What does my business need to make VoIP work for us?

When building a VoIP System for your business, it is important to understand exactly what VoIP Equipment and Supplies you will need. It is easy to feel trapped into buying expensive IP phones and headsets, but there are many economical products like the Polycom IP Phones that provide great clarity and quality for much less than other brands.

VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is a method for taking analog audio signals, like the kind you hear when you talk on the phone, and turning them into digital data that can be transmitted over the Internet. You have probably heard the terms IP Telephony or Internet Telephony used to describe VoIP. Some VoIP Equipment and Supplies are different than those used to communicate over the PSTN, but thanks to some clever adapters you may be able to use a combination of your existing hardware with some new VoIP Hardware.

VoIP is implemented in a variety of hardware devices, including IP phones (SIP Phones), analog terminal (or telephone) adapters (ATAs), and gateways. The VoIP Equipment and Supplies that your business buys will allow its employees to use VoIP to both speak and listen. If you want a simple VoIP system, all that you need is a headset to work with your PC. If you are looking for a complete VoIP network, you may need routers and phone adapters or even IP phones.

Here is an explanation of the different types of VoIP Equipment and Supplies you may need:

ATA (Analogue Telephone Adapter): If you just spent a boatload on nice new phones a year ago but want to take advantage of the VoIP technology, you may want to consider an ATA. The ATA is a piece of hardware that allows your regular phone to talk to a digital VoIP line. There are many ATAs to Choose from. These can save you a lot of money because you will be able to keep your regular phones. Now you may be a technology junkie, and if so read on to find out about some of the cool SIP phones that you can add to your list of needed VoIP Equipment and Supplies.

Telephone: Of all VoIP Equipment and Supplies, the telephones are probably the most familiar. There are many phones specifically designed for use with VoIP. You may hear the term IP phones, or SIP phone used interchangeably to describe them. They look like a regular phone, but they have a built in ATA. Many manufacturers make VoIP Equipment and Supplies, including Polycom, which you may then purchase from a certified Polycom reseller.

If you are looking for a reasonably priced SIP Phone with all of the features you are used to, you may consider the Polycom IP430 Phone. This phone is a great entry point into the world of IP Phones, and is ideal for light to medium call volume. It is a very easy to use two line desk phone that provides both hard keys and soft keys that give you a shortcut to the functions that you use on a daily basis.

Router: VoIP Equipment and Supplies normally include a router, which is simply used for an internet connection. Sometimes they are called gateways, but in reality that term describes another device altogether. If you have a LAN and want to connect it to the Internet, or if you are using your LAN to deploy VoIP, then you need a router. If you have a simple phone system, then you probably just need an ATA.

A lot of people get a little intimidated when they hear nerdspeak related to things like routers and gateways. VoIP Equipment and Supplies are like any other type of equipment that you would buy to frame a house, plant a garden, or do your own taxes. There is some jargon involved, but a professional should take the time to explain exactly what each hardware device does and why you need it. Working with a VoIP consultant can make it easier to get all of the right parts the first time.

PC Handsets: A PC Handset is a newer type of VoIP Equipment that you may not have seen before. It looks like a telephone, but it connects right to your computer. You can use a PC handset with a softphone or you may use one with an IP phone. If you use it with an IP Phone, the versatile PC Handset allows multiple users to access the same SIP phone.

PC Headsets: A PC Headset sounds almost like a PC Handset, but don’t get these little beauties confused. A headset is a multimedia device, and it let you hear audio from your PC, and allows you to use your voice through your PC by speaking into a microphone.

VoIP Equipment and Supplies may seem a little confusing at first, but there are many VoIP Consultants that can help you order supplies, get them set up, and even set you up with an inexpensive calling plan. Make sure you buy your equipment from a certified reseller of the brand you choose. For example, if you decide to use Polycom VoIP Equipment and Supplies, deal with a certified Polycom reseller. They know about Polycom products before they are even out on the market, and can help you determine the best SIP phones, headsets, and headsets for your business.