Where can I get VoIP training?

Because Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a new technology, individual businesses will need someone who is well versed in the intricacies of (VoIP). It's a safe bet that many companies will be sending their ITs to a VoIP training course in the not-too-distant future. But, where do you go to obtain a training course that delineates all the necessary concepts and details to implement this technology?

VoIP Training Candidates

Who is the ideal candidate for VoIP training? The answer is quite clear from the concept of VoIP itself. VoIP is a combination of telephone connectivity and networking, and because the technology requires attention in the networking and telecommunication side, both communication engineers and networking engineers will be the ideal candidates to participate in training in VoIP concepts. Instructors of VoIP generally recommend sending both communications and networking staff for training as the new system incorporates the expertise of both.

Vendor Training vs. Standards Training

There are basically two types of VoIP training courses - vendor and non-vendor specific. The vendor specific VoIP training courses are basically certification courses offered by professional training firms such as Cisco and Avaya. Non-vendor specific training courses may not result in a certificate for the trainee, but will have all the ingredients to educate the trainee on the details of VoIP technology and issues relating to its implementation. These courses are generally offered by TRA, the Teracom Training Institute, and Global Knowledge.

Off-Site vs. On-Site Instruction

Most reputable firms prefer on-site instruction if the office has enough employees to warrant a localized training course. As an alternative, they may invite the trainees to a centralized training facility or offer interactive webinars. The former option is better if you are looking for a comprehensive on-the-job training course, and the latter, if you want a more subject oriented session on a specific VoIP topic.

Posted by Steve at 10:36 AM | Permalink | Comments

What is a VoIP Gateway?

A VoIP Gateway, or Voice over IP Gateway, is a network device which helps to convert voice and fax calls, in real time, between an IP network and Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). It is a high performance gateway designed for Voice over IP applications. Typically, a VoIP gateway comes with the ability to support at least two T1/E1 digital channels. Most VoIP gateways feature at least one Ethernet and telephone port. Controlling a gateway can be done with the help of the various protocols like MGCP, SIP or LTP.

Benefits of VoIP Gateways

The main advantage of VoIP gateway is that it can provide connection with your existing telephone and fax machines through the traditional telephone networks, PBXs, and key systems. This makes the process of making calls over the IP network familiar to VoIP customers.

VoIP gateways can end a call from the telephone and can provide user admission control using IVR (Interactive Voice Response) system and provide accounting records for the call. Gateways also help direct outbound calls to a specific destination, or can end the call from another gateway and send the call to the PSTN.

VoIP gateways plays a major role in enhancing carrier services and also supports the simplicity of the telephone calls for less cost and easy access. Flexible call integration has been developed at less cost which enables programmable call progress tones and distinctive ring tones.

Functions of VoIP Gateways

The main functions of VoIP gateways include voice and fax compression or decompression, control signaling, call routing, and packetization. VoIP gateways are also power packed with additional features such as interfaces to external controllers like Gatekeepers or Softswitches, network management systems, and billing systems.

Future of VoIP Gateway Technology

Over the years, VoIP gateway has become an efficient and flexible solution and is used for office data and voice connectivity. Besides the connectivity performance, VoIP also offers better reliability under a variety of circumstances.

The future of VoIP gateway is very clear and precise; high-density, scaleable, open platforms need to be designed and implemented to allow the millions of installed telephones and fast-growing number of H.323 computer clients (such as Netscape's Communicator and Microsoft's NetMeeting) to communicate over IP. Many vendors are in the process of designing interoperable VoIP gateways according to the latest architectures to meet the changing demands of service providers, corporate network clients, and individual carriers.

Posted by Steve at 10:25 AM | Permalink | Comments

What is a VoIP Gateway?

A VoIP Gateway, or Voice over IP Gateway, is a network device which helps to convert voice and fax calls, in real time, between an IP network and Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). It is a high performance gateway designed for Voice over IP applications. Typically, a VoIP gateway comes with the ability to support at least two T1/E1 digital channels. Most VoIP gateways feature at least one Ethernet and telephone port. Controlling a gateway can be done with the help of the various protocols like MGCP, SIP or LTP.

Benefits of VoIP Gateways

The main advantage of VoIP gateway is that it can provide connection with your existing telephone and fax machines through the traditional telephone networks, PBXs, and key systems. This makes the process of making calls over the IP network familiar to VoIP customers.

VoIP gateways can end a call from the telephone and can provide user admission control using IVR (Interactive Voice Response) system and provide accounting records for the call. Gateways also help direct outbound calls to a specific destination, or can end the call from another gateway and send the call to the PSTN.

VoIP gateways plays a major role in enhancing carrier services and also supports the simplicity of the telephone calls for less cost and easy access. Flexible call integration has been developed at less cost which enables programmable call progress tones and distinctive ring tones.

Functions of VoIP Gateways

The main functions of VoIP gateways include voice and fax compression or decompression, control signaling, call routing, and packetization. VoIP gateways are also power packed with additional features such as interfaces to external controllers like Gatekeepers or Softswitches, network management systems, and billing systems.

Future of VoIP Gateway Technology

Over the years, VoIP gateway has become an efficient and flexible solution and is used for office data and voice connectivity. Besides the connectivity performance, VoIP also offers better reliability under a variety of circumstances.

The future of VoIP gateway is very clear and precise; high-density, scaleable, open platforms need to be designed and implemented to allow the millions of installed telephones and fast-growing number of H.323 computer clients (such as Netscape's Communicator and Microsoft's NetMeeting) to communicate over IP. Many vendors are in the process of designing interoperable VoIP gateways according to the latest architectures to meet the changing demands of service providers, corporate network clients, and individual carriers.

Posted by Steve at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Comments

What is common VoIP hardware?

VoIP hardware falls into several categories:

• VoIP Interface Cards for PCs
• PC Telephones
• VoIP Telephones
• VoIP Switches
• VoIP Gateways
• VoIP Routers
• VoIP PBX's
• VoIP Telephones

VoIP Interface Cards for PCs

VoIP Interface cards for PCs turn your PC into a very capable VoIP telephone.

The two leading manufacturers of VoIP interface cards for the PC are:

• VoiceTronix
• Quicknet

PC Telephones

PC Telephones are telephones which attach to your PC, usually via the USB port, and allow you to make telephone calls through your PC.

VoIP Telephones

VoIP telephones are telephones which attach directly to Ethernet network ports.

VoIP Switches

VoIP switches are devices which allow you to connect multiple phone lines to one Ethernet port. This allows every telephone which is connected to the switch to place VoIP calls.

VoIP Gateways

VoIP Gateways connect VoIP networks to the PSTN (Public Switches Telephone Network).

VoIP Routers

VoIP Routers route VoIP traffic in much the same way that regular routers route IP (Internet Protocol) traffic.

VoIP PBX's

VoIP PBX's are high-tech low-cost equivalents of traditional telephone PBX's. In addition to traditional PBX functionality, VoIP PBX's configure and manage VoIP network capabilities.

Posted by Steve at 10:15 AM | Permalink | Comments