Pat,
VoIP is going to be a steady stream of anywhere from 30k to 100k
depending on codec, equipment and handshake. (Think of it like the way
modem's work ... you don't get 56k, you get what is negotiated. Hosted
PBX or IP Centrex offerings tend to eat up more bandwidth. Can your
network handle that? Can it handle people checking voicemail across your
network - or do you want to sell PBX systems to allow VM and Music on
Hold locally?
Are you going to do it yourself and become a VoIP provider or use a
turn-key solution?
Lots of the 1200 VoIP Providers are smoke and mirrors, so be careful.
DIY isn't a picnic either since Voice is NOT data. People can put up
with no email for a little while, but not having dial-tone won't float.
I have a couple of articles for the DIY-er:
http://www.rad-info.net/voip/2.htm
http://www.rad-info.net/voip/diy.htm
This discussion might get more feedback on WISPA's VOIP list
(http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/voip).
Vonage got hit with 2 patent suits from VZ today
(http://radinfo.blogspot.com/2006/06/vonage-hit-by-verizon-patent-lawsuit.html)
It seems everyone offering VoIP is trampling a patent.
Those are just a few thoughts this morning. If you want to offer VoIP, I
would be happy to help you put the proper solution in place for your
situation, whether that is a turn-key solution or a DIY.
Regards,
Peter
RAD-INFO, Inc.
(813) 963-5884
Patrick Shoemaker wrote:
With last week's discussion on the ability of different product lines
to support simultaneous VoIP calls, I'd like to start a discussion on
VoIP as a service offering. First, a little introduction. I'm in the
planning stages of an ISP. I intend to target small/medium businesses
(no residential) in an area that is served with other technologies
(DSL). I am currently working part time doing IT for a group of small
businesses, and was just about sold on a WISP last year that offered a
voice/data plan as a package that would have saved money. We ended up
not switching after reading about some of the pending lawsuits against
the service provider!
What I am trying to figure out is the best way to offer VoIP services
to my customers. My main selling points on my Internet services will
be reliability, service, and flexibility. And yes, I do intend to
back these up. In the small business sector, it will be much easier
to sell a highly reliable Internet connection to a customer if it's
providing more than just access for lunchtime web browsing.
Integrating voice and data will both save the customer money and
justify the cost of the "dedicated" Internet line.
So, how are the service providers out there doing it now? Acting as a
reseller for a larger VoIP provider? Do you offer customers any
PBX-like features or just dial access? Looking for suggestions,
things to avoid, and a little experience here. Thanks!
Patrick
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