but several other eminent benefits are also present.

Portability is one of the major benefits of a Voip business phone system. Employees can travel anywhere they want and they can still remain connected with their organization through video conferencing over a Voip system. All that a person needs is a broadband internet connection and a camera.

Due to the fact that Voip enables video conferencing systems to connect via the internet, members of the conference can also share presentations, files and other forms of data during a conference. This has created a virtual environment which is a close replica of a physical meeting. Moreover presentations can even be made over the internet through a video conference, thus enabling better video conferencing solutions.

A virtual whiteboard can be created on the screen of every member during the video conference and notes and other information can easily be shared and explained. This has been possible only through the use of a Voip to connect video conferencing systems.

The most prominent benefit that businesses perceive in video conferencing over the internet is the fact that it is very cheap, thus a huge burden on their expenditure has been removed.

The introduction of Voip in video conferencing has revolutionized the way people look at video conferences. However you need to consider a few facts before installing this system in your organization. There are a numerous Voip service providers in the market. You should conduct a thorough research of thee the alternatives available and choose the one that enhances your present video conferencing solutions the most. ]]> http://www.thinkbright.net/voip_blog/voip-news/voip-for-improved-video-conferencing-solutions/feed/ 0 http://www.thinkbright.net/voip_blog/voip-news/twitterfone-cool-new-voice-to-text-message-service/ http://www.thinkbright.net/voip_blog/voip-news/twitterfone-cool-new-voice-to-text-message-service/#comments Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:15:33 +0000 The VOIP Expert http://www.thinkbright.net/voip_blog/?p=111 TwitterFone, a voice-to-text-message service for Twitter launched just earlier today. From their press release: “Twitterfone voice-enables Twitter, a text message rebroadcast service and the hottest social networking service at the moment. With Twitterfone, people can dictate text messages via their mobile to be sent out to everyone on their Twitter social network.”

Truphone was the first company out of the gate with a new iPhone VoIP app. Software downloaded to the iPhone lets Truphone’s app make calls over the company’s VoIP backbone network from wifi hotspots. But the app doesn’t allow users to connect to the VoIP network via cellular voice links, as they can with Truphone Anywhere, a service that the company introduced in May 2008. If it did, iPhone users could make their cheap overseas calls even when they weren’t near hotspots, paying only for local cellular minutes plus Truphone’s low international VoIP rates.

Packet8 MobileTalk for iPhone

On the other hand, 8×8 Inc.’s VoIP application, called Packet8 MobileTalk for iPhone, doesn’t use wifi but does use the cellular voice network to carry calls between the handset and the VoIP network. To do so, the app eschews the downloaded client software that 8×8 uses to provide MobileTalk to users of other cell phones (which also means that it’s not actually an App Store application). Instead, Packet8 MobileTalk for iPhone employs a Web portal, which is accessible through the iPhone browser, that mimics the iPhone dialer.

To establish the connection once the user has entered the number, the portal reads a cookie that the browser has stored in order to determine who is making the call. The portal then sends the browser an instruction that causes the iPhone to dial a local Packet8 access number. From there, the call travels over the Packet8 VoIP network. The portal-based approach is necessary because third-party apps cannot directly access the iPhone dialer, according to 8×8’s vice president of engineering Ramprakash Narayanaswamy.

JAJAH’s iPhone App: Coming Soon

JAJAH Inc.’s iPhone VoIP app — like many iPhone apps of all kinds — is still awaiting Apple’s OK before users can download it through the App Store, but it should be impressive once it is released. According to JAJAH co-founder Roman Scharf, the app will allow iPhones to make calls that travel over 3G, EDGE or wifi data networks to reach the JAJAH VoIP network. A call goes over the data network if the quality of that link is sufficient or if the user specifies that it do so regardless. Otherwise, JAJAH calls the iPhone and the overseas number that the user is trying to reach and connects the two calls via a VoIP link — a classic VoIP callback approach.

iCall App in Beta

ICall Inc.’s planned iPhone application is still in beta testing. Like Truphone’s app, it will use wifi links to access the VoIP network. A unique feature is the app’s ability to switch from a cellular call to a wifi call without interrupting the conversation. ICall claims that such transfers will happen “seamlessly.” CEO Arlo Gilbert said that the application should be available in early August 2008.

Packet8 MobileTalk for iPhone

On the other hand, 8×8 Inc.’s VoIP application, called Packet8 MobileTalk for iPhone, doesn’t use wifi but does use the cellular voice network to carry calls between the handset and the VoIP network. To do so, the app eschews the downloaded client software that 8×8 uses to provide MobileTalk to users of other cell phones (which also means that it’s not actually an App Store application). Instead, Packet8 MobileTalk for iPhone employs a Web portal, which is accessible through the iPhone browser, that mimics the iPhone dialer.

To establish the connection once the user has entered the number, the portal reads a cookie that the browser has stored in order to determine who is making the call. The portal then sends the browser an instruction that causes the iPhone to dial a local Packet8 access number. From there, the call travels over the Packet8 VoIP network. The portal-based approach is necessary because third-party apps cannot directly access the iPhone dialer, according to 8×8’s vice president of engineering Ramprakash Narayanaswamy.

Truphone’s VoIP App

Truphone was the first company out of the gate with a new iPhone VoIP app. Software downloaded to the iPhone lets Truphone’s app make calls over the company’s VoIP backbone network from wifi hotspots. But the app doesn’t allow users to connect to the VoIP network via cellular voice links, as they can with Truphone Anywhere, a service that the company introduced in May 2008. If it did, iPhone users could make their cheap overseas calls even when they weren’t near hotspots, paying only for local cellular minutes plus Truphone’s low international VoIP rates.

iCall App in Beta

ICall Inc.’s planned iPhone application is still in beta testing. Like Truphone’s app, it will use wifi links to access the VoIP network. A unique feature is the app’s ability to switch from a cellular call to a wifi call without interrupting the conversation. ICall claims that such transfers will happen “seamlessly.” CEO Arlo Gilbert said that the application should be available in early August 2008.

JAJAH’s iPhone App: Coming Soon

JAJAH Inc.’s iPhone VoIP app — like many iPhone apps of all kinds — is still awaiting Apple’s OK before users can download it through the App Store, but it should be impressive once it is released. According to JAJAH co-founder Roman Scharf, the app will allow iPhones to make calls that travel over 3G, EDGE or wifi data networks to reach the JAJAH VoIP network. A call goes over the data network if the quality of that link is sufficient or if the user specifies that it do so regardless. Otherwise, JAJAH calls the iPhone and the overseas number that the user is trying to reach and connects the two calls via a VoIP link — a classic VoIP callback approach.

Source: http://www.voip-news.com/feature/iphone-voip-apps-roundup-071708/

It’s no secret that Internet telephony is vulnerable to eavesdroppers, much more so than conventional phone calls. That’s because IP phones aren’t part of the public phone network, where tapping requires a specific, physical wire connection. Calls transmitted via a LAN, a WAN or the Internet can be easily intercepted by anyone with a protocol analyzer, simply by capturing and analyzing the voice packets. This means that just about anyone can snoop on your business and personal calls, including employees, business partners, competitors, law-enforcement authorities and government officials.

Since you probably don’t like the idea of everybody and anybody listening to your conversations, you’ll want to take action to ensure your VoIP privacy. The best way to accomplish this is with encryption.

As you probably already know, VoIP voice traffic is data that is transmitted over networks. This means, like any type of computer data, VoIP can be protected by encryption. Unfortunately, while VoIP encryption tools are widely available, not many people have taken the minimal time and effort required to use the technology. That’s a shame, because encryption can make it make it nearly impossible for someone to snoop on IP telephony calls. Here’s a look at five different VoIP encryption approaches.

Zfone: Perhaps the easiest way to encrypt VoIP calls is with Zfone. The software’s chief designer is Phil Zimmermann, who created PGP (Pretty Good Privacy), the world’s most widely used email encryption software. The technology is simple enough to be installed and used by just about anyone. The latest beta version of Zfone can be downloaded for free. The software’s biggest drawback is that it requires both callers to install the application. This means that calls to people you already know, at least those who are willing to install Zfone, will be secure. But calls to banks, brokers, government agencies, and various other organizations and strangers won’t necessarily be protected.

Internal Encryption: Many VoIP clients have responded to customer security concerns by incorporating encryption into their software. Skype Ltd., for example, has installed encryption support into its proprietary software. Check your client’s provider to see if any encryption services are available.

TLS (Transport Layer Security) and IPsec (IP Security): TLS and IPsec are handy ways of encrypting VoIP calls. TLS encrypts VoIP data traveling between two applications, while IPsec encrypts information for two devices and all the applications running on them. Both protocols aim to keep unauthorized parties from interfering with or listening to calls, and they are almost impossible to manipulate externally. Both approaches are well worth considering.

SRTP (Secure Real-Time Transfer Protocol): SRTP is ideal for protecting VoIP traffic because it has a minimal effect on call quality. For each call you make, a unique encryption key is created, which makes eavesdropping almost impossible. This attribute alone makes SRTP a good choice for day-to-day calls, as well as highly confidential conversations.

VPN (Virtual Private Network): If your business has a VPN, you can leverage its built-in encryption feature to protect your IP telephony calls. Best of all, this protection is extended to all users — even traveling employees who log in to the VPN from a laptop. Remember, however, that a VPN can only secure the data from gateway to gateway. Once calls are on your LAN, you’ll need additional protection.

People expect their phone calls to be as private as when they’re speaking to someone in their own office or home. VoIP technology by itself can’t guarantee this level of protection, so it’s up to you to provide the safeguard — encryption — that will keep your conversations confidential.

A virtual PBX allows small businesses to:
* Project a professional, more established company image
* Have one unified number for office phone, cell phone, fax, and pager
* Make information available to their customers 24/7
* Have web-based, real time access to their system

Small and home-based businesses are using all of these features to sound and operate like a Fortune 500 company everyday.

Project a Professional, More Established Company Image
Right or wrong, consumers assume a company with a toll free number is a more established and secure company. When a toll free number is attached to a virtual PBX with an automated attendant, that powerful image is perpetuated. An automated attendant answers all incoming calls with the same professional and courteous message every time, day or night. Professional greetings can be recorded by the business owner themselves, or even by a voice talent, and customized for the needs of the business. It doesn’t matter if the business is operated out of a home office or the Oval Office. The caller hears a professional greeting each and every time they call.

Unified Voice and Messaging System
With a virtual PBX system, small businesses only need one telephone number. This number can be an office phone, cell phone, fax, and pager all in one. Gone are the days of having to put 3 or 4 different numbers on business cards. Now a virtual PBX toll free number can replace them all. When a call comes in, it can be routed to any local number. It can even be programmed to route to different numbers at different times of the day or on different days of the week. That kind of flexibility is unheard of with a traditional toll free number or a hardwired PBX. If the call is not answered, or is sent to voicemail, the virtual PBX system can even send out a page or email to let the user know that there is a message waiting for them.

The toll free number also acts as the fax number. When a fax is sent, the system recognizes it as a fax and can store it in a fax mailbox for later retrieval, forward the faxed document to a local fax machine, or even send the fax to an email address as an attachment. Unified messaging unchains business owners from their home or small office and allows them the flexibility to get out and build their business while still being available to their customers.

Powerful Automation
No matter how efficient a small or home-based business is, they simply cannot be available to their customers all the time. If a caller has questions they want the answers now. If they don’t get those answers when they call, chances are they’ll look some place else. Making sure information is available, even when a live person isn’t, can be the difference between someone becoming a customer or moving on to the competition.

A virtual PBX allows the storage of an unlimited amount of information for callers to retrieve 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Menus broken down into what kinds of information a caller might need make it easy for them to navigate the system and get what they are looking for. Faxes can even be attached so the caller can request an automated fax back. These automated processes not only save time, but they also make sure callers can get the information they need when no one is available.

Web Based System Access
A toll free virtual PBX is just that, virtual. What that means for a small business owner is that one, there is no hardware to maintain or software to buy, and two, that they can access their system from anywhere with Internet access. Online system access is one of the biggest advantages of a virtual PBX system. Web-based system access allows users to check their voice and fax messages over the Internet or have their messages delivered directly to an email address. Of course, messages can still be checked from any touch-tone phone.

Real time reporting allows users to check the call logs of all incoming calls to their phone number and use the call capture feature to not only capture the phone number of the person calling, but many times their name and address as well. It also allows a user to run reports based on different criteria chosen. For example, reports could be run to show when the busiest time of the week is for customer service or if the call volume increased after a specific ad campaign was released. The applications are endless.

With all these powerful features, and most times more, it’s amazing that virtual PBX systems can be found at a reasonable price. Most providers offer systems that are between $10.00 and $50.00 depending on the capabilities and size of the system. Many providers will offer a varying number of voice mailboxes and features. A quality virtual PBX service provider can also customize systems if needed.

Technology is ever changing in today’s fast paced world. Many of these technologies allow small businesses to compete at a higher level along side their bigger competition. Small business owners should embrace them or risk being left behind.

Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/home-business-articles/level-the-playing-field-small-business-vs-fortune-500-199743.html

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“SiteStar can replace expensive shelters and power hungry air conditioners which are often needed only for battery cooling,” said Prashant Agnihotri, Head of GSM/EDGE Product Management, Radio Access, Nokia Siemens Networks. “It eliminates the need for expensive indoor sites, while reducing the OPEX of an outdoor site thereby helping an operator not only reduce the cost of roll out and operation, but also its CO2 footprint.”

SiteStar’s unique design provides better resistance against external thermal radiation. This allows it to maintain a constant optimal temperature in very hot or cold climates, and increase battery life by three times in operating temperatures of 35°C, compared to a fan based cabinet. SiteStar also reduces electricity consumption for cooling batteries by up to 95% when compared to traditional air conditioned cabinets as it typically consumes only 40W. It thus helps operators reduce ongoing expenditure in battery replacements, site visits, electricity and diesel costs.

SiteStar’s operating range is from -40°C up to +50°C and it can therefore bring similar advantages in very cold climates too.

The PBX Gateway also enables encrypted voice calls between landline locations that have PBX Gateway installed; for instance between offices in different locations.

Cellcrypt technology is currently undergoing certification to the FIPS 140-2 standard approved by the US National Institute of Standard (NIST).

“Organisations spend significant amounts of effort and budget securing their data but until now have not had a viable solution for voice data,” said Simon Bransfield-Garth, CEO at Cellcrypt. “While traditional secure voice solutions have provided poor call quality and fail across most international boundaries, Cellcrypt offers unparalleled voice quality, government-specification security and global coverage never before experienced, all using standard smartphone and PBX technology.”

Source: Cellular News