 | Terry Lewis is the owner of Data LINC Communications, Inc. at 1110 Waddington in Wichita. Data LINC has been in business since 1994. They offer a full range of services from voice and data cable installation to communications’ networking. They sell, install and maintain phone systems, including but not limited to ESI and Clearfly, provider of unlimited long distance, caller ID, free local calling and many other features and services. You can contact Terry by phone at 316-729-0279, by email tlewis@datalinc.net, or visit their website www.datalinc.net.
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Computers & Software
2012-08-29 13:20:15
Speed will prove to be everything in communications
Q- Can you tell me more about speed and its overall value in communications?
A- We are all aware of the power of the internet. Within seconds a person can answer any question or watch any show, whether surfing the web or flipping on the TV. Information is always at our fingertips, but at what cost? To provide that instant access, these services require a very high speed connection.
This high speed line comes in a variety of bandwidth speeds to suit the needs of each consumer. We have come a long way from dialup connections, at 56 Kilobytes per second (Kbps), to over 1 Gigabit per second (GBps). That is over 18,000 times faster than dialup. Currently the best options for high speed internet are: DSL (digital subscriber line), cable modems, a T1, or fiber optic connection. All of these are available at different price points from different providers.
The cost of high speed internet access varies with the needs of the individual or business. To determine the requirements for your high speed connection, it is best to do a network assessment of all of your employees’ daily internet tasks. The majority of internet usage comes from downloading files and accessing websites This is why DSL and cable has a higher download speed than upload speed (e.g. 12MB down X 3MB up).
With the expansion of the internet to allow streaming music, video, and other data traffic, the bandwidth speeds needed for these applications tend to congest the network. Changes in the design of networks in local areas have improved the quality of bandwidth speeds improving the ways consumers communicate.
Telephone communications has taken a big leap forward with the implementation of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). In layman’s terms, Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) lines, provided over an internet connection, or Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
The advantages and savings seen when using SIP trunks outweigh any costs associated with initial setup. The list of advantages goes on but here are a few examples:
• Voice call may be configured for a higher priority for high Quality of Service
• SIP trunks have lower monthly cost than regular POTS lines by as much as 50% or more
• Call handling features are greater and take less effort than older technology
• Call forwarding
• Call waiting
• Call transfer
• Conference calling
• Simultaneous call ringing
• Implementation can occur without interruption of the current business
• Adds, moves and changes can, in many cases, be handled remotely
• Large conference bridges are much easier to setup and operate at a much lower cost
In the late 20th century, the phone industry and long distance services were opened up to anyone who wanted to provide their own telephone services. As a result, there were a good number of these companies that took advantage of the consumer. Time has weeded these bad practices out of the industry and what is left are companies and providers who have a desire to work with, and, help their customers. It stands to reason that just like the deregulation of the phone industry brought about less than reputable service providers, there are those companies in business which care more about your money than providing a quality service. It is always smart to take the time to investigate any company which offers Session Ignition Protocol (SIP) trunking (lines). Although SIP technology has been around since its inception in 1996, SIP is just recently becoming more popular with small to medium sized businesses. When searching, look for companies which are advanced in their technology and are constantly improving their products.
A quick search on the web, will show many results for information about SIP and the companies providing SIP lines. Prices range from $12.95 to $30.00 per trunk per month with each provider offering their own features and services. Common questions are:
• Will these services be compatible with my current equipment?
• Does the provider have local technicians to assist with the installation and maintenance of their equipment?
• What are the costs associated with implementing SIP?
• Do I have enough bandwidth speed for SIP lines?
• What Quality of Service level can I expect?
These questions can best be answered by a communications professional.
Voice over IP is the next step in the evolution of communications. All of the major service providers have already migrated the majority of their services over to SIP technology. Companies like: AT&T, Sprint Nextel, Verizon, Time Warner, AOL, and Century link, just to name a few, have been using SIP technology for years. It is always better to be pro-active in regards to the future to stay ahead of the completion. Again, your communications’ vendor can be a big help in this area.
